2 days ago
Irish doctor's face cream wins fans for soothing redness and boosting glow
If you've ever wished you could get dermatologist-approved skincare without shelling out for a pricey private appointment or sitting on a long waiting list, there's a brand that's catching the attention of beauty lovers here in Ireland - and it's already winning big with experts and shoppers alike.
Dr Sam's is the brainchild of Co Down woman Dr Sam Bunting - a former doctor who now runs her own private skin clinic on London's famous Harley Street. Her goal is to give everyday people access to "dermatologist-adjacent" skincare routines, without needing a prescription or specialist appointment.
One product in particular is getting rave reviews across beauty circles - the Flawless Moisturiser Intense, priced at €42 for 50ml or €76 for 100ml. If your skin is dry, sensitive or just struggles through Ireland's colder, windier months, this could be the hydration hero you've been searching for.
Designed to create results in just 60 seconds, it has not only picked up awards - including Best Healing Moisturiser in Woman and Home Magazine and Best Barrier Repair in Red Magazine - but this face cream clinically proven to repair the skin barrier in just one use.
This isn't your typical thick, heavy cream that smothers skin and ruins makeup. Instead, it's light enough to layer under SPF and foundation, but powerful enough to deeply hydrate, calm redness and keep your skin barrier strong. It uses Sunflower Sprout Extract, a breakthrough ingredient that boosts NAD+ levels in the skin to speed up cellular renewal - plus skin-loving staples like ectoin, squalane, ceramides and glycerin.
On the release of the Flawless Moisturiser Intense back in 2023, Dr Sam said: "This heals dry, sensitive and redness-prone skin from the inside out in a cosmetically elegant formula. Unlike those other heavy, gloopy and clogging face cream that wreak your makeup and stain your pillowcases, get ready to glow with the product you didn't know you needed."
Elsewhere, a 50ml pot of La Roche-Posay Nutritic Intense Moisturiser Riche is available on Amazon Ireland for €30.25. Or shoppers can pick up the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense 72HR Cream 50ml for €48.95 at LookFantastic. Ideal for dry and very dry skin types, the rich face cream delivers long-lasting hydration to dry-feeling skin.
Dr Sam herself swears by a simple four-step routine: "There's cleanse, activate, hydrate and protect". She recommends using the moisturiser as the third step (hydrate) in conjunction with the three other pillars of skincare. The expert doesn't believe in unnecessary steps or gimmicky "skincare entertainment" - just formulas that work. Shoppers have hailed the Flawless Moisturiser Intense as a 'lifesaver' (Image: Dr Sam's)
And according to over 1,300 five-star reviews, her approach is paying off. One fan wrote: "This is a fabulous product, it sinks in easily and my skin feels so soft. It helps to reduce redness." Another said simply: "Love this moisturiser, it's fantastic."
Others shared more detailed praise: "Using this product every morning and night, I have combination dry mature skin. I am 64 yrs old. I use Brightly eye and face first, then intense moisturiser. I have so many compliments about my skin." Another happy customer said: "I love this moisturiser! I have very sensitive skin with eczema but I'm also prone to breakouts. This moisturiser is the only one I've found that is soothing enough to help with the dryness and redness, but also doesn't feel heavy or break me out. It is expensive but worth it to be honest!"
For some, the results have been life-changing: "Amazing. Cleared my cystic acne and no future break outs. Takes about 6 weeks but well worth the long term results". One mature-skin user added: "The best moisturiser I've tried so far for my mature skin. It just works!! 100% recommend this!"
Another called it their "holy grail", adding: "I am obsessed!!! I will never use any moisturiser on my face apart from this one. Immediately I use it, I just have a heathy, glowy, dewy face." Someone else shared: "I would never leave a review but with this product I had to. Simply the best!"
However, one shopper awarded the Flawless Moisturiser Intense a three-star review because they noticed "no real difference" to their skin. They said: "Seven days of using this moisturiser and I've noticed no real difference. I'm disappointed as it was reviewed as a great cream for dry skin."
Dr Sam's also understands that trying new skincare can be daunting. That's why they offer a Happiness Pledge - if you're not delighted within 60 days, they'll make it right or give you a full refund, no questions asked.
For more information or to buy the Flawless Moisturiser Intense, head to the Dr Sam's website.
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