Louise McSharry: My four go-to SPFs when you're looking for more than just sun protection
Alas, I'm not right. I know this because my own father is a sun cream denier. He's genuinely an intelligent man most of the time, but when it comes to sun cream, he simply refuses to engage. Each year, he develops a lobster-red shell, which peels and reforms multiple times over the course of the sunny season. We plead with him to apply sun cream, and he laughs in our faces. I'm not sure if it's misplaced arrogance or pure obstinance, but he simply won't do it and, at this stage, I've given up.
I would never give up on you, though, and I'm sure that you would never dream of willingly burning or damaging your skin in the sun. Neither would I! So, let's talk about sun cream. At home, I tend to use whatever sun cream I have on the go for the kids, but if I'm going on holidays, I like to treat myself to something a little more grown up. With that in mind, here are some of my favourites.
1. Hawaiian Tropic Hydrating Protection Sunscreen Lotion (€22 via boots.ie) — This has been a go-to for me for many years, thanks to it being a pleasure to use and reasonably friendly on the wallet (it's frequently on special offer; the price here is the maximum you should expect to pay). This formula is beautifully hydrating via cocoa and shea butter, and I usually leave a holiday significantly more moisturised than I've arrived as a result. It's not sticky or greasy. Instead, it feels like a normal body lotion. Plus, its tropical scent gets you straight into the holiday vibe.
2. Nuxe Sun Oil Gold Shimmer High Protection (€33 via boots.ie) — It's hard for me to choose one product from Nuxe's sun protection range, because I am such a fan of them all, but this gal is definitely worth highlighting. If you're going to a wedding or special event, this product will keep you safe from the sun while delivering beautifully gleaming skin with flecks of golden shimmer. Nuxe products smell delicious, and this is no exception, with notes of sweet orange, Tiaré flower and vanilla.
3. Kopari Sunglaze Sheer Body Mist SPF30 (€41.40 via spacenk.com) — This light spray delivers sun protection and glamour via a gorgeous coconut scent and light sheen. It dries quickly and is comfortable to wear, and I particularly like its spray bottle, which functions well and applies product evenly. It's also just pretty, almost like an accessory for the pool.
4. Bondi Sands Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ (€9.35 via rosscarberypharmacy.ie) — This is another winner in the texture category thanks to its light formula, which feels more like a moisturiser than an SPF. It functions as a moisturiser too, leaving the skin soft and hydrated, and is fragrance-free for those of you who prefer that.
Lost in translation
Ginseng is an ingredient frequently seen on skincare packaging, but why is it so popular? Ginseng root has been reported to have anti-ageing, skin-whitening, anti-wrinkle and moisturising effects among other things, making it an ideal raw material for skincare products. Some research also indicates that the presence of ginseng can also reduce inflammation and improve skin elasticity. Aside from that, ginseng holds significant cultural importance in Korea, making it extra appealing for skincare brands from that part of the world.
Something old…
If you are unfamiliar with the phrase keratosis pilaris, you probably don't have it. This skin condition results in bumpy, rough skin, usually on the upper arms, thighs or bum, and while harmless, is unpleasant for many of those who experience it. Fortunately, there are lots of products to reduce its impact, mostly via gentle exfoliation. Byoma's Smoothing Body Polish (€14.68 via cultbeauty.com) and Smoothing Body Serum (€15.81 via spacenk.com) work well on their own, or as a pair, thanks to ingredients like exfoliating succinic acid and nourishing panthenol. Fortunately, Byoma's prices are relatively reasonable, so testing these guys out won't hit your bank account too hard. As with any skincare product, consistency is key if you want to get results, so regular use of the body polish in the shower and body serum afterwards is your best bet.
... Something new
Joonbyrd is a bodycare brand founded by dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite, who's love of beauty products goes back to exploring her grandmother's makeup collection. That love, along with her expertise from decades working with patients on their skin challenges, has resulted in joyfully packaged, very effective products. Joonbyrd's latest launch is Kaleidoscope Body Serum (€88 for 100ml via spacenk.com), a lightweight serum which delivers gentle exfoliation to smooth and brighten the skin as well as delivering hydration. This product is ideal for anyone who struggles with keratosis pilaris, aka chicken skin. The presence of azelaic and shikimic acid gently exfoliate, while nourishing ingredients like blueberry seed oil ensure the skin is left soft and supple. This is not an inexpensive product though, so you may wish to try the 15ml size (€22 via spacenk.com) before investing in the large bottle.
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Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Louise McSharry: My four go-to SPFs when you're looking for more than just sun protection
Alas, I'm not right. I know this because my own father is a sun cream denier. He's genuinely an intelligent man most of the time, but when it comes to sun cream, he simply refuses to engage. Each year, he develops a lobster-red shell, which peels and reforms multiple times over the course of the sunny season. We plead with him to apply sun cream, and he laughs in our faces. I'm not sure if it's misplaced arrogance or pure obstinance, but he simply won't do it and, at this stage, I've given up. I would never give up on you, though, and I'm sure that you would never dream of willingly burning or damaging your skin in the sun. Neither would I! So, let's talk about sun cream. At home, I tend to use whatever sun cream I have on the go for the kids, but if I'm going on holidays, I like to treat myself to something a little more grown up. With that in mind, here are some of my favourites. 1. Hawaiian Tropic Hydrating Protection Sunscreen Lotion (€22 via — This has been a go-to for me for many years, thanks to it being a pleasure to use and reasonably friendly on the wallet (it's frequently on special offer; the price here is the maximum you should expect to pay). This formula is beautifully hydrating via cocoa and shea butter, and I usually leave a holiday significantly more moisturised than I've arrived as a result. It's not sticky or greasy. Instead, it feels like a normal body lotion. Plus, its tropical scent gets you straight into the holiday vibe. 2. Nuxe Sun Oil Gold Shimmer High Protection (€33 via — It's hard for me to choose one product from Nuxe's sun protection range, because I am such a fan of them all, but this gal is definitely worth highlighting. If you're going to a wedding or special event, this product will keep you safe from the sun while delivering beautifully gleaming skin with flecks of golden shimmer. Nuxe products smell delicious, and this is no exception, with notes of sweet orange, Tiaré flower and vanilla. 3. Kopari Sunglaze Sheer Body Mist SPF30 (€41.40 via — This light spray delivers sun protection and glamour via a gorgeous coconut scent and light sheen. It dries quickly and is comfortable to wear, and I particularly like its spray bottle, which functions well and applies product evenly. It's also just pretty, almost like an accessory for the pool. 4. Bondi Sands Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ (€9.35 via — This is another winner in the texture category thanks to its light formula, which feels more like a moisturiser than an SPF. It functions as a moisturiser too, leaving the skin soft and hydrated, and is fragrance-free for those of you who prefer that. Lost in translation Ginseng is an ingredient frequently seen on skincare packaging, but why is it so popular? Ginseng root has been reported to have anti-ageing, skin-whitening, anti-wrinkle and moisturising effects among other things, making it an ideal raw material for skincare products. Some research also indicates that the presence of ginseng can also reduce inflammation and improve skin elasticity. Aside from that, ginseng holds significant cultural importance in Korea, making it extra appealing for skincare brands from that part of the world. Something old… If you are unfamiliar with the phrase keratosis pilaris, you probably don't have it. This skin condition results in bumpy, rough skin, usually on the upper arms, thighs or bum, and while harmless, is unpleasant for many of those who experience it. Fortunately, there are lots of products to reduce its impact, mostly via gentle exfoliation. Byoma's Smoothing Body Polish (€14.68 via and Smoothing Body Serum (€15.81 via work well on their own, or as a pair, thanks to ingredients like exfoliating succinic acid and nourishing panthenol. Fortunately, Byoma's prices are relatively reasonable, so testing these guys out won't hit your bank account too hard. As with any skincare product, consistency is key if you want to get results, so regular use of the body polish in the shower and body serum afterwards is your best bet. ... Something new Joonbyrd is a bodycare brand founded by dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite, who's love of beauty products goes back to exploring her grandmother's makeup collection. That love, along with her expertise from decades working with patients on their skin challenges, has resulted in joyfully packaged, very effective products. Joonbyrd's latest launch is Kaleidoscope Body Serum (€88 for 100ml via a lightweight serum which delivers gentle exfoliation to smooth and brighten the skin as well as delivering hydration. This product is ideal for anyone who struggles with keratosis pilaris, aka chicken skin. The presence of azelaic and shikimic acid gently exfoliate, while nourishing ingredients like blueberry seed oil ensure the skin is left soft and supple. This is not an inexpensive product though, so you may wish to try the 15ml size (€22 via before investing in the large bottle.
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Louise McSharry: From snail essence to crayon liners, the K-beauty products worth buying
It started with the occasional product, then people were developing elaborate multi-step skincare routines entirely based on Korean practices. These days, most people have simplified their routines, but Korean products are still incredibly popular, as evidenced by Boots's recent launch of a curated selection of skincare brands from the country in store and online. It's an impressive gathering of products — a couple of my favourites are Cosrx's Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (€31 via a quickly absorbed fluid which delivers intense hydration; and Erborian's CC Crème (€52 via a sheer, glowy and ultra-natural skin tint. The reality is, though, that the influence of Korean beauty, or K-beauty, goes far beyond skincare. In fact, K-beauty products are influencing product development right across the cosmetics industry. These days, social media comment sections on almost any new category of product will include several people pointing out an existing Korean product which is virtually identical. Good examples of this are Hailey Bieber's brand Rhode's launch of Lip Shape Lip Liners (€32 via and, similarly, Refy's Blur Liner (€20 via Unlike traditional lip liners, these are thick, crayon-like products which deliver a blurred line around the lip as opposed to a sharp one. The blurred lip trend is relatively new to western beauty lovers, but it's been around for some time in… you guessed it, Korea! As a result, there are lots of existing K-beauty products which achieve this look, and most of them are significantly less expensive than the previously mentioned launches. Personally, I'm a fan of Romand's Lip Mate Pencils (€9.73 via which achieve the same look and include a beautifully cool-toned brown, a shade that can be hard to find in this part of the world. Another example is Victoria Beckham's Contour Stylus (€40 via an excellent product which allows you to precisely contour the face, especially around the nose, thanks to it being significantly slimmer than other popular contour products in this part of the world. There is, however, a similar Korean product: the Colorgram Contour stick (€10.09 via which is significantly less expensive. It's worth noting, though, that Korean shade ranges tend to work well on fair skin, with lots of cool-toned options. However, you may find that if your skin is dark, the shades simply won't work for you. If you like 4. Milk Makeup's Jelly Tint (€28 via you'll probably love 5. Fwee's Lip & Cheek Glowy Jelly Pot (€17.64 via which is not only a beautiful product but also adorably packaged. I could list more examples, but you get my drift. Korean beauty products are generally excellent, and there is no doubt western beauty companies are being inspired by them. If you want to be ahead of the game, follow some Korean bloggers or reddit threads which focus on Korean trends. They'll probably be the next big thing here too. Lost in translation You may already know about peptides, but what of copper peptides? These short chains of amino acids bind with existing copper ions in the body to help stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Increased collagen and elastin leads to plumper, firmer skin, which improves the skin's overall texture and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Copper peptides also have antioxidant properties which protect the skin from environmental damage. Thus, you'll see this ingredient in all sorts of skincare products, from serums to moisturisers. Something old… I'm a big fan of American brand Kosas, which is all about creating products that bridge the gap between skincare and make-up. One of my absolute Kosas favourites is Wet Lip Oil (€21.40 via although I have to say I think it's been misnamed. While they may call it an oil (and ingredients include avocado oil and evening primrose oil), I find it functions like a lip gloss, although not like the lip glosses of old. Rather than being sticky and uncomfortable, this product is moisturising and comfortable to wear. Hyaluronic acid delivers hydration, peptides stimulate collagen production, and it looks absolutely gorgeous thanks to it being packed with pigment. There are eight shades available, including a rosy red and several nude options. My personal favourite is Unbuttoned, a gorgeous mauve. Products like this are ideal for holidays or nights out, as they deliver a full look in one swipe, and won't leave your lips dry. ... Something new Appropriately for this week's column, our 'something new' comes from Korean brand Laneige. Most people will know Laneige for its incredibly popular Lip Sleeping Mask, a rich lip balm. However, the brand has a full range of skincare products, including Bouncy and Firm Serum, a personal favourite of mine. Its latest launch pushes Laneige beyond the parameters of skincare into the beginnings of make-up. Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum is infused with 95pc skincare ingredients, which means its deeply hydrating and comfortable to wear while also delivering shine. It's pigmented, delivering a sheer but significant tint to the lips across eight shades, from rosy pink to deep brown and berry. This won't be for everyone, though, as each shade is individually scented with fruity and sugary fragrances.
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Primark drops new range of NUXE beauty dupes – including shimmery body oil and ‘honey balm' for £29.50 less
RENOWNED for its endless aisles of beauty dupes, Primark has now added some NUXE copycats into the mix. NUXE is a French Advertisement 4 Primark has released a new honey-themed body skincare range Credit: tiktok@psbeautybraehead/ 4 Two of them are dupes of the £33 NUXE body oils, including this mist Credit: tiktok@psbeautybraehead/ 4 This £3.50 PS… Elixir Body Oil nourishes and restores moisture after cleansing skin Credit: tiktok@psbeautybraehead/ 4 Also in the new offering is a body balm for £3.50 which can be used to 'nourish and glow' Credit: tiktok@psbeautybraehead/ In true Primark fashion, the retail giant has now duped these cult-loved products. In stores now, you can nab the £3.50 PS... Elixir Body Oil, which nourishes and restores moisture after cleansing skin, with jojoba oil and vitamin E. It is a dupe for the £33 Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil Spray. There's also the £3.50 PS... Hydrating Honey Body Mist, which contains glycerine and vitamin E. Advertisement read more on beauty It has a shimmery formula and is a dupe for the NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Multi Purpose Dry Oil, which also costs £33 for a 100ml bottle. Like its dupes, the NUXE body oils are specially formulated with vitamin E, but also has a cocktail of seven precious plant oils - tsubaki, camellia, hazelnut, boarge, St Johnswort, sweet almond and macadamia. Primark has released the spray body oil dupes as part of its new Hey Hunny range. Also in the new offering is a body balm for £3.50, which can be used to 'nourish and glow' skin on both the face and limbs. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous This is a dupe for the £25 NUXE Rêve de Miel Melting Honey Body Oil Balm. 'This melting body balm with honey and precious botanical oils provides intense nourishing, repairs and soothes sensations of irritation,' a blurb reads. 'Its melting texture transforms into a delicate oil when massaged to envelop and comfort the skin, with no sticky effect. 'Day after day, very dry and sensitive skin feels more supple and comfortable.' Advertisement Last summer, Primark The PS... Pro Body Shimmer Oil will set you back just £4.50 for 100ml, compared to the Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil at £97. That means, for the same amount of product, the copycat oil is a whopping £92.50 cheaper. A smaller bottle of Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil with 45ml of product is still 90% more expensive than Primark's dupe at £45. Advertisement
