I'm a beauty editor who tests hundreds of new beauty products – these are the best new launches this month from £16
Normally, I have an aversion to hand cream - I understand
why
it's good, but the experience puts me off.
I hate the greasy residue, and how it leaves behind smeared fingerprints on everything I touch after applying.
But I've now found a cheat-code that makes me want to keep reapplying - cute packaging.
Like a child who won't eat veg, by hiding it in something pretty, it's suddenly palatable.
7
I'm a sucker for pretty packaging
Credit: Guerlain
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Hand Cream, £52
READ MORE IN BEAUTY
The product that brought me to this conclusion are
, which comes in three scents inspired by the brand's iconic perfumes - a fruity blackcurrant and lychee, a zesty mandarin and green tea, and a fresh cucumber and mint - housed in pretty pastel-coloured, hexagonal packaging that fits into the palm of my hand.
And then there's
7
Dior Beauty has impressed me with its latest launches
Credit: DIOR BEAUTY
Dior Le Baume
Toile de Jouy limited edition with Balm Holder, £68
Both formulas are equally as brilliant as their packaging, with minimal stickiness after use and subtle scents that won't compete with your perfume.
Most read in Fabulous
Before you start - yes, I know they're ridiculously expensive, but I went cold turkey with gel manicures after Christmas, and have saved myself a small fortune by skipping the fortnightly salon appointments, so I can justify the cost (girl math!), especially as they last a lot longer than a manicure of the same price.
7
I'm a fan of Dior's new mascara
Credit: DIOR BEAUTY
Dior Diorshow Overvolume Mascara, £35
It's a great month for Dior launches
,
as
has also wowed me - I'm a long-time fan of Dior mascaras.
The brand's
, was one of the first luxe beauty products I bought over a decade ago, and I've loved pretty much every mascara since then, but when I saw the campaign imagery for the latest launch, I thought I'd hate it.
The main benefit is volume, and I often find volumising mascaras can leave lashes heavy and clumped together, so usually I'd steer clear.
To my surprise, the super-flexible brush combed through lashes, defining them while adding volume, so they didn't end up stuck together.
It doesn't flake or irritate my sensitive eyes, and it has stood up to my constant weeping thanks to hay fever.
I've been using it every day for almost a month, so it's safe to say it's got my seal of approval.
7
Clarin's new formula is a game-changer
Credit: CLARINS
Clarins Double Serum Light Texture, £65
It's not the only new product I was eagerly anticipating this month.
When Clarins announced the launch of
- a lightweight version of the brand's best-selling
- I practically jumped with joy.
I'm all for efficiency and love a serum that does it all, so the combination of brightening antioxidants to even my skin tone, hydrating squalane and glycerin, collagen boosting tri-peptides and soothing aloe, oat and turmeric to reduce redness and inflammation, is right up my street.
It absorbs quickly and feels weightless on my face - after just a few weeks, my skin looks and feels healthier, so I can't wait to see the results by the time I finish the bottle.
7
Nuxe's roll-on makes application easy on-the-go
Credit: NUXE
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Roll-On, £26
Similarly, as soon as
, came out, I immediately questioned why they'd not thought of housing the iconic oil (which has an incredible scent of magnolia, orange blossom and vanilla that's like sunshine in a bottle) in a roll-on sooner.
Much like the hand-cream issue, I tend to dislike applying body oil as it's messy and ends up everywhere, but the roll-on completely eliminates that - it's so faff-free, you can even apply it once you're dressed!
It's not often I praise an entire brand, especially new ones, but when I saw Tocobo in the
new-in
section on Boots.com, I had to try it all.
7
K-beauty brand Tocobo has recently launched in Boots
Credit: Tocobo
Tocobo Multi Ceramide Cream, £21
The fun packaging looks like something that belongs in the Barbie house, but the formulas inside are far more sophisticated.
I especially love
7
Keep skin comfortable and hydrated with this SPF stick
Credit: TOCOBO
Tocobo Cotton Soft Sun Stick SPF50 PA++++, £16
, is equally as impressive, thanks to the velvet finish I've never seen from a sunscreen before.
There's really no excuse not to wear SPF now!
Top beauty trends for 2025
Hayley Walker, Beauty Expert at
Haircare
Hair gloss treatments are a must-have as beauty enthusiasts love the salon-quality shine and enhanced colour delivered by the trending treatment.
Hair glosses are multifunctional, as they nourish the hair while offering a vibrant, healthy-looking finish, combining 2025's core trends. This treatment is perfect for those seeking an affordable, at-home glow-up.
2025 will focus on skin repairing and texture-enhancing treatments.
Skincare
Rejuran treatment, a celebrity-endorsed procedure, will see a rise in demand this year as many seek to enhance their skin's appearance. The procedure entails injecting polynucleotides derived from salmon DNA to enhance skin texture and elasticity. 'Rejuvenation is expected to dominate 2025 skincare trends as many seek to achieve a flawless, youthful complexion.
Skincare will also include back-to-basic products for a simplified routine.
Ginseng cleansing oil and panthenol cream are among the trending products for 2025. The cleansing oil is excellent for dissolving make-up and impurities without clogging pores and is enriched with nourishing properties to leave the skin feeling and looking refreshed and radiant.
Make-up
Make-up trends will follow suit to achieve youthful and radiant looks. Under-eye brighteners will be sought-after products for delivering coverage while enhancing natural radiance. This beauty tool will complement natural beauty while improving and brightening dull skin.
Make-up looks will be bigger and bolder in 2025 with cluster lashes expected to surge this year. These lashes bring the glam to glamorous looks as they deliver dramatic volume to enhance everyday or special occasion looks.
Peel-off lip stains circulated the beauty industry in 2024 and are expected to dominate in 2025. The growing popularity of this product is due to its ability to provide long-lasting, transfer-proof colour to lips, enhancing a natural aesthetic. Additionally, cherry-coded aesthetics are expected to be everywhere this year as the deep, rich hue can be achieved using peel-off lip stains or bold lip looks for a dramatic effect.
Nails
2025 will be another year of countless, show-stopping nail trends. Goddess Nails and Aura Nails deserve an honourable mention as these designs channel an ethereal, celestial aesthetic for bold, self-expressing nails.
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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I tested popular ice cream makers perfect for summer – the winner is just £45 and on offer right now
Read on to find out the strawberry ice cream recipe that Natalie used for the test SWEET SPOT I tested popular ice cream makers perfect for summer – the winner is just £45 and on offer right now I HAVE been on a life-long quest to track down the perfect ice cream. It must be sweet, but not sickly. Creamy, but not claggy. 7 Natalie Clarke put six ice cream makers to the test - find out the surprising winner below Credit: Stewart Williams My search has taken me far and wide, and the closest I ever got to perfection was on holiday in sun-soaked Sicily, but that's not really an option without winning the lottery. So I have accepted that if I want the perfect scoop, I must make it myself. Luckily, there is a vast array of ice-cream makers on the market. I tested six of them – five of those cost no more than £60, though there was a huge jump to the sixth, which came with a chilling £449 price tag. I've rated them out of five for performance and value. For my first foray into ice-cream making, I went for strawberry flavour, using the recipe below. Read on to find out which gadget will make you want to jump on a gondola and belt out 'Just one Cornetto', and which will have you scurrying back to the supermarket freezer section. GILES & POSNER SORBET AND ICE-CREAM MAKER 500ml, £22.99, Amazon 7 The Giles & Posner ice cream maker lacked the airiness of the perfect scoop and had a slightly gritty texture Credit: Stewart Williams THIS cute gadget costs little more than four tubs of shop-bought ice cream. But as with all the cheaper models, you have to pre-freeze the inner ice-cream bowl for at least 12 hours, otherwise you'll end up with a strawberry milkshake. It was easy to assemble and the mixture turned into ice cream in 15 minutes. But it lacked the airiness of the perfect scoop and had a slightly gritty texture. Dubai Ice Cream Rating: 2/5 TIP: When you remove the ice-cream bowl from the freezer, hold it with a towel, or you'll end up with frozen fingers. LAKELAND DIGITAL ICE-CREAM MAKER 1.8L, £44.99 (down from £49.99), Lakeland 7 Lakeland's digital ice-cream maker was solid and reliable Credit: Stewart Williams THIS gadget looks solid – the sort of machine you can rely on to get a job done. The default setting on the digital screen is 40 minutes and towards the end, I worried it had overdone the churning. But I needn't have worried, the result was a deliciously creamy scoop that looked gorgeous on a cone, with a lovely silky sheen. And it tasted as good as it looked, with no trace of that synthetic tang that can spoil some shop-bought ice creams. Rating: 5/5 MAGIMIX LE GLACIER ICE-CREAM MAKER 1.1L, £60, Argos 7 Magimix's ice cream maker is best for people with limited time Credit: Stewart Williams THIS is a compact, good-looking machine that does exactly what you ask of it. It was no slowcoach, either. After just 20 minutes, my ice cream had reached a perfect consistency. It tasted really good and was that perfect mix of light and creamy, while still achieving an authentic ice-cream texture. I'd recommend this one if you have limited time, plus the clever 'feed tube' feature on the lid makes adding your ingredients a doddle. Rating: 4/5 PROCOOK ICE-CREAM MAKER 1.5L, £49, 7 Procook's machine made ice cream that looked and tasted lovely after 45 minutes Credit: Stewart Williams AT 1,500ml this machine has a decent capacity, but when I filled the bowl up to the top, it seemed to struggle to build up the texture. Reducing the amount of the mixture by about a third made all the difference. After 45 minutes, the ice cream looked and tasted lovely. But it was lighter in texture than some of the others – more along the lines of a soft serve. If you prefer an ice cream with a little more bite, then this might not be the one for you. Rating: 3/5 CUISINART SOLO SCOOPS ICE-CREAM MAKER 475ml, £29.99, Lakeland 7 Cuisinart's machine was small and fiddly - my stress levels started to rise with their gadget Credit: Stewart Williams MOST of the ice-cream makers I tested were easy and straightforward to use, but my stress levels started to rise with this machine. It is quite small and fiddly, and the paddle kept falling off as I was assembling it. To be fair, once it was up and running it was fine, and after 25 minutes the ice cream looked ready. As with the Procook, this one came out more like a soft serve in texture – too soft for my liking – but you can't argue with the great value for money. Rating: 2/5 MAGIMIX GELATO EXPERT ICE-CREAM MAKER 2L, £448.79, John Lewis 7 The Magimix expert ice-cream maker produced a top-class dessert - but it costs a whopping £448 Credit: Stewart Williams THIS sleek machine really looks the business – but it's hard to see past that hefty price tag. With its in-built freezer system, you don't need to bother with putting the bowl in the freezer for 12 hours beforehand. That is, of course, a huge plus. The cycle lasted 60 minutes, but the finished product was well worth the wait. You could see instantly that this produced a top-class dessert. The texture was beautifully smooth and, as for the taste, it was like nectar from the gods. Rating: 4/5 AND THE WINNER IS… LET'S hear it for the wonderful Lakeland Digital machine. The Magimix Gelato Expert delivered equally delicious-tasting results, but for sheer value for money at a tenth of the price of that one, Lakeland's brilliant gadget takes the first prize. It produced ice cream that was divinely creamy as well as light and airy – and gorgeously flavoursome. One bite and I was instantly transported back to the sunshine of Sicily.
Irish Independent
01-08-2025
- Irish Independent
Galway Races: ‘Simple and classical' Dior-inspired dress helps local woman claim five-figure Ladies Day prize
Gordon Elliott was the big winner when it came to the equine stakes, as Ndaawi claimed the Galway Hurdle after a dramatic stewards' inquiry reversal, but it was a local woman who stole the show on the fashion front. The €10,000 first prize for the Best-Dressed Lady competition went to Megan Cunniss, of Bohermore, Co Galway, who took inspiration from vintage Dior fashion for her winning outfit. Ms Cunniss said she was stunned when she heard her name being called as the winner at the podium yesterday afternoon. It was crazy – the style was so good this year 'I'm so overwhelmed. I'm so thrilled with the win,' she said. 'It was crazy – the style was so good this year. It's so good every year, but I felt like my outfit was very simple and classical.' The dress was custom-made and undoubtedly a show-stopper. Ms Cunniss explained that she drew inspiration from an icon of the fashion world for her outfit. 'It was actually inspired by Dior archive from the 1950s – the black and white crisp dress,' she said. 'I just brought it to life and I added some buttons to it, buttons to the side. I just made my own drawings and sketches and I found a guy in France and he designs dresses, and he made it for me.' While no stranger to the Galway Races, Ms Cunniss said it was her first time taking part in Ladies Day. A proud Bohermore native, she even added a local detail on her outfit. 'Gina Sewing Services in Liosban Industrial Estate – she alters all my dresses. There is not a dress in my wardrobe that she has not done and she just makes them to perfection. She's amazing,' she added. It was sunshine and smiles for the thousands of racegoers among the bumper crowd but one lady smiling wider than most was Breda Butler, from Co Tipperary, who won the prestigious Best Hat prize. Her entire look was a tribute to her native Tipperary's recent success in the All-Ireland hurling final. Ms Butler, from Thurles, won with a blue headpiece by Michelle Kearns of Tuam, Co Galway. My inspiration actually came from Tipperary winning the All-Ireland After being awarded the €3,000 prize, she said: 'The headpiece is by Michelle Kearns in Tuam and it's meant to complement the Sharon Hoey AndTate outfit. 'My inspiration actually came from Tipperary winning the All-Ireland this year. At the semi-final, I said, 'I'm going to wear blue'. It's not a colour I usually wear, and Sharon did a phenomenal job with this two-piece and then Michelle, last minute, said, 'It has to be blue'.' Ms Butler's look was finished off with a gold handbag and shoes, which arrived just in the nick of time on Wednesday night. 'I'm shocked. I'm absolutely honoured, it's such a prestigious award,' she said. 'I've been a finalist before. I've been coming for the last 25 years probably, at this stage. But it's the first time to win actually a prize. 'I'm here with my husband and I have a lot of friends here as well. So we're staying here tonight, we have a small boy at home. I'm sure he'll be watching, he'll be thrilled and he'll have a lot of plans for the €3,000.' Judging hundreds of amazing outfits throughout the day was Galway woman and owner of Catwalk Modelling Agency Mandy Maher, on her fourth outing as head judge. Also among the cohort of judges were last year's Best-Dressed Lady winner and owner of Lisa's Lust List, Lisa McGowan, and Niamh Ryan, co-founder of Ella & Jo, who sponsored this year's Best Dressed competition.
Irish Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Medical secretary scoops €10,000 as she's named Best Dressed at Galway Races
A medical secretary at Galway University Hospital has scooped a whopping €10,000 and been named as this year's best-dressed lady at the Galway Races. Megan Cunniss from Galway wowed judges, including Mandy Maher and Lisa McGowan, with her monochrome dress and elegant hat. The 28-year-old won over the judges with her style, confidence, and individuality, whose look embodied the brand sponsors Ella & Jo ethos - bold, original, and completely her own. She told us: "I love vintage fashion, 1950s fashion. I love looking up Dior archives. I try to copy some of their looks and change it around and make it some of my own. Guest Judge Lisa McGowan, Judge Niamh Ryan, co-founder of Ella & Jo, Megan Cunniss, from Co Galway, who was crowned winner of the Ella & Jo Best Dressed Lady Competition on Ladies Day, and Head Judge Mandy Maher at the Galway Races Summer Festival "That was my inspiration. I designed the dress myself. I had it made in France, it was tailored in Galway by my dress maker, Gina's Sewing Services. We added more buttons to it, more black lining down around the edges. She's amazing." The mum-of-one is on a roll this summer, having also won Best Dressed in Dundalk a few weeks ago. "It was a different outfit," she said. Megan said that she hasn't any idea how she will spend her huge prize money. "It's a lot of money. It's life-changing to most people. I'm absolutely thrilled with the title. I love fashion. This is my style. "All my family came down and my glam team came down the night before to get me ready for the photos." More than 25,000 racegoers descended on Ballybrit for one of the most glamorous dates in the Irish social calendar on Thursday - and a landmark debut for Ella & Jo as new sponsors of the Ladies Day Best Dressed Competition. This year marked the beginning of a three-year partnership between the Galway Races and multi-award-winning Irish skincare brand Ella & Jo, a powerhouse in Irish beauty, known for championing real skin, real women, and real confidence. Designed by two women who understand the realities of modern life, Ella & Jo's high-performance, joy-filled skincare has become synonymous with self-expression and empowerment, making them the perfect partner for a day that celebrates women owning their style. 'I'm so proud to be part of an event that continues to shine a light on Irish style in such a vibrant and inclusive way,' said Mandy Maher. 'The creativity we saw today was off the charts.' Niamh Ryan added: 'Being part of the judging panel this year was incredibly special. "You could see how much joy, personality, and individuality went into every look — exactly what Ella & Jo is all about. "We were drawn to something real, something confident. The moment our winner stepped out, we all felt it.' Lisa McGowan, founder of Lisa & Co and Lisa's Lust List, recalled fond memories of ladies day after she was crowned Best Dressed herself in 2016. 'Ladies Day holds such a special place in my heart,' said Lisa. 'The standard this year was phenomenal, not just in terms of fashion, but in the presence behind the outfits. Our winner had that rare magic. "She didn't just wear the look, she owned it.' The prize for Best Hat went to Bride Butler from Thurles Co Tipperary, who won €3,000 for a standout piece by Michelle Kearns. Winner of the Best Hat Competition at Ladies Day was was Breda Butler from Tipperary and Winner of the Best Dressed Lady was Megan Cunniss from Galway at Ladies Day of the Galway Races Summer Festival sponsored by Ella & Jo The judges applauded the design for its originality, craftsmanship, and sheer presence. Thousands of ladies turned out for the fourth day of the races. Louise Murphy from Tramore in Waterford was almost left shoeless after her Manolo Blahnik heels got stuck in a rain drain at the Ballybrit racecourse. Louisa Murphy from Tramore, who got her Manolo Blahnik shoe caught in a grate and needed a workman to help her eventually work it free (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy) Elsewhere on the track, there was drama in the parade ring after last year's runner-up Ndaawi was called the winner of the Guinness Galway Hurdle after first-past-the-post Helvic Dream was demoted by the stewards. It is 20 years since trainer Noel Meade saddled his most recent winner of the Ballybrit highlight in More Rainbows but he had come close on several occasions since, while Ndaawi's trainer Gordon Elliott had never won it previously. Helvic Dream, a Group One winner on the Flat for Meade in the 2021 Tattersalls Gold Cup, was an 8-1 shot in the hands of Donagh Meyler and settled down to fight it out with the 13-2 shot Ndaawi and Jack Kennedy in the home straight. However, the pair did come close together all the way up the run-in as both horses and jockeys gave their all, with Ndaawi short of room against the far rail, and while Helvic Dream passed the post a head in front the stewards felt the interference was significant enough to reverse the placings. Trainer Gordan Elliott said: "We have won most of the big handicaps so this is the race I wanted to win, although it is not a nice way to win. "Noel is one of my greatest friends and there isn't a day goes by that we don't talk and we have great banter, but that's the way it goes unfortunately. "The stewards have their jobs to do, Jack said it straightaway after the race and I was talking to Ruby (Walsh) as well and he felt we would definitely get it. It is unbelievable to win the two big races here this week and the horses have all run well, I can't believe it." Brian O'Keeffe, spokesperson for BOYLE Sports, said: 'It was a dramatic renewal of the Galway Hurdle and Helvic Dream losing it in the steward's room wasn't the best turn of events for us. We paid out on the revised winner Ndaawi and the first past the post, both of which were well fancied in the betting.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
