Beauty

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Brush up

The little portable friend will put an end to the problem of carrying big brushes in your make-up bag for on-the-go touch ups. Eco Tools is a range of soft cosmetic brushes including this retractable Kabuki Brush (€16.79) – perfect for face powder or bronzer. It also uses Earth-friendly materials. At Boots chemists

Kiehl's appeal

No visit to New Ysork would be complete for me without a visit to cult apothecary Kiehl’s, which has been dispensing no fuss highly effective skin and haircare products since 1851. The company specialises in naturally derived ingredients and caters for both sexes. Best sellers include Crème de Corps (€19), an enriched body lotion which is often used backstage on models’ legs to smooth and shine; Crème Silk Groom (€21), a non-greasy all-in-one grooming aid that moisturises, protects and conditions hair. Fans of the range will be delighted to hear that Ireland now has its own Kiehl’s store, where they can stock up to their hearts’ content without the excess baggage worries.

Kiehl’s, 35 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2

Lip service

Finding your perfect lip shade is a Holy Grail moment – suddenly eyes brighten, skin looks energised and teeth appear whiter.

A general rule of thumb when choosing a lip shade is to complement your colouring with like tones. Cool complexions with a pink undertone and blue/green eyes will suit blue-based reds, pinks and berry shades. Warmer skins often have a golden hue with hazel/brown eyes and these suit yellow-based reds, oranges and terracottas. Having said that, there ain’t no rule that can’t be broken: deep plums should be the province of the blue-eyed pale face, but can look stunning on a olive-skinned, brown-eyed beauty. Equally, a bright orange can work wonders for a blue-eyed pale face.

It’s true that the road to lipfinity is paved with the unexpected, but remember that the counter consultants are there for you – they know the ranges inside out and should be mentally selecting shades to suit you as you approach the counter. A good place to start is the Clinique Lip Collection for a Brighter Smile (€19), a thoughtfully designed range of 11 lip shades that contrast with your teeth, making them look whiter (that usually means the whites of your eyes look brighter too). They come in different formulas, from soft textures to long-lasting formulas.

Lavender lady

Here’s the perfect nail shade to see you into Autumn – Estee Lauder’s Surreal Violet (€17) gets the balance just right. Perfectly understated, it’s an elegant pearly lavender which is pale enough to be a neutral without a shred of blandness. The colour also signals the massive trend for purple that is coming your way – you heard it here first.