Beauty Report: Limit damage, maximise beauty

The term ‘anti-ageing’ is dashed casually about by the beauty industry. It is a throwaway phrase smattered over products and advertising as though it is obvious that ageing is an undesirable and avoidable inconvenience. It isn’t.

You can look great at 25 and at 55, and I have never yet met a woman who thinks that products can reverse time. Most people don’t have a problem with looking their age; they just want to look the healthiest and best that they can.

Protecting your skin and keeping it balanced keeps it looking and feeling its best. When skin is distressed or damaged, it will always look unhealthy and signs of damage will be more obvious.

Murad Rapid Infusion Collagen for Lips

(€28 from Therapie Clinics): My lips will shrink into frightened raisins in response to cold weather. Thick emollient balms, while creating a barrier of protection, don’t put moisture back into them. This balm feels more like a serum. With hyaluronic acid and shea butter, it feeds dry, chapped lips

Estée Lauder New Dimension Firm and Fill Eye System

(€80 from February): Eye creams can get on my nerves as they tend to make wild claims, but if the skin around your eyes in a concern for you, this is the product to go for. Step one moisturises the delicate skin, leaving it pleasantly taut and cool, while step two acts as a (temporary) filler to smooth. Make-up goes on top beautifully

Clarins Super Restorative Hand Cream (€46): Hands show signs of damage more than any other part of the body, and this cream is targeted at mature skin with dryness and pigmentation issues

L’Occitane Shea Face Comforting Oil

(€36): Shea butter is best for mature skins because it’s incredibly rich – so rich that it can cause breakouts in younger skin. Apply after serum and moisturiser for incredibly supple, happy skin

Kiehl’s Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque

(€34 from February): This is designed to target the effects of city life, but it does generally great work for stressed, unloved, overexposed faces. Delightfully thick and wonderfully cooling, this mask replenishes fatigued, dull skin

Garnier Miracle Wake Up Cream

(€19.99): Keeping skin happy from a young age will minimise future damage, and this moisturiser is affordable and lovely. Fresh and hydrating, it is the perfect day cream for under-35s

NUXE Nuxuriance Ultra-Replenishing Serum

(€48): This range from NUXE is sumptuous in its entirety, but a serum is the most active step in your skincare routine. This one hydrates and plumps before disappearing into the skin

Skinceuticals Metacell Renewal B3

(€110): Failing prevention, early action is the best cure, and this serum is potent. If you have sensitised skin showing signs of sun damage, this light emulsion will visibly improve skin clarity. Pair it with an SPF to maintain the improvement

Product of the week – Mac Foiled Shadow

(€21): These glossy, metallic powder eyeshadows whisper of magic. Get your hands on one of the eight available buttery soft shades while you can

[ lkennedy@irishtimes.com ]