Triona McCarthy: I've been nominated for a style award, so here’s the products I’m using to get red carpet ready

I’m a qualified beauty therapist, as you all probably know, but I also studied fashion at college, going on to work as a fashion buyer and as a designer, and basically anything involving dressing up really! So you can imagine my delight when — drumroll please — I found out I’m up for a VIP style award. I was nominated for Most Stylish Online Influencer — feel free to vote for me if I tickle your fashion pickle!

I inherited my love of fashion and beauty from my mum Margaret who was my biggest inspiration growing up. I also want to give my auntie Katie, who lives in Dungarvan, a mention here as well, as her fashion sense is sublime — she even matches her specs to all her outfits.

Fashion and beauty, I say, are like two lovers who can’t take their eyes off one another — you have to have one with the other — so here are the perennially stylish beauty favourites I’ll be using when I rock up to the awards.

I wear my hair down a lot so I’m a big fan of the Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler and Dryer, €549, dyson.ie, as I can create all sorts of red carpet looks with it in a jiffy. Reports of the new Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer, €449.99, dyson.ie, which will be available from May, has me intrigued as it apparently has lots of new futuristic features that will make hair drying a much better, speedier experience, as well as protecting scalp health and enhancing hair’s natural  shine.

I’m all about investing in your teeth as we wear them all the time! The Spotlight Oral Care Sonic Pro Toothbrush, €149.95, eu.spotlightoralcare.com, is a must for me. Sisters Lisa and Vanessa Creaven, who are practising cosmetic dentists and experts in their field, know their stuff so of course there’s a teeth-whitening setting on it as well as a tongue scraper.

While my clothes are bursting out of my wardrobe at home, I regularly do a little cull to pare things back in my lipstick wardrobe. But it always features a bright red lipstick for a big night out and my favourite is Armani Rouge d’Armani in shade 401, €38, brownthomas.com.

My go-to eyeshadow is Chanel Les 4 Ombres — Warm Memories, €53, boots.ie, a really stylish palette of four eyeshadows that blend really easily and they combine to give my peepers every look, from smoky to luminous.

And finally, I always have the YSL All Hours Hyper Finish Powder, €53, brownthomas.com, in my handbag for touch-ups. It mattifies and sets the complexion for up to 24 hours, blurs imperfections and minimises the appearance of pores, while smoothing skin. I love its finely milled texture, and it can also be worn alone to enhance a ‘no-make-up’ make-up look.

So that’s my glam sorted for the night — now all I need is to find my killer outfit.

Three of the best… Cosmetic Cases

1 Rhode Lip Case, €46, rhodeskin.com A lip balm holder, in a phone cover?! Of course the internet blew up when Hailey Bieber soft launched it on her Instagram. Designed to keep your favourite peptide lip treatment or tint close to hand, it’s ideal for selfies.

2 Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Make-up Bag, €41, brownthomas.com Do you have a lot of make-up? Well this multi-pocket pouch is for you as it has a serious amount of storage for eye, lip and cheek beautifiers but still looks stylish with its embroidered iconic pillow talk lip design!

3 Donna May London Drawstring Make-up Bag, €27.95, donnamaylondon.com If you know me, you’ll know how I sometimes put a towel in the sink, then empty all my make-up onto it until I discovered this lay-flat design bag, so I can see all my products at one glance.

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