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, millies.ie), 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, spacenk.com). 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, boots.ie). 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 pocobeauty.com).

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, spacenk.com). 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, brownthomas.com) 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 (skinessence.ie). Having experienced this treatment myself, I was amazed. I walked out of the salon glowing. Trust me, this treatment is a game changer.