Louise McSharry: My granny never left the house without a compact – here’s four that combine practicality and beauty

I can’t say, however, there aren’t moments in which I regret this strategy. Occasionally, something goes awry and you really need a mirror in your handbag — like last week, when one of my contact lenses wasn’t playing ball just before I went on stage at an event. In those moments, I wish I could be more like my granny, who never left the house without a compact. Aside from their usefulness, there is something incredibly glamorous and ladylike about pulling a compact from your handbag. Should you wish to add one to your repertoire, I thought I’d run down some excellent options, from the most useful to the most beautiful.

1. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (€50 via arnotts.ie) — This powder quickly became a favourite of makeup professionals and normal users after it launched around five years ago. It really delivers an airbrushed finish. It’ll keep oil at bay while blurring imperfections and maintaining your makeup, plus it comes in a sleek, rose gold compact, complete with mirror.

2. Sculpted by Aimee Bare Basics Spring Summer Palette (€39 via ­sculptedbyaimee.com) — If you are someone who wishes they could bring their whole makeup bag with them on a night out, this is perfect for you. It’s got all the powder essentials from eyeshadow to blush, bronze, set and highlight; as well as a large mirror which is perfect for makeup application on the go.

3. Urban Decay Stay Naked Threesome (€36 via boots.ie) — I find blush, bronzer and highlighter are the products which disappear from the face first, so a compact which includes these products sounds really useful to me. This trio comes in two shade options: Naked, for those with fairer skin, and Fly for deeper tones. The texture is silky smooth, so they apply beautifully — I’d happily recommend these products even if they didn’t come with a handy mirror!

4. Gucci Poudre de Beaute Eclat Soleil Powder (€53.58 via feelunique.com) — When I started thinking about which compact I’d like to pull out of my handbag, it was this that came to mind immediately. Gucci’s cosmetics line hasn’t officially launched in Ireland, but it is available to us online. This is a product I’d happily buy without trying due to its incredibly chic gold and turquoise packaging. Fortunately though, this product performs beautifully too. It’s pricey, but bronzers last ages for me and with this one a little goes a long way, so I think I could girl-math my way into justifying it. Also, the compact is refillable, so you won’t have to pay for the packaging again.

Buying Irish

Influencer-turned-entrepreneur Lisa Jordan’s success is undeniable. The Cork woman’s beauty products are a massive hit with Irish women, and she’s got almost all of your beauty bases covered from hair to makeup. Recently, I’ve been especially loving her Luna Professional Repair Leave-In Treatment (€20 via millies.ie). Like all curly hair, mine requires a lot of moisturising products and a good leave-in conditioner is an essential part of my routine. This one is lightweight and nourishing and also smells delicious.

Something old…

Paula’s Choice has long been a favoured brand of people who are less interested in fancy packaging and more interested in products that work. Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment (€68 for 30ml via spacenk.com) is a great example of that. This blend of antioxidants, soothing plant extracts and retinol combats the signs of ageing; minimising the appearance of pores and countering discolouration. The formula itself is lightweight and sinks into the skin quickly. It should be used as the first part of your routine, followed by serum and night cream/moisturiser. If you use acids as part of your skincare routine, apply those in the morning rather than alongside your retinol at night. If your skin is sensitive, it may be better to avoid them entirely during the initial use of retinol, before reintroducing them at a later date.

... Something new

Jennifer Rock AKA The Skin Nerd is one of Ireland’s most trustworthy sources when it comes to skincare. When she launched her brand, Skingredients, I knew the products would deliver. Now five years on, thousands of women can happily say they do. The brand has evolved, offering refillable, more sustainable packaging but it rarely launches new products. When they do, I pay attention.

The newest products on the Skingredients roster are two Retinol + B3 night serums of different strengths, 0.6% and 1% (€49-€55 for 30ml via skingredients.com). These products have been four years in the making, tested and developed with the help of 40 panellists aged 20-50 years old. I’ve been using this product for about five weeks, and am very impressed. If you’re new to retinol, start with the milder strength and use twice a week, before building up.