Victoria Beckham’s beauty counter at Brown Thomas on Grafton Street is sleek, polished, and feels more like a quiet luxury boutique, where conversations happen in hushed tones, than a busy department store cosmetics counter.
Beckham has an eye for detail and design that’s visible in every aspect of her almost six-year-old beauty brand – right down to the tortoiseshell-embossed packaging. And now, to further prove my point, comes the brand’s first official (and unique) foray into accessories – specifically, make-up brushes.
“Inspired by artisanal calligraphy pens and cutlery” - I’ve never seen make-up brushes quite like these. The nine-piece collection encompasses five face brushes, three eye brushes and a lip brush. I appreciate that she hasn’t brought out a ridiculous number, as many brands often do (realistically, we use two or three makeup brushes a day, if that, and so I feel nine is not an entirely unreasonable offering).
This decision, Beckham tells The Irish Times, was based on her experience with brushes that didn’t quite hit the mark. “I’ve collected so many brushes over the years, but I could never find the perfect ones – I always ended up with too many. So, I went back to my favourites, looked at how I could improve each one, and created something that’s really focused and beautifully simple,” she says.
“For me, it’s all about functional, beautiful tools. Performance is everything: precision, weight, feel. They’re built to last, designed to withstand daily use and cleaning, and made for those who appreciate both beauty and performance. The right tools make all the difference and these are the brushes I’ve always wanted.”
The handles are made from walnut with black shiny aluminium wrapping and are crafted so that no two brushes will ever be the same. They’ve also been carefully reworked (and then reworked again) to fit perfectly in your hand – and the brush hairs are extremely soft. According to Beckham, they’re made from “synthetic hair that mimics natural squirrel hair”.
The most multifunctioal brushes in the collection are the Conceal and Detail Face Brush (€46) and the Sculpt and Blend Face Brush (€68). “I wanted to do something truly versatile, which is why some of the brushes are double-ended, like these – you get more function without needing multiple different tools,” says Beckham. “Every product I create starts with why: why is it needed, will it make your routine better? They have to work beautifully, but they also need to feel special.”
With all the good, of course, comes the bad – and in this case, it’s the price. Given the quality, craftsmanship, and uniqueness of the brushes, I’m hesitant to call them overpriced (especially when I happily spent €50 on a standard MAC Cosmetics face brush a few years ago). Across the collection of nine, prices range from €35 to €68, which is not excessive, especially if you’re buying just one or two (like the more versatile ones I mentioned).
These brushes feel different because they are. I’m also pleased to see a brand not just releasing the same products as everyone else (like eye cream, for example. Every beauty brand seems to have launched one recently). According to Beckham, that’s exactly what she’s not trying to do – follow trends. “It’s never about launching products just for the sake of it. People have so much choice and I respect that. I’m not trying to follow trends or do what everyone else is doing. I stay focused on what I know my customer wants.”
This week I’m loving … Genosys Snow 02 Cleanser
Previously available in Ireland via clinics and salons, Korean skincare brand Genosys has now launched its range of skincare products in Ireland. I’ve tried several products so far, and one in particular really impressed: Snow 02 Cleanser (€32 from genosys.ie). It’s a (very fun) oxygenating mask that bubbles up on the skin, helping to sweep away make-up and impurities without irritation.
