Latest news with #Skingredients
RTÉ News
08-07-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Jennifer Rock on the skincare trends worth trying in 2025
Jennifer Rock, CEO and founder of Skingredients and The Skin Nerd, joined Laura Fox on RTÉ 2FM to discuss skincare, 'shedding', K-beauty and Irish skin. Listen back above. Kicking off a lengthy discussion covering all things skincare, Laura and Jennifer dove into the world of K-beauty. Korean beauty, also known as K-beauty, is an umbrella term for skincare products and methods from South Korea. For the most part, the goal is to achieve 'glass skin' that looks poreless and plump. "It tends to be associated with a 10-step skincare range," explains Jennifer, listing eye creams, moisturisers, daily sheet masks, toners, cleansers, essences, suncreams, and a range of serums as being part of the process. Having travelled to South Korea to study the extensive practice herself, the Dublin woman says she was blown away by the sheer volume of products available. "I have never in my entire life seen so many skincare products in the space of three, four, five, six streets. It is mind-boggling," she insists. "It is a paradise for any skincare lovers out there." Something that Jennifer does appreciate about K-Beauty is their enthusiasm for sprays as she says that using cotton pads could potentially be irritating to the skin. As for her standout products, the CEO notes that milky toners are both hydrating and brightening, and can be followed by an essence - a lightweight hydrating serum that typically features hyaluronic acid - for a glowy look. "Essence was the key piece that I took from it; it's all about essentially bringing moisture to skin," she says, explaining that when skin is wet, it will retain products more effectively. A recent trend to have taken the skincare world by storm is snow mushrooms. This 'snow fungus' - officially named Tremella Fuciformis - is derived from Chinese medicine, and can be found in many serums, toners, and moisturisers. The current 'it girl' ingredient is similar to hyaluronic acid but may be better suited to skin that is sensitive (or battling an Irish climate of sun, wind and rain all within the hour). It is also a lot less sticky than hyaluronic acid and is both hydrating and anti-ageing as it draws moisture to the skin. The next trend to tackle? Micro-current devices. These pricey gadgets deliver a small current that contracts muscles and helps to keep the skin lifted and toned. However, Rock insists that it is best to have this procedure done in a clinic rather than at home. "You can't really do at home what can be done in a clinic," she explains, with the caveat that at-home skincare does offer the opportunity for repetition. Essentially, a professional session is best, but if you're determined, you can achieve similar results through a consistent routine: "They do work but the responsibility, in that sense, is down to you using it," she says. If you are shopping for a device, Rock recommends getting something that has 10-600 on the box, which means it is within the bandwidth of currents that actually contract the muscle. Ultimately, when it comes to skincare trends, although there is plenty of unsolicited advice on social media, it is usually best to trust the advice of qualified professionals and the recommendations of trusted friends.
Irish Independent
26-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Beauty fix: I want to bring my full skincare routine with me on holidays — can I just decant everything into little bottles?
Surprisingly, the answer to that is no, says Jennifer Rock, The Skin Nerd and founder of Skingredients. 'In principle,' she says, 'decanting your products is beyond genius, but in practice, it's just not a safe way to work with skincare, particularly for anything active. It compromises stability, potency and efficacy of the product. 'You're exposing ingredients to air and oxygen and also, when these products are formulated, they are checked and tested over and over in exactly the packaging it arrives in. We don't know how it will react with your little bottles, so with your actives in particular, like vitamin C, retinol, even your moisturiser, no.' You can decant away with your less ingredient-led stuff, such as shampoo, body wash, 'maybe your cleanser', Rock says. I'm going carry-on luggage and can't bring the bathroom cabinet, what are the must-haves? Carry-on luggage rules, when it comes to toiletries, skincare and make-up, mean that we can bring a single (approximately 20 x 20cm) plastic bag of liquids, gels and pastes into the cabin of the plane. As we all know, this little bag fills up fast, but it's worth noting that liquid, gel or paste medications can go into a separate bag with a prescription or doctor's letter. Also, these are the rules laid out by Dublin Airport and may differ in other countries and airports. Rock says she is the opposite of whittled-down when it comes to travelling with her toiletries, but her top advice is to prioritise your active skincare products – acids, serums, antioxidants, retinol – and, if you're going somewhere sunny, keep sun protection as your core concern. Does vitamin C really help with sun protection? 'Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and a natural photo [light] protector,' says Rock. 'So putting it on in the morning under your SPF helps to boost the resilience of your skin against excessive light. 'Antioxidants are crucial,' she says. 'The sun is beautiful and I'm not anti it, but it's the most oxidising piece we are exposed to, particularly on holiday.' Sun exposure causes oxidative stress, which damages skin cells and drives ageing and sometimes disease of those cells. Antioxidants create a protective barrier to stressors like UV rays before they can cause damage. Vitamin C is the antioxidant we hear about most and it's a key bit of your sun-holiday kit. Look for a 10-20pc level of vitamin C in your serum, she says, for good effectiveness. Some other antioxidants to look out for are vitamin E, niacinamide or ferulic acid. If retinol makes skin sensitive to sun, should I leave mine at home? Retinol is brilliant for diminishing the signs of sun damage, but because it promotes cell turnover, the new skin cells can be more sun sensitive. However, this does not mean you can't use your retinol on a sun holiday. It just means you have to be extra careful with sun protection. She advises against bringing too many acids on holiday, because they can be irritating in heat and sun, but Rock says she uses both vitamin C and retinol at night on holiday. This is harmless because she trusts herself to use her SPF and use it properly. So sun protection is the must-pack? 'SPF is the non-negotiable for the skin cancer stats, and also from the point of view of accelerating lines, wrinkles, redness and pigmentation,' Rock says, 'and the key thing to emphasise is the importance of reapplication and that's how much and how often. 'The average adult-size body needs 33ml of SPF for proper coverage and that's reapplied at most every two hours, or more often if you're swimming or sweating a lot. So if you think about 33ml each time, you're going to use more than one 100ml bottle on a week's holiday.' Remember, you can always buy big bottles of SPF at your destination, and the same goes for items like cleanser, body wash or deodorant. Skingredients 15% Vit C, E + Tri-Mushroom Brightening Anti-Ageing Booster 30ml, €45, and pharmacies nationwide This latest launch from the trailblazing Irish skincare brand contains antioxidant vitamins E and C – with the latter at an impressive concentration – but with the addition of reishi, chaga and cordyceps mushroom extracts. These are also antioxidants, as well as helping to reduce inflammation. Heliocare 360˚ Pigment Solution Fluid SPF50+ 50ml, €32.24, Boots, selected pharmacies This is an excellent sun-care brand, with a huge range of products for all ages, skin types and SPF needs. This product offers broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays, but also has antioxidants, including niacinamide, an ingredient that is good for dark spots, with a lightly tinted, non-oily finish. Aveeno Calm + Restore Gentle PHA Exfoliating Cleanser, RRP€12.99, available nationwide Layering on the SPF can lead to a slightly congested skin, so a lightly exfoliating cleanser can be a holiday godsend. Some acids are a bit too strong in sun-drenched situations, but PHA (polyhydroxy acid) is gentle but effective in clearing dead skin cells without irritation. This is also a brand you can find easily anywhere in Europe or America.
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Louise McSharry: ‘A friend was struggling with acne when a chance encounter with a drag queen changed her life'
There are some skincare brands that I believe allow you to do just that — feel confident that whichever of its products you choose, you'll be on solid ground. The following are brands I'd be happy to use a full skincare routine from, such is my faith in them. 1. Skingredients (via — When a brand is created by someone who has built a career around skin expertise, you can be fairly sure it's going to be good. Jennifer Rock's Skingredients is an excellent example of this. Rock spent years guiding people towards the products and practices which would result in their best skin through her business The Skin Nerd before using all her experience to formulate her own products. I highly rate every single product in this small but perfectly formed range. 2. Paula's Choice (via — A friend of mine was struggling with acne when a chance encounter with a drag queen in Belfast changed her life. 'You need Paula,' the queen said, and after ascertaining that Paula was referring to a skincare brand and not another drag queen, my friend made some purchases. She says it's the best thing she ever did. Unlike Skingredients, Paula's Choice has a very large range of products, which means almost every skin concern is covered. Unlike some large ranges, though, these products are really effective. If you're confused on which products are best for you, the brand has a guidance section on its website which includes a helpful skin type quiz. 3. No7 (via — A brand that needs no introduction, the Boots beauty brand was launched in 1935. In my lifetime, it's been such a constant presence that you'd be forgiven for overlooking it. When something is always there, you might forget about it. The launch of the brand's Future Renew range, however, led me to use a full No7 skincare routine, and I was impressed. The products are consistent and effective — I guess there's a reason the brand has been a success for 90 years! 4. Skin Rocks by Caroline Hirons (via — Caroline Hirons's skincare expertise became a staple in many a product-lover's life long before the launch of her brand, Skin Rocks, in 2022. After years of trusting Hirons's lead when it came to skincare products, I knew I could have faith in a range she was happy to put her name on. I could use only Skin Rocks products for the foreseeable and be happy. Buying Irish Influencer Lisa Jordan's beauty brand Luna has an impressive array of products in its range, with all bases covered from foundation to brows and mascara. The brand's new Butter Balm Lipsticks have a formula which delivers the pigment of a lipstick but the comfort and hydration of a balm. Honestly, they do feel a bit like butter! With a satin finish, Butter Balm Lipsticks are available in five shades, which include two pinks, two nudes and a red. Rumour has it there's not a Cork woman in the world who doesn't have a Luna by Lisa product in their make-up bag — I'm sure this will be a happy addition. Something old… When I think of cream bronzer, my mind immediately goes to Chanel's Les Beiges Bronzing Cream (€55 via I can't say for sure that it was the first bronzing cream on the market, but it was certainly the one that got everyone's attention. For years, it was the only cream bronzer anyone was talking about. Aside from the chic Chanel pot it comes in, the product itself is great. It blends beautifully, and thanks to a total lack of sparkle and shimmer, it mimics natural bronze brilliantly. Les Beiges Bronzing Cream was initially only available in one shade, which worked for lots of people but not those with dark or fair skin tones, so Chanel introduced two new shades a few years ago which means more people can enjoy the product. It's pricey, but a little goes a long way so a pot will last you ages. For me, even the light shade is too dark in the winter, but I'm looking forward to getting back to it this summer. ... Something new For many people, Benefit has been a go-to brand when it comes to bronzer for as long as they've worn make-up. Hoola, a matte powder bronzer, is incredibly popular thanks to its matte finish and soft texture which blend beautifully and, like the aforementioned Chanel product, deliver a realistic bronzing effect. Now, Benefit has brought a new Hoola to the party. Hoola Wave Original Cream Bronzer (€41 via contains jojoba seed oil, shea butter and avocado oil, which means it applies smoothly and leaves the skin feeling nourished. It's not so balmy that it slides around the face though — Hoola Wave stays where you put it. Available in an impressive five shades (this shouldn't really be impressive but unfortunately the bronzer market has a long way to go when it comes to inclusivity), this product will work on most skin tones. If you like the original Hoola, but would like to layer your bronzer or simply prefer a cream, you'll like this, which delivers the same shimmer-free natural finish as its predecessor.
