Beauty

Compiled by PHYL CLARKE

Washing line

A number of readers have contacted me about difficulties ordering the Japanese Wash Cloth online from beauty boutique Space NK. Turns out it is rather complicated to go through the website – you need to order by phone, under customer care, and the standard postage is £10, which seems to defeat the purpose of spending £18 on the cloth itself. So here’s a much better solution: Counter staff at Space NK in Harvey Nichols, Dundrum, Dublin 14, will post them to addresses nationwide. Tel: 01-2910421.

Nude awakening

Natural skincare has always struggled to compete with scientific advances when it comes to anti-ageing. While the products are usually very pleasant to use, with sensual aromas and textures, if you were looking to address age-related problems, it just didn’t cut the mustard. That was all before Bryan Meehan and Ali Hewson (above) set to work in 2007 to produce a range of luxury, high performance skincare without any nasties in them – in fact – Nude.

It has been a roaring success, with fans including Helena Christensen, and Erin O’Connor, who describes the transforming effects on her skin as a “knockout”. I can vouch for the Replenishing Night Oil which is a super-rich blend of nutrients with the most divine fragrance. This oil was awarded the highest rating ever in the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible (against more than 10,000 others).

It has taken a while, but the range is now available in Ireland at Vedas Beauty in Dún Laoghaire, which is also providing a range of facials using the formulas. Tel: 01-2140222, vedasbeauty.ie

AT YOUR SERVICE - your questions answered

Q. “I have been using Givenchy Prismissime 9 colour compact powder for the past two years,” writes Grace Hickie from Dublin, “but it has been discontinued. The colours were matt which suited my older complexion, but all the replacements I have seen (Bobbi Brown, etc) have a shiny glistening powder which might be okay at night but is not suitable for daytime. Do you know of a suitable and similar compact?”

A. I hear you Grace, the Prismissime 9 was a super product with the mix of shades giving a healthy boost to older skin which dulls through the natural loss of colour. Absolutely steer clear of anything shiny. I think the Bobbi Brown compact you refer to is the Shimmer Brick which is a lovely highlighting product, but doesn’t fulfil your requirements.

I recommend Laura Mercier’s Illuminating Powder – four different shades which blend together for instant radiance. Alternatively as it’s summer, you may want a little more colour and you’ll get that at the Clarins counter with Sun-kissed Bronzer. This is a matt bronzer duo, with one shade having enough pink to boost the complexion. You could also check out the website perfumeireland.com which stocks Givenchy and often has discontinued lines.

Lip service

Here’s the latest addition to Clinique’s impressive range of lip shades – a moisturising colour balm which hits the right balance between lipstick and gloss. Chubby Sticks (€19) come in eight shades, are long-lasting and non-sticky.