Triona McCarthy: Out with the old make-up and in with the latest cosmetics from Irish brands that’ll make your face shine

I would never have thought 22 years ago when I started this column that I would feature so many Irish brands. The change in Irish beauty brand offerings means many of the lovelies mentioned here are sold worldwide and not just on our tiny island of beauty lovers.

I used everything I’m writing about this week when I was MCing a fashion show at The West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen. We had a great night with loads of fun and a big shout out to Mairéad Hurley for all of her hard work to raise money for the Skibbereen Luncheon Club.

You should have heard the gasp from everyone around me when I took out my new BPerfect X Mrs Glam Showstopper II Palette, €37.95, bperfectcosmetics.com. I don’t blame them because it’s truly a thing of beauty.

Curated by celeb make-up artist, Michelle Regazzoli-Stone, it has 25 gorgeous eyeshadows — 15 matte, 5 metallic shimmers and 5 illuminating cream pigments — as well as four multi-use face powders. Congratulations to BPerfect Cosmetics founder Brendan McDowell, whose vision and drive are the main forces behind the brand’s success.

Of course I had to have something from Cork on my lashes so I used Sarah Keary’s fabulous new mascara. Sarah is an award-winning make-up artist so she knows what she’s talking about and her BYSK Volumizing Mascara, €15, sarahkeary.ie is fantastic. It’s available in two shades, black and brown, and is ultra-lightweight and smudge-proof. I particularly love the brown shade for days when you don’t want to be as dramatic but still want loads of volume.

Darlings, one of the lip products that people keep talking about to me these days is the lovely nude pink Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm, €34, charlottetilbury.com. Pillow Talk is already everyone’s favourite so this makes your lips look fuller and is going to be another winner.

​There is no point in having all the right products if you don’t have the right tools to apply them with. Lisa McGowan, aka Lisa’s Lust List, is one of Ireland’s leading influencers, and she recently brought out the Lisa & Co. 12-Piece Luxury Brush Collection, €105, lisaandcocosmetics.com. The brushes are really soft and velvety on the skin with ultra-fine white vegan hairs and they come in a lovely white and gold cup holder.

And finally, Kim O’Sullivan is known as the Irish brow queen for good reason as she looks after everyone who is anyone at The Dublin Makeup Academy on Fitzwilliam Street. She has launched her brand Brow Aid so we can all have a little of that Kim magic and I’m a huge fan of The Definer Brow Pencil & Highlight, €28, browaid.com. You’ll be raising your eyebrows at everyone in style…

Three of the best... Body Oils

1 Bare By Vogue Golden Shimmer Dry Oil, €29, barebyvogue.com You know when your fake tan is on a few days and looking a little dull and you have to go out and you’re too busy/ lazy to do the whole scrubbing it off and reapplying and washing it off routine? Well, this is perfect as it reignites your faux glow with a subtle bronze shimmer.

2 Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, €26.99, boots.ie I love a multi-purpose product so this, The OG of dry oils, is perfect for using on the face, body and hair with seven botanical oils to moisturise, nourish, repair and beautify anywhere you put it!

3 Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil, €52, brownthomas.com This one, beloved of the tweens, helps to tackle puffiness thanks to the addition of micro algae extract and has Brazilian olive oil to deliver nutrients to the skin without greasiness. Smells gorge too of course!

Valentines scents to make your crush swoon!