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Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Irish Independent
Louise McSharry: Heading to the sun? Here are the six holiday makeup bag essentials I always pack
The truth is, in the heat, I don't want to wear a lot of makeup. When things are sweaty, it's impossible to maintain a full face, and stressing about eyeliner running is the last thing I want to do when I'm trying to relax. Instead, I focus on products which will wear well and enhance the holiday glow I'm determined to attain. Here are my holiday makeup bag essentials: 1. Cream bronzer — Even if I'm protecting my face from the sun, I still want to look a little bronzed, and cream products deliver the most natural finish, in my opinion. My absolute favourite is Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer (€36 via A light balm which blends so easily into the skin that I don't believe anyone could mess it up, it delivers a little coverage and a natural dewy finish. 2. Blush — To enhance the 'I spent all day in the sunshine' look, a rosy or red blush is ideal. Again, a cream formula delivers a natural, skin-like finish with a little luminosity, so that's my preference. I'm a huge fan of the LH Cosmetics Artisticks (€35 via formula which comes in blush, bronzer and contour shades. Canvas is a beautiful red. 3. Sparkle — A little sparkle on the eye is beautiful in the sun, so I always pack an eyeshadow with some glitter in it. Powder shadows like Kash Beauty's Glitter Glaze in Glisten or Urban Decay's Space Cowboy work beautifully. I use a fluffy brush to deliver a wash of sparkle, but you can use your finger to apply if you want more intensity. 4. Eyeshadow Stick — If sparkle isn't your thing, I highly recommend an eyeshadow stick for a warm holiday. These are easy to apply and blend (your fingertip can usually do the job) and these days the formulas tend to be long-lasting. Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks (€35 via are the OGs in this category and are still some of my favourites (try Brick if you have blue or green eyes — it's incredible). Kiko Milano's Long Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks (€9.99 via are a great alternative. 5. Cream/liquid highlighter — A cream or liquid highlighter is essential for holidays, in my opinion. Tap it onto your cheekbones, collarbones, cupid's bow and anywhere else you want to glow and you'll look glossy and polished. Sculpted by Aimee's Liquid Lights Highlighter (€21 via comes in three shades, so you can choose the best one for your skintone. 6. Glossy Balm — A glossy lip balm is the perfect product for a low-key but polished look. The shine delivers a glam finish, while the balm aspect means your lips will be comfortable and hydrated. I like Iconic Bronze's Lip Balms (€11.99 via which are available in four shades and don't break the bank. Lost in Translation You may have noticed that an increasing number of products these days are labelled as 'paraben-free', but what are parabens, and are they really a problem in our beauty products? Parabens are chemical preservatives, used to extend the shelf life of products by preventing the growth of bacteria or mould. ADVERTISEMENT There is some evidence that parabens can be harmful. However, in cosmetics, they tend to be used at very low concentrations which have been deemed to be safe for use by regulatory and scientific bodies. Something old... I've been recommending La Roche Posay's Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid SPF50+ (€22.50 via for many years now. While what you want from a facial SPF might seem simple (comfortable high protection that sits well under makeup and doesn't leave a white cast), there are lots of products on the market which simply don't deliver that. Anthelios, however, knocks it out of the park. Developed specifically with sensitive skin in mind, it's resistant to sweat and water and doesn't sting your eyes. It can be used by those with all skin tones, plus, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. ... Something new The Ordinary has made a name for itself via effective skincare products that don't break the bank, so I had high expectations when it shared that it was launching a new SPF. UV Filters SPF 45 Serum (€19.90 via comes in the wake of an existing formula by The Ordinary which was criticised for its thick texture and white cast. Admirably, the brand pulled that product and went back to the drawing board, and what it has produced is genuinely excellent. The formula is lightweight and, as the name indicates, feels like a serum on application. It disappears into the skin almost immediately, leaving no tint of whiteness, and leaves the skin looking healthy and glowing. It looks great on its own but I've also found that my makeup sits perfectly over it. Truly, it ticks all the SPF boxes.
Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Belfast Telegraph
Louise McSharry: Want to fake a sun-kissed glow on your face? Here's how to do it...
Many tanning brands have developed hybrid products which combine the effect of false tan with skincare ingredients. These serums generally give the face a natural looking glow, along with the plumping and hydrating effect of hyaluronic acid. False tan can have a drying effect, which can cause problems for people with dry or sensitive skin, which is why this is a great option if you're looking to make your face match a tanned body, be it naturally or artificially. I like Cocoa Brown's Sunshine Serum (£15), which is easy to use and fairly priced If that sounds like too much for you, you may prefer to add some tanning drops to your skincare routine. These allow you to fully customise the level of glow or tan you want to achieve, depending on how many drops you use. Simply add as many drops as you like, according to your chosen product's instructions, to your usual moisturiser and you'll gradually see a bronzing effect. I like Pestle & Mortar's Glow Drops (£35), which are enriched with hyaluronic acid and deliver a truly natural-looking glow. If you don't want to commit to a bronzed effect that will last for a few days, bronzing drops may be the product for you. These were made famous by skincare brand Drunk Elephant via its D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Drops (£35). Similar to tanning drops in that they are combined with a moisturiser or facial oil, they'll make you look instantly glowy and will wash off at the end of the day. If you're not looking for an all-over tint, classic bronzing products will work beautifully. My absolute favourite product to achieve a sun-kissed look is Makeup by Mario's SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer (£35) which is incredibly easy to use thanks to its balmy texture. It's almost impossible to make it look unnatural thanks to how easily it blends and melts into the skin, and I find the lightest shade looks great on fair skin without being too orange. Unfortunately, the darkest shade probably won't work for people with very dark skin, an issue that comes up repeatedly when it comes to bronzer. It would be great to see improvement there, as there is no reason for international brands to be failing when it comes to inclusivity in 2025. Buying Irish Sculpted by Aimee is going from strength to strength, with major developments in the brand's skincare range over the last couple of years. The latest launch is a trio of radiance-boosting products: Brighten Up Energising Eye Cream, Hydrabright Illuminating Serum and LiquidGlo Brightening Essence. Each formula contains a carefully considered list of ingredients, like brightening caffeine in the eye cream and barrier-enriching niacinamide in the serum. I've just started using them, but so far I'm a big fan. These products are available individually, or as a trio for £60 via Something old… It would be easy to feel overwhelmed by all the hair products on the market these days. Once upon a time, you really only had products to clean your hair and help the style stay in place, but these days it feels like every second week a hair brand is identifying a new problem for them to solve with a brand new product. Not all of them feel warranted, but there is no doubt that humidity causes problems for lots us when it comes to our hair. Fortunately, hair brands have been pumping out products to solve that problem, and, even better, finding ways to incorporate solutions into products which also perform other tasks. Umberto Giannini's Weatherproof Hold Anti-Humidity Frizz Free Hairspray (£9.95) is a good example of this. It delivers medium-strong hold while preventing your style from being impacted by humidity. ... Something new I've yet to try a Colour Wow product I didn't like, but there is no doubt that the brand's Dream Coat Supernatural Spray is a real favourite. It is incredibly effective at preventing frizz in humid conditions as well as protecting the hair from heat. Now, Colour Wow has taken its Dream Coat knowledge and parlayed it into a brand new hairspray. Texas Hold 'Em Big Hold Hairspray (£29.50) not only promises to protect your hair from the impact of humidity, but it also delivers strong hold and heat protection. Think big, Dallas Cowboys, Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias hairstyles, built to last. This product also offers a new 'flash-fixate' method of application which the brand says leaves the hair less wet, which certainly appeals to me. A thin veil of hairspray is always preferable to wet chunks of hair which often dry in solid chunks — I'm never really going for solid chunks in my hair.
