Beauty

Compiled by PHYL CLARKE

I can't live without...

DEBBIE O’DONNELL

Series producer on Xposé, TV3

My mascara: Without doubt the single most important item in my make-up bag. I feel totally naked without mascara on. It’s even more important to me than my high heels and God knows I love them.

My Dermalogica face cream: I’ve never been a big one for lotions and potions, but I would spend my last few euro on this moisturiser. A must for sensitive skin.

My runners: Nothing to do with the fact that I’m married to a personal trainer. It’s the best way for me to unwind and run off the stresses of the day. Tricky enough, though, when the footpath is under a foot of water.

Spoilt for choice

Candy-coloured pans in tempting shades line up in a display reminiscent of a sweet shop in the new Inglot make-up store in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. There are 200 shades of eye shadow and the same number of nail polish shades vie with 150 lipstick colours for your attention, and the keen prices mean you won’t get a shock at the till.

Although relatively new to Ireland, the range has been around for 25 years and has a loyal following with (notoriously difficult to please) make-up artists.

I asked make-up artist Leonard Daly for his take on the range. “I think their brushes (from €4) are fantastic at the price, as many are made with natural hair. Another pick is the gel liner (€14). It comes in so many colours; one of my favourites is the lime green, which adds a little brightness to our wintry weather. It really stays put, so be careful. The array of lip shades is great, particularly the matte textures (€12). Be sure to hydrate your lips before applying these.”

Smooth operator

The original formula hasn’t changed in the 80 years since Dubliner Thomas Smith developed a soothing cream in the back room of his pharmacy. His wife gave it the name Sudocrem and a skincare legend was born. Cuts, minor burns acne and sunburn all benefit from its antiseptic properties, not forgetting the generations of babies whose bottoms have been cleared of nappy rash. Now available in a handy tube, from €2.15.

Full-on glamour

Patterns are all around us this season (spots anyone?) and classics such as quilting and Jacquard (where the design is incorporated into the weave) are very of the moment. Naturally, this trend doesn’t stop at fashion, with textured palettes finding their way to the beauty counters too. High End: For the past few seasons, it has been de rigueur to pair the smoky eye with a glossy nude lip, but check out Giorgio Armani’s current look which embraces the full-on glamour of 1940s Hollywood, with both eyes and lips playing leading roles. The key to the 2011 version is the skin finish – a dewy satin glow which exudes radiance, compared to the mask like flatness of the original matte powders. The Jacquard Palette (€58.50) sculpts, illuminates, and adds a natural blush by using the four shades separately or together for a rosy natural glow. High Street: This Let there be Light palette from Marks & Spencer (€13) has a quilted design with three shades for contouring and highlighting face, neck and décolletage.