a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Triona McCarthy: The holy grail concealer that's just a tenner and my other favourite beauty bargains
Jo for Zara I smelt Elegantly Tokyo (€29.95, at a recent film premiere and literally had to track down where this divine fragrance was coming from – actress Fiona Breslin was wearing it. I didn't realise that Jo Malone has done a whole range for Zara, with names like Fashionably London and Gracefully Madrid. I was in there like swimwear. Elegantly Tokyo is sophisticated and floral, and is made with white flowers, jasmine and akigalawood – a woody, spicy fragrance note created from patchouli oil. In fact, the whole collection smells of money!
Beam Me Up Primark Beauty's new PS... Pro collection is perfect for keeping your summer glam on point at a hugely reasonable price. The PS… Pro Sun Beam Tinted Primer SPF 50+ (€7, Penneys/Primark) is perfect if you want to embrace the 'no make-up/make-up' trend and it has a lightweight, breathable formula. It has also been developed with a peptide complex to smooth and brighten your skin for a radiant finish.
A Great Fit Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer (€9.99, is one of those holy grail concealers and I have so many friends who wouldn't be without it! It doesn't look dry or heavy and you will get all the coverage you need from it as it works to conceal redness, flaws and blemishes. It blends easily to the skin, is formulated to match all skin tones from light to dark, and it looks great when applied to a well-hydrated under eye – the hydration is important to avoid caking.
What a Wonder A moment please for the Rimmel London Wonder'Bond Lash Filler+ Hyaluronic Mascara (€14.99, which is infused with hyaluronic acid. Love Island presenter Maya Jama has been sporting this mascara, which hydrates and nourishes your lashes and has a buildable formula, curved filler brush, and lash-filling fibres to give you fuller and thicker-looking lashes. It's definitely a bit of me, as they say on Love Island.
Skin for the Win I'm very mindful of protecting my skin, so I'm enjoying The Ordinary UV Filters SPF 45 Serum (€19.90, The SPF 45 gives broad spectrum protection and all-day hydration. It doesn't clog pores and provides a natural-looking glow. I'm also a fan of the new CeraVe Balancing Air Foam Cleanser (€15.50, which also helps to improve the skin barrier function and is suitable for sensitive or redness-prone skin.
Treat
Safe serum If you're trying to conceive, or are pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum, you might like to try Skn To Skn, a skincare brand created by Sara Stokes for these sensitive times. Her range offers pregnancy-safe products, such as the Skn to Skn Multi-Tasking Face Serum(€45, a gentle retinol alternative.
Trick
Sock styling There are loads of amazing hair curling devices out there but a lot of them are pretty spendy. A thrifty trick to save money while giving yourself a beautiful bouncy do is the heatless sock blowout, which has blown up on TikTok. All you need to do is section your hair, wrap the strands around socks, and secure them to your head for a few hours or overnight, to create bouncy curls or waves with no heat damage. A great way to use those odd socks!
Treatment
Face revival Looking for a great treatment to reduce fine lines? Try the iS Clinical Fire & Ice facial with Deesse PRO LED light therapy at South William Clinic in Dublin (€150, The 'Fire' part is a resurfacing masque with glycolic acid and retinol, and the 'Ice' part consists of a soothing and hydrating masque with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, while the Deesse PRO LED light therapy promotes collagen production.
