4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Louise McSharry: Three exciting new Irish beauty buys
Hughes was in town with Dua Lipa's tour – she's been working with the pop star for years. The afternoon was a real delight, as Hughes shared tips and products from her own KJH Beauty line with the group.
Everyone in attendance was delighted to be there as we shared work tales and handed products around the table. We were all delighted when KJH applied some of Kash Beauty's excellent Aura Skin Radiant Foundation and declared that it was unlike any other foundation she'd ever tried, while the brand's founder Keilidh Cashell did her best to remain calm two seats away.
While it might be assumed that an industry populated by women would be highly competitive and bitchy, my experience of it is the opposite. To me, it feels like a supportive community which is deeply connected to the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. The growth of Irish beauty brands would certainly indicate that the idiom is true and, with that in mind, I'd like to highlight some excellent new launches in the Irish beauty space.
Kash Beauty Miracle Tint (€28 via – Skin tints are all the rage these days, and I'm a huge fan. They offer light coverage, and often other skin benefits. This one offers SPF15 UVA/UVB protection along with Miracle Black, an ingredient which claims to penetrate the skin deeply, stimulating procollagen production.
In my opinion, skincare benefits are a bonus with a product like this. You're still going to need a standalone SPF and skincare routine, however, every little helps. The main thing is that this product looks gorgeous, wears well, and comes in a range of 20 shades which is genuinely inclusive rather than being 20 shades of the same white skin tones.
SoSu Cosmetics Complete Complexion Palette (€39.95 via – Look, there's no getting away from the fact that this is extremely similar to Makeup Forever's frequently sold-out and hard-to-buy-in-Ireland Skin Face Essentials Palette (€84.75 via but that doesn't mean this isn't a great product.
Complete Complexion Palette includes 12 blendable cream products, six complexion shades, four blushes and two highlighters. These can be combined to create a full face of make-up, and the range of complexion shades means you can customise a colour to suit you on any given day (helpful in a country where people frequently need a 'tan shade' and a 'natural shade').
Poco Beauty Universal Solar Glow SPF30 (€55 via – Poco Beauty's Universal Glow Treatment (from €30 via has been a total hit since the brand's launch in 2023, and this new launch was inspired by the OG product. Universal Solar Glow delivers the same nourishing ingredients, but with an added bronze tint and blurred finish so you can look like you just got back from holidays. It's a beautiful product and comes in a large 115ml bottle so you can lash it on your body as well as your face.
Buying Irish
My favourite way to remove make-up is with a cleansing oil. I find they are most effective at easily cleansing the face of even the most stubborn make-up products. Kinvara Natural Skincare Absolute Cleansing Oil is a great option in this category. Made with 100pc plant oils, this product is gentle yet effective. Simply massage it onto a damp face, with emphasis on any areas where there's a lot of make-up, then remove it with a wet facecloth (hot water please, we're not in the business of torturing ourselves). I keep a pile of inexpensive dark facecloths for this purpose and use a new one each day to avoid the build-up of bacteria.
Something old…
There's no denying that an effective setting spray will help your make-up survive a long or sweaty day, but they're not all created equally. Some deliver a matte finish, some leave your face feeling powdery, and some are simply uncomfortable. As someone who likes a glowy effect, I'm always on the hunt for a setting spray that doesn't compromise my dewy make-up. Anastasia Beverly Hills Dewy Set (from €16 via has long been a favourite of mine, thanks to its ability to set the make-up and maintain its glow, without veering into oily territory. I love that this product is available in a travel size, in several different scents and, I'll be honest, that the bottle is gold and glittery. I don't think it is the most effective spray on the market in terms of make-up longevity, but I'm OK with that as I don't like the tight, matte finish those products tend to deliver.
... Something new
I'm a huge fan of Pat McGrath's make-up brand, and of the make-up artist herself, who is responsible for some of the industry's most exciting editorial make-up looks. One example of this is the doll-like glass skin she designed for Maison Margiela's 2024 couture show. This make-up was incredibly impactful on the runway, but for the average person, it's simply too much. Now, Pat McGrath's brand has launched Glass Skin Setting Spray (€45 via which delivers a glass skin effect that remains wearable (depending on how many layers you apply). One coat delivers a dewy finish and increases the longevity of your make-up, while two or three coats will leave the skin shiny like glass. Ingredients like aloe leaf, cucumber and black tulip extract ensure the product is still comfortable to wear. I'm a fan.
