Louise McSharry: Three new foundations reinvent our quest to perfect skin
As a beauty enthusiast, there are many products that excite me, but there is one that I simply cannot resist. It’s the one I least buy, because I have more than any other person could ever need, and yet, when I hear about a great new one, I simply have to have it. I’m talking about the platform.
Is there a more promising product? More seductive? The reality is that we all want ‘perfect’ skin, but there’s really no such thing in adulthood. We want pore-free, line-free, flawless skin, a skin type that really doesn’t exist. However, we hope. So when a new product comes out that promises to live up to our fantasies, we can’t resist.
It is unlikely that there will be a ‘perfect’ product that will give us the ‘perfect’ skin of our dreams, but it is certain that innovation is rampant in the skin beauty product development department. Over the past few months, several new products have reinvented the game.
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Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Skin Powder (€ 50.75 via beautybay.com)
Danessa Myricks products are known for being innovative – the makeup artist started mixing products in her basement when she couldn’t get what she wanted for clients from established brands. . (1) Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Skin Powder (€ 50.75 past beautybay.com) like none I’ve used before. It’s called a powder, but it’s actually a balm that can be powdered when applied. The result is minimizing the appearance of unwanted texture, and preventing skin from looking greasy throughout the day. It can be used as a primer on its own, or over foundation, and is best applied with the warmth of your fingertips. You can layer to desired coverage and even though there is a ‘powder’ component, it won’t be cakey.
If anyone knows about SPF it’s Australians – they have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world so their government has very strict requirements when it comes to sun protection.
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Ultra Violette Daydream Screen Color Cover Sheet (€43 via spacenk.com)
When you combine those standards with skincare knowledge and luxurious design, you get Ultra Violette. The brand has made a name for itself through an impressive range of SPF options, from lightweight facial formulas to super moisturizing body versions. This year, they also launched a serum with SPF 50. (2) Ultra Violette Daydream Screen (€ 43 past spacenk.com) light and low in formula milk. Just a little bit to cover the face but despite that, it offers impressive coverage. It blends well and leaves a natural, skin-like finish, and is ideal for everyday makeup. Unfortunately, because only a small amount of product is needed, it will not provide complete sun protection. The brand recommends using this product along with your regular SPF.
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Westman Atelier Skin Foundation (€72 via brownthomas.com)
Westman Atelier is the luxury brand of makeup artist Gucci Westman, and they have yet to release a product that I don’t love. This is bad news for me because they don’t come cheap – but they are absolutely beautiful. (3) Westman Atelier Skin Foundation (€72 via brownthomas.com) is a makeup/skincare combo that offers radiant medium coverage, along with the soothing and nourishing ingredients you can find in serums. The brand sells this product with a brush, but I think fingers are the best to use, making it extremely easy to use and blend, and super comfortable to wear.
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Buy the Irish
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Elave’s Daily Skin Defense SPF 45 (€24.10 via mccabespharmacy.com)
You probably know that I never stopped appreciating SPF. There is simply no use in having an extravagant skin care routine if you don’t protect yourself from the sun, the cause of most skin damage. My family couldn’t help but hit my head, and some of them even noticed. My brother-in-law has become a complete believer in the Irish brand Elave’s Daily Skin Defense SPF 45 (€ 24.10 past mccabespharmacy.com). It protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays, and contains zinc, which, along with Vitamins B5 and E, acts as anti-inflammatory agents. However, its appeal to men is that it applies easily and doesn’t sting their eyes.
Something old…
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Dove’s Beauty Bar (1.49€ for two via boots.ie)
I can’t tell you exactly when it happened, but at some stage in my transition from childhood to adolescence, the world went from bar soap to liquid. Suddenly, the solid bar is no longer classy. Lately, there’s been a return to the solid form of soap as we all try to cut down on the amount of plastic we need to live on this planet. Besides that, there’s really nothing wrong with it, aside from the slightly unpleasant burning smell you’ll get when you pick it up before it’s completely dry. Dove’s Beauty Bar (1.49 € for two people over boots.ie) has been a classic of the genre for decades, thanks to its gentle ingredients that effectively cleanse (for face, hands and body) without stripping the skin. You could do much worse.
…What’s new?
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CeraVe Hydrating Cleansing Bar (€8.50 via boots.ie)
There are few brands I recommend as often as the American skincare brand CeraVe. Built around three ceramides (lipids that form the skin’s barrier), the product range was developed with dermatologists and the products just work. The prices are reasonable, and frankly, there’s no reason not to like CeraVe. The CeraVe Hydrating Cleansing Bar (€ 8.50 past boots.ie) was recently launched in this part of the world (there are still many products available in the US that haven’t reached our shores yet), and it’s great for the face and body. A simple, gentle cleanser that’s soap-free and also contains hyaluronic acid, which means skin stays soft and hydrated.
https://www.independent.ie/style/beauty/makeup/louise-mcsharry-three-new-foundations-reinventing-our-quest-for-skin-perfection-42130919.html Louise McSharry: Three new foundations reinvent our quest to perfect skin