Louise McSharry: ‘A friend was struggling with acne when a chance encounter with a drag queen changed her life’

There are some skincare brands that I believe allow you to do just that — feel confident that whichever of its products you choose, you’ll be on solid ground. The following are brands I’d be happy to use a full skincare routine from, such is my faith in them.

1. Skingredients (via skingredients.com) — When a brand is created by someone who has built a career around skin expertise, you can be fairly sure it’s going to be good. Jennifer Rock’s Skingredients is an excellent example of this. Rock spent years guiding people towards the products and practices which would result in their best skin through her business The Skin Nerd before using all her experience to formulate her own products. I highly rate every single product in this small but perfectly formed range.

2. Paula’s Choice (via paulaschoice-eu.com) — A friend of mine was struggling with acne when a chance encounter with a drag queen in Belfast changed her life. “You need Paula,” the queen said, and after ascertaining that Paula was referring to a skincare brand and not another drag queen, my friend made some purchases. She says it’s the best thing she ever did. Unlike Skingredients, Paula’s Choice has a very large range of products, which means almost every skin concern is covered. Unlike some large ranges, though, these products are really effective. If you’re confused on which products are best for you, the brand has a guidance section on its website which includes a helpful skin type quiz.

3. No7 (via boots.ie) — A brand that needs no introduction, the Boots beauty brand was launched in 1935. In my lifetime, it’s been such a constant presence that you’d be forgiven for overlooking it. When something is always there, you might forget about it. The launch of the brand’s Future Renew range, however, led me to use a full No7 skincare routine, and I was impressed. The products are consistent and effective — I guess there’s a reason the brand has been a success for 90 years!

4. Skin Rocks by Caroline Hirons (via brownthomas.com) — Caroline Hirons’s skincare expertise became a staple in many a product-lover’s life long before the launch of her brand, Skin Rocks, in 2022. After years of trusting Hirons’s lead when it came to skincare products, I knew I could have faith in a range she was happy to put her name on. I could use only Skin Rocks products for the foreseeable and be happy.

Buying Irish

Influencer Lisa Jordan’s beauty brand Luna has an impressive array of products in its range, with all bases covered from foundation to brows and mascara. The brand’s new Butter Balm Lipsticks have a formula which delivers the pigment of a lipstick but the comfort and hydration of a balm. Honestly, they do feel a bit like butter! With a satin finish, Butter Balm Lipsticks are available in five shades, which include two pinks, two nudes and a red. Rumour has it there’s not a Cork woman in the world who doesn’t have a Luna by Lisa product in their make-up bag — I’m sure this will be a happy addition.

Something old…

When I think of cream bronzer, my mind immediately goes to Chanel’s Les Beiges Bronzing Cream (€55 via brownthomas.com). I can’t say for sure that it was the first bronzing cream on the market, but it was certainly the one that got everyone’s attention. For years, it was the only cream bronzer anyone was talking about. Aside from the chic Chanel pot it comes in, the product itself is great. It blends beautifully, and thanks to a total lack of sparkle and shimmer, it mimics natural bronze brilliantly. Les Beiges Bronzing Cream was initially only available in one shade, which worked for lots of people but not those with dark or fair skin tones, so Chanel introduced two new shades a few years ago which means more people can enjoy the product. It’s pricey, but a little goes a long way so a pot will last you ages. For me, even the light shade is too dark in the winter, but I’m looking forward to getting back to it this summer.

… Something new

For many people, Benefit has been a go-to brand when it comes to bronzer for as long as they’ve worn make-up. Hoola, a matte powder bronzer, is incredibly popular thanks to its matte finish and soft texture which blend beautifully and, like the aforementioned Chanel product, deliver a realistic bronzing effect. Now, Benefit has brought a new Hoola to the party. Hoola Wave Original Cream Bronzer (€41 via brownthomas.com) contains jojoba seed oil, shea butter and avocado oil, which means it applies smoothly and leaves the skin feeling nourished. It’s not so balmy that it slides around the face though — Hoola Wave stays where you put it. Available in an impressive five shades (this shouldn’t really be impressive but unfortunately the bronzer market has a long way to go when it comes to inclusivity), this product will work on most skin tones. If you like the original Hoola, but would like to layer your bronzer or simply prefer a cream, you’ll like this, which delivers the same shimmer-free natural finish as its predecessor.