Louise McSharry: ‘She is my personal beauty guru, and her account is the one I turn to for tips and recommendations'

Irish Independent

10-07-2025

As a result, any make-up girly worth their salt can list off their personal faves — artists whose work inspires them and whose recommendations they unreservedly trust.
These relationships form a firm foundation for any potential products launched by leading make-up artists. If you trust their recommendations, it makes sense that you would be excited by products formulated by the artists themselves.
Many buzz-worthy beauty brands have make-up artists at the helm. Here are some of my personal favourites.
KJH Brand — Katie Jane Hughes is my personal beauty guru, and by that I mean her account is the one I turn to for tips and recommendations. She just finished touring with Dua Lipa as her make-up artist, and has worked with countless stars from Lily Allen to Hailey Bieber.
Her product line, KJH Beauty, launched in 2023, and this month it finally started shipping to Ireland. The existing range is fantastic — I particularly like the thoughtfully designed brushes and Smudge Stick (€26 via kjhbrand.com), a cream-to-powder soft matte blush stick which delivers a glass skin effect when paired with Hyper Shine Serum (€28 via kjhbrand.com). She's the queen of glossy skin, so this makes total sense. I've had a peek at some upcoming launches, and they look fantastic, too.
Half Magic Beauty — There's nothing boring about this line by make-up artist Donni Davy, who made a name for herself creating the Emmy-award winning make-up for Euphoria. As you might expect if you've seen the show, Half Magic has a heavy emphasis on sparkle — I love the Sparklestik Eye Crayons (€23 via beautybay.com), which deliver long-lasting, glittery colour — but the brand also delivers on essentials like the excellent Magic Flik Liquid Eyeliner (€22 via beautybay.com).
Westman Atelier — With a client list that includes Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow among many others, it's no surprise that Gucci Westman's Westman Atelier line is packed full of luxurious beauty staples. They will cost you a pretty penny, but are packed so beautifully that they feel like proper treats. Of course, the products themselves are excellent as well. I particularly love Lit Up Highlight Stick (€52 via brownthomas.com), which is the perfect blend of blush and highlighter and delivers the rosy, glowy cheeks of your dreams.
Danessa Myricks Beauty — Danessa Myricks's journey to becoming a make-up artist and brand owner was born out of the beauty needs of people with deeper skin tones. What was available in terms of artistry and product wasn't sufficient, so Myricks got to work. She has innovated both as an artist and in terms of product development, and as a result, her product range is excellent. Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder (€44.64 via cultbeauty.com) is unlike anything else, delivering blurred coverage and truly excellent oil control.
Buying Irish
I absolutely love a 'one-and-done' eyeshadow, and by that I mean one so perfect that you can create a gorgeous eye look with it and it alone. My most recent favourite is Hildun Beauty's Soul Shimmer Eyeshadow in Champagne Truffle (€20 via hildunbeauty.com), from the brand's collaboration with make-up artist Hannah Martin. The formula is a cream-powder hybrid which applies beautifully without fallout, and the colour is a stunningly sparkly cool-toned brown, which would suit any eye colour. I wore this over the weekend and was absolutely delighted with myself every time I looked in the mirror thanks to the way it beautifully catches the light.
Something old…
If you're a regular reader, you'll know I don't really believe in beauty rules. Do what you want, as long as it feels good. However, the seasons absolutely impact my taste in fragrance. What feels right for me in winter feels too heavy for summer. I have long been a fan of Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess (€87 via boots.ie) for summertime — I often buy a bottle in the airport when I'm heading on holiday. Bronze Goddess features notes of amber, coconut milk and vanilla along with mandarin and lemon and hints of jasmine. There's something beachy and almost sun-creamy about it, making it an escapist's delight. The original formula launched in 2008, and it's been a staple of many a chic woman's summer fragrance collection ever since. In recent years, the formula has been replaced with an 'Eau Fraiche' edition, but don't worry, the fragrance remains the same.
... Something new
Founded in 2015, Phlur is a fragrance brand known for scents which evoke specific moments. It's grown substantially in popularity since fashion content creator Chriselle Lim took over in 2021. The brand's latest launch is Beach Skin (from €25 via brownthomas.com), which was designed to deliver that 'just off the beach after a day in the sun surrounded by tropical flowers' feeling. Notes of bergamot, salted tiare flower and pink pepper combine with coconut milk, lily of the valley, sandalwood, vanilla and musk to create something which feels warm and cosy. In my opinion, it's the perfect blend of creaminess and fresh florals, making it perfect for summer. Phlur's fragrances are designed with layering in mind, so if you want to sweeten Beach Skin up, try it with Peach Skin.