Beauty

Compiled by PHYL CLARKE

Cool collaborations

The most outlandish performer of our day is surely Lady Gaga with her installation outfits and make-up, so hooking up with Mac, leaders of the pack in experimental looks, seems a natural fit for her.

It’s all in a good cause, of course. There are two new lip products using her name – a lipstick and gloss – but as most of the shades the lady would wear would have a very niche market, a neutral, light warm beige is the surprising choice. The products cost €17.50, with all proceeds going to the Mac Aids Fund.

Florence Welch is another singer noted for her individual style, which has tipped her into a broader arena. She’s cool and just the right side of eccentric, the perfect fit for a collaboration with cult skincare brand Kiehl’s, in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. She has chosen to endorse the brand’s hero product, Crème de Corps, a superb body moisturiser that leaves a silken sheen to the skin. The perfect excuse to indulge yourself for a good cause. The Florence Welch-branded large bottle size costs €52 from Kiehl’s in Wicklow Street, Dublin 2.

Happy hair

With its candy cane stripes and retro shape, this mini travel dryer from Corioliss is just the ticket. Apart from its good looks, its travel-friendly features include a two-point European plug hidden behind a standard three-pin plug, and a wrist strap so you don’t drop it. Happy holiday hair for €29 at Boots.

Flower power

With its bright yellow flowers, the mimosa tree is said to inspire vitality, joy and wisdom, and couldn’t we all do with a bit of that? Of course they bloom every spring, but this year they’re definitely having a moment, popping up in all sorts of unexpected places.

The cult French fragrance house Annick Goutal is known for its unusual blends, particularly Eau d’Hadrian, which appears on many favourites lists. Its latest offering, Le Mimosa, has mimosa absolute with soft peach and milky sandalwood for a deliciously different and fresh scent. It costs €67 at Brown Thomas.

Although Chanel’s Le Vernis nail lacquer in Mimosa (€21) won’t be on sale until May 20th, I’m giving you the heads up in case you want to join the waiting list. I’m not joking. The company’s list of hit shades – from the much copied but never bettered Rouge Noir to last year’s stampede for Particulière – is an ongoing success story. They gave us Black Satin and the suddenly it was okay, or in fact so chic to wear black, and we wondered why we’d never realised this before. This summer we’re getting a blast of sunshine in Mimosa which will tick the colour block box if you don’t want to invest in a piece of screamingly bright clothing. It should also look amazing with a tan.

Origins Starting Over Age-erasing eye cream with mimosa (€38) freshens and soothes the eye area. My tester gave it the thumbs up for smoothing wrinkles and said the skin on her eyelids seemed firmer.

A great result after just three weeks’ use, and from a natural product, too. Do remember to pat, rather than rub cream around the eyes.