Louise McSharry: From primer to lippy, here’s how to do a full face of 100pc Irish makeup

Not only are there lots of Irish makeup options but the quality is consistently good. Where once I didn’t have a single Irish product in my routine, these days I could happily do a full face of makeup from the island of Ireland. In the spirit of supporting Irish businesses (most of which are helmed by women), today I thought I’d share with you what that might look like.

Starting with tools, I’d use brushes from Sarah Keary or Rebeluna. I’ve been using Sarah Keary’s 9-Piece Pop-Up Professional Makeup Brush Set (€99 via sarahkeary.ie) for years, and I absolutely love it. It has everything you could need and is super handy to pop into your bag when you’re travelling. Aside from that, the brush quality is excellent and they last really well. If there’s anything you think is missing from that set, Rebeluna has every type of brush you could want, and they’re all competitively priced.

I’d prime my skin with Poco Beauty’s Universal Glow Treatment (€30 via pocobeauty.com), which leaves the skin luminous and protected via SPF 30.

Then I’d turn to Sculpted by Aimee for my foundation and concealer. I like Tint & Glow (€26 via sculptedbyaimee.com) which delivers light, luminous coverage but the brand has a complexion option for everyone, from light to full coverage. For extra coverage, I’d apply Brighten Up Concealer.

Brows would be taken care of by products from Brow Aid, specifically the Masterstroke Brow Trio which includes a retractable brow pencil and micro pen. This allows you to fill in the brows and add realistic-looking hairs where needed.

I’d then fluff up existing hair with The Hero Tinted Brow Mascara (€29 via browaid.com) to make them look as natural as possible.

To add colour to my face, I’d get out Sosu x Bonnie Ryan’s Contour & Glow Palette which includes a cream bronzer and champagne highlight (€19.95 via sosucosmetics.com). I know I’ve written about this repeatedly but it really is an excellent product, especially at this price point.

For blush, Lukey Lukey is hard to beat. The brand’s little blue pots of Créme Blush (€29 via lukeylukey.com) are adorable and they perform beautifully. For longevity, I’d top with 5. Kash Beauty’s super-pigmented Sculpt Powder Blushes (€19.95 via kashbeauty.com).

When it comes to eyeshadow, there’s little you could want that bPerfect doesn’t offer. From the bright colours of the enormous Carnival Palettes (€47.95 via bperfectcosmetics.com) to the grungey shades of the Gravity Palette (€22.95 via bperfectcosmetics.com), all bases are covered, and the formulas are excellent from mattes to shimmers.

For a little extra sparkle, I’d tap on some of Anam Cometics’ beautiful Biodegradable Glitter Shadow (€15.50 via anamcosmetics.com) followed by Poco Beauty’s Empower Volume Mascara (€24 via pocobeauty.com).

A dusting of BPerfect x Katie Daley Perfect Powder over areas I want to be matte would finish the job off.

Each of the products I mentioned above have been in regular rotation in my makeup bag, right alongside and often in place of high-end luxury products. Not only can we buy Irish, but we can do so without making much sacrifice at all!

Buying Irish

Few beauty topics have been raised more frequently with me than that of pre-teens and skincare. The current trend for kids to have complicated skincare routines brings up a lot of feelings and is placing many parents in a tricky position.

Bahama Skin is an Irish brand by beauty entrepreneur Suzanne Jackson who recognised that there was a gap in the market for products which are safe for younger people to use but still deliver the bright, trendy skincare routine they crave.

From pimple patches and under-eye gels to gentle cleansers and colourful accessories, your kids will love this and you’ll love the price point, which sits under €10 for most of the range. It’s available now via bahamaofficial.com.

Something old…

La Roche-Posay is a consistently excellent skincare range which suits all skin types. The brand has been researching and developing skincare products for 30 years, and it shows in its products.

The brand’s Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum (€39.90 via mcdaidpharmacy.ie) has been a staple of many a skincare routine for years due to its effective delivery of hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5.

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, which means it draws in existing moisture. When used topically, it brings moisture to the surface of the skin, making it look plumper. Vitamin B5 soothes the skin and decreases inflammation, meaning this is an ideal product for sensitive skin.

If you’re not currently using hyaluronic acid in your skincare routine, this is an ideal addition and can be applied morning and/or night after cleansing and before moisturising.

​... Something new

The Ordinary continues to impress with great formulas and well-priced skincare products. One of the brand’s fan-favourites is its hyaluronic acid serum, which delivers beautiful hydration and is easy to add to any skincare routine.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? Unless you can make it better. That’s what the brand has done with the re-launch of Hyaluronic Acid 2% plus B5 (€9 via beautyfeatures.ie). It now includes five forms of hyaluronic acid from ceramides which means it will deliver the hydration fans love, and additional protection of the skin barrier. This product will play well with other active ingredients, so should fit well into any skincare routine.