Louise McSharry: From balms to creams, seven super face products for gorgeous glossy skin as we head into summer

While matte and powder products always have a place, as far as I’m concerned there will always be a place for glossy, glowing skin. It looks fresh and healthy, as well as youthful and, as long as you’re careful about application, can look good on any type of skin, no matter your age.

I like to start this look with a foundation or complexion product which minimises the effect of natural skin. If my skin is in good nick, I like Jones Road’s What The Foundation (€54 via jonesroadbeauty.com). This ultra-nourishing tinted balm is rich and leaves the skin looking beautifully natural and hydrated.

However, this guy is not going to cover any major imperfections, so if things in the skin department are not going so well, I favour IT Cosmetics’ CC+ Cream (€48 via brownthomas.com). This product is still rich and hydrating, but also delivers brilliant coverage, which is even effective on redness and rosacea.

Even if you prefer a more matte complexion product, though, you can achieve glow through cream and liquid products on targeted areas of the face. There are lots of blush/highlighter hybrid products on the market these days, and this is one of my favourite ways to add gloss to the face. For a fully glossy effect, you need an almost wet-look product rather than a shimmery finish. I like Jones Road’s Miracle Balms (€40 via jonesroadbeauty.com), which come in 13 shades and leave the skin looking juicy and hydrated.

Saie Beauty’s Dew Blush (€23 via cultbeauty.com) is a liquid formula which delivers a little more pigment, but still leaves the cheek with a dewy finish.

If you’re happy with your current blush and it’s a cream or liquid formula, you can add gloss with a dedicated product. Danessa Myricks Beauty’s Dew Wet Balm (€29.90 via cultbeauty.com) is a great option. The balm is available in six colour options, which includes a transparent option that adds pure gloss (when I got it, I thought I’d been sent an empty product because it’s so transparent) as well as slightly tinted and fully tinted options in coral, pink and bronze.

Glossy products are handy to have in your bag as you can tap on some glow whenever you like. Aside from the aforementioned Miracle Balm and Dew Wet Balm, I am a big fan of hydrating sticks. My favourite is Korean brand VT Cosmetics’ PDRN Essence Stick Balm, which delivers a beautifully glossy finish, but it’s hard to get in Ireland (although if you’re willing to pay postage, it’s available on Amazon for $14.08).

Another solid option is Nudestix Dewy Barrier Hydrating Stick (€33.90 via cultbeauty.com). These products deliver nourishment and hydration as well as a beautiful gloss to the skin. Simply tap on with your fingertips and enjoy the glow.

In short, juicy, glossy skin always looks beautiful, and it’s achievable as long as you use the right products in the right places. Gloss on the cheekbones and perimeter of your face looks healthy and fresh — to avoid the sweaty look, avoid adding glow to the upper lip, undereye, and between the brows.

Lost in translation

‘Skin cycling’ is a term I’m hearing more and more these days, but the practice has been around for as long as I’ve been interested in skincare. Essentially, skin cycling just means taking breaks from active ingredients such as retinol. Frequently, these ingredients are too powerful for daily use, so you may find using them every second night, or taking a weekly break for a day or two, works better for your skin.

Something old…

Unfortunately for me, my lashes are not what they once were. Sometimes, when I’m going through a phase when I’m on top of things and I’m applying lash serum every single night as part of my skincare routine, they come back to life, but the reality is they’re sparser than they’ve ever been. As a result, it’s much harder these days to apply mascara without making a mess. My shorter lashes don’t create enough of a barrier, and chunky mascara brushes always result in the product ending up all over my eyelids. However, there is a way to combat this and it’s via a slim applicator. For this reason, when my lashes are not in great shape I like MAC’s Extended Play Lash Mascara (€24 via brownthomas.com). The formula is buildable and long-lasting, and the slim brush allows me to apply product to even the shortest lashes without making a mess. This product has been a staple of mine for years, and I will be buying it for as long as it exists.

… Something new

I’m a big fan of Lancôme’s Lash Idôle mascara, so when I heard they were launching a new version, I was keen to get my hands on it. The new Lash Idôle Flutter Extension Lengthening Mascara (€31 via boots.ie) places more of an emphasis on length than the original formula, which is all about volume, but is still buildable enough to allow you to achieve it if you want to. Its slim brush makes it easy to grab each and every lash and coat them completely from root to tip. This brush and formula also delivers individually fanned-out lashes, beautifully separated and full. Aside from that, it doesn’t flake or transfer, and survives even fits of tear-filled emotion (let’s not get into how I know that). This mascara has immediately joined my arsenal of favourites, and is ideal for people with thin or thinning lashes.