Let's Talk Beauty!
AKA all the bits I stocked up on before I left my salaried job
Those of you who have listened to my old podcast, The Glow Up, will know that I am a self-confessed beauty nut. Over more than 70 episodes, I chatted to some of my favourite people about their life in glam, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you love a chatty pod!
I’ve been a beauty editor for more than a decade, writing about products, procedures and practices in the industry for KISS, STELLAR, the Irish Independent and more. All of this means a) I have a pretty good idea of what I’m talking about and b) I’ve never been short of a product or two.
Beauty editors are kindly sent product to try and review with the hope that they’ll like it enough to mention it in their pages. It’s a serious perk, but like everything, the reality is a little different to the assumption.
For one, I only have one face and a very particular skin type. So trying new products meant for dry skin, for example, could cause havoc with my complexion. Ditto purple shampoos and curly products for your hair. Unforch, very little of what landed on my desk was the right colour, shade, ingredients or even to my preference, so I of course shared the wealth with friends, family and colleagues. But a lot of it was, and I’ve also bought my fair share over the years. I have a particular problem with Lisa Eldridge’s stuff - I must own whatever she brings out.
Leaving STELLAR and becoming self-employed also meant leaving my regular beauty post, and not having a regular monthly salary. Afraid of going cold turkey, I started to buy and stockpile my must-haves as soon as I handed in my notice in October, so I’d never be stuck on a lean month while I was waiting for an invoice to be paid. I also asked Santa to bring me some faves so I didn’t feel guilty splashing out. Look, I learned the hard way the first time I went freelance and my spenny skin stash care dried up. (I have since started writing a monthly Irish beauty column for You Magazine, am #blessed)
Here is a comprehensive list of those items, and why they’re so important to me.
Image Skin Care
I’ve been hooked on Image since 2016 when I had a pre-wedding consult at Renew Clinic and my skin transformed. I hate to go without my favourites - they include but are not limited to: Clear Cell face wash (a fab salicylic cleanser), their matte facial SPF, Vital C Hydrating Water Burst serum, Ageless serum and retinol, and their fabulous sheet masks. Santa did good and brought me most of these, but I will absolutely be repurchasing as soon as they run out.
La Roche Posay B5 Hyalu Serum
This is a dupe for the Skinceuticals version (hint: they’re the same company). It comes in at around €40 for about a two month supply, and it’s stunning on top of retinol or serum, or even on its own. It’s light for oily skin, essentially a drink of water for thirsty skin cells. Spritz your face with water before or after applying for maximum hydration.
Dripping Gold Wonder Water facial spray & Glowing Steady Gradual tan
I LOVE this face tan, and use the fragrance-free version. A few spritzes any time of the day or night leaves me looking radiant and bronzed a couple of hours later. I also adore their gradual tan, an absolute belter in terms of colour pay off and hydration. Both are spring/summer must-haves!
St Tropez Luxe Whipped Creme Mousse
My fave developing tan, I got THREE from lovely Santa. Thrilled.
Charlotte Tilbury Bits
Ms Tilbury is a weakness of mine. Pinkgasm blush, Airbrush Flawless foundation & powder, Magic Away Concealer, Pillow Talk and Supersize Me lip liners, Glowing Jen lippie… I could go on and on and on. Hollywood Flawless Filter is a must for under my longwear foundation so I don’t look too flat.
Glossier Boy Brow
I buy this online, and bulk buy to get free shipping. I use shade Brown and I adore it. However one of my new consulting clients is about to launch something (Irish!) that I feel will dethrone this particular product…
L’Occitane Amande Shower Oil
I also received multiple big bottles of this bad boy as gifts, which smells and feels like a dream in the shower. My colleagues in STELLAR got me one of them as part of my leaving gift, and I told them I’d think of them all as I soaped myself, LOL!
Signature De Chanel eye liner
The GOAT. Beauty writer Laura Kennedy of
also swears by it for flawless flicks.
Sculpted Bits
My other favourite brand, I have Second Skin in about eight different shades, Brighten Up concealer, MyMascara and a rake of the palettes. Aimee is a genius. The new Cloud Cream is fab too for winter skin, or as a barrier with retinol.
Cuticle Oil
Lovely Santa also got me vouchers to get my nails done for my birthday, which should last at least six months. To keep my manis long, strong and hydrated, I bought no less than five cuticle oils with my last paycheck, and keep them dotted around the house. My faves are Sally Hansen and Essie.
Batiste Brown Dry Shampoo
If you have an oily scalp like me, apply dry shampoo in to the roots straight after you blow dry it it. There’s no point putting dry shampoo on already greasy hair and expecting it to work miracles - you want to prevent the grease from ever forming by providing a little powder to soak it up, as you would with your makeup. I love this one because it’s brown and not grey, so there’s no ashy residue. Just make sure you do a nice clarifying shampoo once a week to remove build-up.
Make sure you check out my Irish-only beauty column, the last Saturday of every month in You Magazine in the Irish Mail ❤️