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Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Irish Independent
Louise McSharry: My four go-to SPFs when you're looking for more than just sun protection
Alas, I'm not right. I know this because my own father is a sun cream denier. He's genuinely an intelligent man most of the time, but when it comes to sun cream, he simply refuses to engage. Each year, he develops a lobster-red shell, which peels and reforms multiple times over the course of the sunny season. We plead with him to apply sun cream, and he laughs in our faces. I'm not sure if it's misplaced arrogance or pure obstinance, but he simply won't do it and, at this stage, I've given up. I would never give up on you, though, and I'm sure that you would never dream of willingly burning or damaging your skin in the sun. Neither would I! So, let's talk about sun cream. At home, I tend to use whatever sun cream I have on the go for the kids, but if I'm going on holidays, I like to treat myself to something a little more grown up. With that in mind, here are some of my favourites. 1. Hawaiian Tropic Hydrating Protection Sunscreen Lotion (€22 via — This has been a go-to for me for many years, thanks to it being a pleasure to use and reasonably friendly on the wallet (it's frequently on special offer; the price here is the maximum you should expect to pay). This formula is beautifully hydrating via cocoa and shea butter, and I usually leave a holiday significantly more moisturised than I've arrived as a result. It's not sticky or greasy. Instead, it feels like a normal body lotion. Plus, its tropical scent gets you straight into the holiday vibe. 2. Nuxe Sun Oil Gold Shimmer High Protection (€33 via — It's hard for me to choose one product from Nuxe's sun protection range, because I am such a fan of them all, but this gal is definitely worth highlighting. If you're going to a wedding or special event, this product will keep you safe from the sun while delivering beautifully gleaming skin with flecks of golden shimmer. Nuxe products smell delicious, and this is no exception, with notes of sweet orange, Tiaré flower and vanilla. 3. Kopari Sunglaze Sheer Body Mist SPF30 (€41.40 via — This light spray delivers sun protection and glamour via a gorgeous coconut scent and light sheen. It dries quickly and is comfortable to wear, and I particularly like its spray bottle, which functions well and applies product evenly. It's also just pretty, almost like an accessory for the pool. 4. Bondi Sands Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ (€9.35 via — This is another winner in the texture category thanks to its light formula, which feels more like a moisturiser than an SPF. It functions as a moisturiser too, leaving the skin soft and hydrated, and is fragrance-free for those of you who prefer that. Lost in translation Ginseng is an ingredient frequently seen on skincare packaging, but why is it so popular? Ginseng root has been reported to have anti-ageing, skin-whitening, anti-wrinkle and moisturising effects among other things, making it an ideal raw material for skincare products. Some research also indicates that the presence of ginseng can also reduce inflammation and improve skin elasticity. Aside from that, ginseng holds significant cultural importance in Korea, making it extra appealing for skincare brands from that part of the world. Something old… If you are unfamiliar with the phrase keratosis pilaris, you probably don't have it. This skin condition results in bumpy, rough skin, usually on the upper arms, thighs or bum, and while harmless, is unpleasant for many of those who experience it. Fortunately, there are lots of products to reduce its impact, mostly via gentle exfoliation. Byoma's Smoothing Body Polish (€14.68 via and Smoothing Body Serum (€15.81 via work well on their own, or as a pair, thanks to ingredients like exfoliating succinic acid and nourishing panthenol. Fortunately, Byoma's prices are relatively reasonable, so testing these guys out won't hit your bank account too hard. As with any skincare product, consistency is key if you want to get results, so regular use of the body polish in the shower and body serum afterwards is your best bet. ... Something new Joonbyrd is a bodycare brand founded by dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite, who's love of beauty products goes back to exploring her grandmother's makeup collection. That love, along with her expertise from decades working with patients on their skin challenges, has resulted in joyfully packaged, very effective products. Joonbyrd's latest launch is Kaleidoscope Body Serum (€88 for 100ml via a lightweight serum which delivers gentle exfoliation to smooth and brighten the skin as well as delivering hydration. This product is ideal for anyone who struggles with keratosis pilaris, aka chicken skin. The presence of azelaic and shikimic acid gently exfoliate, while nourishing ingredients like blueberry seed oil ensure the skin is left soft and supple. This is not an inexpensive product though, so you may wish to try the 15ml size (€22 via before investing in the large bottle.
Irish Independent
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Triona McCarthy: My must-have faves and ultimate go-tos for skincare and make-up from the last 20 years
Do You C It? When I first started writing this beauty column, older beauty editors raved about this product. I thought it was incredibly expensive and I had way too many other things I wanted to buy back then. Fast forward to today, the 20th anniversary of the launch of SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (€185, and although it's still a bit of a splurge, I religiously use it. It has truly earned its title as the gold standard in vitamin C. The award-winning formula features a potent blend of 15pc pure vitamin C, working tirelessly to shield your skin from environmental damage, enhance firmness and texture, and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. The Alpha Peel Another non-negotiable in my skincare routine is the Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel (€25, These peels are nothing short of incredible. This two-step treatment is an absolute powerhouse, with a gentle blend of multiple acids designed to exfoliate, nourish and protect your skin from pesky free radicals. They polish, brighten and even out your skin tone, while the alkaline formula enhances radiance and boosts collagen production. Trust me, when my skin is misbehaving, this is my go-to miracle worker! What's the Skinny? J'adore the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick (€60, This beauty wonder, which seemingly came out of nowhere, has become a new icon, with everyone on TikTok and Instagram raving about it. So much so that it was nearly impossible to find with shades disappearing faster than I could grab them at Brown Thomas. The foundation promises 24-hour wear and hydration, delivering that coveted blurring 'filter' effect. Its smooth coverage effortlessly evens out your complexion and erases imperfections, while the lightweight formula keeps your skin looking fresh instead of cakey. Use as a foundation, a targeted concealer or for quick touch-ups on the go. Poco Loco I'm thrilled to include an Irish product in my round-up of beauty icons. Poco Beauty Universal Glow (€30, via ADVERTISEMENT Learn more This innovative beauty product has become a cult favorite, and for good reason. It's infused with SPF 30 and acts as a primer, colour corrector and moisturiser all rolled into one. With its anti-inflammatory properties, it brightens the skin and improves texture, delivering that coveted 'lit-from-within' glow. A Rare Beauty If you want a blusher that delivers a radiant glow that lasts all day, try Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush (€28, Selena Gomez launched her brand back in 2019, and the blush comes in 13 shades with both matte and dewy finishes. It has a long-lasting formula that blends and builds colour easily. Trick I'm intrigued by Salma Hayek's famous beauty tip – but hey, it's working for her. She says that you should never wash your face in the morning because, at night, your skin is rebuilding some of the oils that you need to keep your skin young and help balance the PH. According to Salma, you don't want to get rid of these oils, so splash your skin with water or do something mild to it rather than going in with the full cleansing routine. This is a great topic to discuss with any of your beauty obsessed friends! Treat There's a good chance you'll adore Chanel's latest eau de toilette, Chance Eau Splendide (€130, as much as I do. A floral heart of rose geranium from the fields of Grasse, tangy raspberry notes, a hint of mysterious white musk and whispers of iris and violet. The perfect summer scent. Treatment Exosomes are quickly becoming the buzzword in beauty. These tiny, powerful messengers can supercharge your skin rejuvenation and Dermalogica is right at the forefront with their innovative EXO Booster Microneedling treatment, available at select Dermalogica salons, including the Skin Essence on Dublin's South Anne Street ( Having experienced this treatment myself, I was amazed. I walked out of the salon glowing. Trust me, this treatment is a game changer.
Scottish Sun
26-04-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
We test three of the best eye-creams to counteract bags as hayfever season kicks in
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MY hayfever has been worse than ever this year. Itchy, watery eyes has left my skin sore and puffy, so I've been on the hunt for a great eye-cream to counteract my bags. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 We tested three of the best eye-creams to counteract bags These are three of the best. BUDGET 5 BYOMA De-Puff and Brighten Eye Gel gives you a lot of product for the price Credit: Supplied BYOMA De-Puff and Brighten Eye Gel, £13 for 20ml, The gel consistency of this eye cream takes the heat out of my irritated eyes without the need for a metal applicator. It's the thickest of the three, and takes a bit longer to sink in, but I don't mind that as it feels super-hydrating and soothing, thanks to the combination of ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid – and it hasn't caused any milia which can sometimes happen if I use overly rich products. For the price, you're getting a lot of product, and I can imagine it would take the best part of a year to get through the bottle, which is incredible value for money. MID-RANGE 5 Sculpted By Aimee Brighten Up Energising Eye Cream is my go-to Credit: Supplied Sculpted By Aimee Brighten Up Energising Eye Cream, £26 for 10ml, I've never seen a beauty product with packaging which combines a pump to keep the formula as potent as possible for longer, and a metal applicator that can be used to massage the eye area. It also has a special thin wand, which makes easy work getting into the inner corners. One pump is plenty to cover both eyes, so a little goes a really long way, and the lightweight formula – which contains tightening caffeine and soothing niacinamide, alongside peptides, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, doesn't feel heavy or greasy. It's my go-to. LUXURY 5 Murad Targeted Eye Depuffer has an immediate tightening effect and the most dramatic results Credit: Supplied Murad Targeted Eye Depuffer, £64 for 15ml, There's strict instructions that come with this cream, telling me it must be tapped around the eyes rather than rubbed in, which feels counter-intuitive given the metal applicator, so you miss out on most of the immediate cooling effect. Other than that, it's faultless. Amino acids tone the skin, while vitamin C brightens and glycerin hydrates, and light-reflecting pigments help disguise dark circles and puffiness for smooth-looking skin in the short-term. When your hay fever symptoms could really be signs of cancer It has an immediate tightening effect and the most dramatic results. PICK OF THE WEEK 5 Lush has launched a whopping 30 new bath bombs Credit: Supplied TODAY is World Bath Bomb Day (niche, I know – but any excuse to pamper myself!) and to celebrate, Lush has launched a whopping 30 new bath bombs featuring favourites, new products and fun collaborations, such as a Blueberry Matcha Oat Latte bath bomb, £6.50 and an out-of-this-world E.T. bath bomb, £9.50. Plus, if you buy a bath bomb today, you get Butterball, one of Lush's original bath bombs, for 95p, the price it was in 1995. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Sun
26-04-2025
- Health
- The Sun
We test three of the best eye-creams to counteract bags as hayfever season kicks in
MY hayfever has been worse than ever this year. Itchy, watery eyes has left my skin sore and puffy, so I've been on the hunt for a great eye-cream to counteract my bags. 5 These are three of the best. BUDGET 5 BYOMA De-Puff and Brighten Eye Gel, £13 for 20ml, The gel consistency of this eye cream takes the heat out of my irritated eyes without the need for a metal applicator. It's the thickest of the three, and takes a bit longer to sink in, but I don't mind that as it feels super-hydrating and soothing, thanks to the combination of ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid – and it hasn't caused any milia which can sometimes happen if I use overly rich products. For the price, you're getting a lot of product, and I can imagine it would take the best part of a year to get through the bottle, which is incredible value for money. MID-RANGE Sculpted By Aimee Brighten Up Energising Eye Cream, £26 for 10ml, I've never seen a beauty product with packaging which combines a pump to keep the formula as potent as possible for longer, and a metal applicator that can be used to massage the eye area. It also has a special thin wand, which makes easy work getting into the inner corners. One pump is plenty to cover both eyes, so a little goes a really long way, and the lightweight formula – which contains tightening caffeine and soothing niacinamide, alongside peptides, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, doesn't feel heavy or greasy. It's my go-to. LUXURY Murad Targeted Eye Depuffer, £64 for 15ml, There's strict instructions that come with this cream, telling me it must be tapped around the eyes rather than rubbed in, which feels counter-intuitive given the metal applicator, so you miss out on most of the immediate cooling effect. Other than that, it's faultless. Amino acids tone the skin, while vitamin C brightens and glycerin hydrates, and light-reflecting pigments help disguise dark circles and puffiness for smooth-looking skin in the short-term. When your hay fever symptoms could really be signs of cancer It has an immediate tightening effect and the most dramatic results. PICK OF THE WEEK TODAY is World Bath Bomb Day (niche, I know – but any excuse to pamper myself!) and to celebrate, Lush has launched a whopping 30 new bath bombs featuring favourites, new products and fun collaborations, such as a Blueberry Matcha Oat Latte bath bomb, £6.50 and an out-of-this-world E.T. bath bomb, £9.50. Plus, if you buy a bath bomb today, you get Butterball, one of Lush's original bath bombs, for 95p, the price it was in 1995.
Irish Independent
24-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Louise McSharry: Here are my top three skin tints for flawless, more natural coverage
Of course, there are no hard and fast rules around these things, and if you're someone who always wants their skin to look like skin, and doesn't want to wear heavy make-up, a skin tint might suit you all year round. With so many of them on the market, though, how do you figure out which one to choose? And how do you apply them? Applying a skin tint is easy — you can use any combination of fingers, brushes or sponges, depending on your preference. Personally, I find the warmth of the fingers helps complexion products to melt into the skin, which is important when a natural finish is what you seek to achieve. If you have blemishes to cover, you may find it's easier to conceal them first, before applying your skin tint. Just make sure you blend the products well, and don't use too much product. A gentle tapping motion should ensure a natural finish. If you have areas which require more coverage, you can absolutely use a concealer to deliver that. Light layers will always last longer and deliver a more natural finish, but will still allow you to get a flawless look without ever looking like you're wearing loads of make-up. As for which one to choose, here are some of the best options around if you want to even your complexion but achieve a truly natural, skin-like finish. You may not be familiar with the brands, but trust me, they're worth a try. Erborian CC Crème (€44 via — This Korean brand might be unfamiliar to you, but it is worth getting to know if only for its complexion products. This CC cream adjusts to the skin tone and immediately evens it out, leaving the skin looking healthy and hydrated. It also contains skincare ingredients and SPF, although I would certainly use an additional layer of SPF before application. If you want a super-natural skin-like finish you can apply without any faff, this could be the one for you. The only downside is a relatively limited shade range which may be too dark for the lightest complexions and too light for the darkest. Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint (€45 via — Staying in the very sheer and natural family, Lisa Eldridge's Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint is a silky, lightweight dream. It blends easily and melts into the skin, leaving you with a beautiful satin finish, and comes in a much wider shade range than the Erborian products, so all bases should be covered. Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint (€47.46 via — This is a gorgeous product which delivers a layer of sheer colour, blurring pores and diminishing redness, leaving you with beautifully even, natural-looking skin. Despite containing hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, this product works really well on oily skin and wears well throughout the day. Buying Irish Ealu is an Irish brand founded just a year ago by beauty entrepreneurs Carly Colgan Bates and Susan Fox. The range is small for now, with just four products available. Cleanse, Sand, Drench and Gloss are body products designed to cleanse, exfoliate, moisturise and shine the body, and each is packaged beautifully in elegant peach packaging. I am particularly drawn to Gloss (€38 via a 'shimmering body oil', but unlike most oils, this formula is thick enough to prevent it from dripping everywhere, allowing you to apply shimmer with precision and without mess. Perfect for nights out, or a post-pool glow, it's a great product. Something old… Every year at around this time, I buy a Clarins Invisible Sun Care Stick (€29 via This stick offers broad spectrum (that's UVA and UVB) SPF 50 protection, and when things get warm, I want one with me. I love its texture, which leaves the face glowing and hydrated via vitamin E and aloe vera without feeling sticky or greasy. Mainly, though, I love the format. I love that you can stick this in your pocket or in your handbag and you don't need to worry about it taking up loads of space or spilling, you simply have access to sun protection whenever you want it. I use it on myself, share it with friends, and have often lashed it all over my children's body when I've been stuck. In fact, there was one summer where I had to fight my youngest to use any other sun cream. It's just a great product, which delivers on protection, experience and practicality. ... Something new Bahama Skin is the youth-friendly skincare brand from the team behind Sosu Cosmetics. It's worth noting if you're the parent of a skincare-obsessed tween as its brightly coloured packaging is very on trend but the formulas don't contain the kind of actives young skin should avoid. Today, though, I want to talk about the brand's Skin Glow Sun Stick SPF 50 (€19.95 via This formula was designed with sensitive skin in mind so it works on all skin types, and is incredibly handy for on-the-go application. If you're someone who hikes, bikes, trikes or similar, you can pop it in your bag or pocket and lash it on as you move. Convenience is king, and this product is incredibly convenient.
