Clarins Double Serum Foundation
In an exciting new launch from Clarins, Double Serum Foundation (€55 from Brown Thomas) pairs the brand’s popular Double Serum with an everyday base formula. The serum and foundation are packaged in individual tubes within the bottle – two parts foundation, one part serum – but are dispensed together, making this a true skincare-meets-make-up hybrid.
The coverage is surprising, considering its serum-like nature, and it’s cleverly adjustable thanks to a small dial on the bottle lid. Twist to the maximum coverage, and you’ll get medium-to-full; dial it down, and it’s more sheer. One pump is more than enough to cover the entire face. The finish is what I’d describe as a soft matte, not overly dewy, so this will appeal to all skin types. Available in 37 shades.
Merit Signature Lip Blush
Originally created as a limited-edition product in 2023, Merit Signature Lip Blush (€32 from meritbeauty.com) was so beloved – including by me – that the brand made it a permanent part of the collection.
A sheer-matte formula available in eight shades, it’s something of a partnership between a balm and a matte lipstick: all the lightweight, nourishing qualities of a balm with the pigmented, long-lasting pay-off of a matte – without any of the drying discomfort that I typically find from matte lipsticks. The brand describes the formula as “lipstick you can live in”, and I think that sums it up.
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Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wardrobe in Orchid
Victoria Beckham Beauty does several products very well, and one of them is eyeshadow – specifically the brand’s Eye Wardrobe, as it’s known. A collection of multi-finish shades that can be mixed and matched or used alone to create your perfect eye look.
The latest addition is Orchid (€84 from Brown Thomas), a collection of soft berry-pink hues that light up the complexion. As ever, the shades are buttery-soft and include a shimmering pale pink, a matte lilac purple, a matte deep plum, and a metallic mauve, all encased in the brand’s signature weighty, tortoise-embossed packaging. It’s refillable, too.
Rimmel Thrill Seeker Mega Lift Extreme Volume and Lift Mascara
I love an affordable mascara, and Rimmel’s latest offering has impressed, not least thanks to the price point. Thrill Seeker Mega Lift Extreme Volume and Lift Mascara (€15.99 from Boots) has a unique, tapered brush. When applied, it reaches the often-missed inner corner lashes, creating a subtle fan-like effect.
Despite the long and dramatic name, the results are long but not overly dramatic. It delivers a pleasing amount of volume, noticeable lengthening, and, most importantly, no clumping or flaking throughout the day.
Vieve Bounce Balm
New shades of Vieve’s excellent Bounce Balm (€21 from Space NK) have just launched, and one of them, Grind – a nude/brown – has already made it into my handbag. A high-shine lip primer and treatment in one, it’s a smooth, plumping, intensely hydrating everyday lip balm that can be worn alone or under your favourite lip product as a hydrating base. The angled applicator makes it perfect for quick touch-ups, too.
This week I’m planning to visit ... Sephora in Belfast
After what feels like an interminable wait for beauty lovers, Sephora has finally arrived on our shores. The beauty behemoth’s first store in Ireland opened its doors earlier this week – a huge 2,550 sq ft space located in Victoria Square, Belfast.
The opening brings brands like Rhode, Haus Labs, Makeup By Mario, Merit Beauty, INNBeauty Project, Tower 28, Tatcha and many more directly into the hands of Irish customers.
