It’s a serious perk of the job here at Her.ie towers that we get to try and test some of the latest and greatest beauty releases and call it work. Lucky us. Here is a heads up on three products that got a communal thumbs up from the team in the week that was…
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Tea Tree Oil Skin Wash, €9.99, Australian Bodycare
Talking about blemishes on your body may not make for the sexiest beauty products discussion ever, but if you’re prone to breakouts anywhere other than your face you’ll know what an absolute pain in the behind/back/shoulders this can be. One of our latest beauty finds is this fab bodywash from Australian Bodycare. The formula deep cleanses and kills bacteria without drying the skin, and as we all well know Tea Tree Oil is a winner when it comes to fighting spots. This wash contains 2% Tea Tree Oil, and boasts a neutral pH balance, meaning it’s suitable for even the most sensitive skin. It’s not a new product – but it’s new to us and we’re somewhat besotted. Backne is no craic.
A couple of sidenotes too; Clarins counters nationwide use it to clean their make-up brushes, and a sales slot on QVC resulted in 78,500 litres sold and 237 five star reviews.
Osiris Avisé range, from €1.99, Lidl
No that is not a typo, and yes prices do start from €1.99. And yes, we were very cautious too. We have a lot of time for Lidl at Her.ie Towers, in the past we’ve lauded their bargain Prosecco, food range, gym gear specials and much, much more. But can you honesty expect any kind of quality when you spend less than €2 on a beauty product? The short answer is yes. The range was first brought into Lidl stores in January of this year and sold out in a matter of days, winning rave reviews from all corners. Products include a CC cream, a BB Cream, their Vitamin E Day Cream and and the Anti-Wrinkle Night Creme.
CC Cream: This comes in two shades, Natural and Tanned, and will set you back €2.99. The product boasts an SPF of 15 and overs good coverage. It’s easy to blend, and a little goes a long way.
BB Cream: Also €2.99, this one comes in Light and Medium, perhaps a better fit for Irish skintones. Again with an SPF of 15, this is a lighter product than the CC cream and works exactly as a BB cream should; minimising flaws and leaving your skin looking radiant.
Vitamin E Day Cream & Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream: These pots will set you back a tiny €1.99 a pop. Both creams feel fresh and light, absorb easily and leave the skin feeling moisturised and supple.
These products might not bump your pricier favourites off the bathroom shelf forever, but at less than a tenner for all four – how could you go wrong by giving them a try? They’re getting a thumbs up from three office testers here, who feel as though they’ve just saved a small fortune…
This range is available in Lidl stores now, while stocks last.
Mineral Perfection, €33, PARI BEAUTY
PARI BEAUTY is a new import to our shores, courtesy of professional makeup artist Rachel Murphy, who discovered the brand in Canada. After years of working in the industry, Rachel recognised the the benefits of natural minerals, SPFs and gentle ingredients in PARI BEAUTY Cosmetics as one to watch, and one that would find a home in Irish women’s beauty bags too. She says of the line; “Being a professional makeup artist, my skin has to look great. My clients deserve the best, not only in how they look, but can also be assured that the makeup they wear, will also play a beneficial nurturing role for their skin. Pari Beauty fits the bill perfectly, I can wear it all day with no problems.” We tested out PARI BEAUTY Mineral Perfection, €33, a cream to powder formulation designed to instantly soften the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines with a natural finish. We were skeptical at the outset, not having had much success with mineral foundations in the past. However, this really was a very pleasant surprise. The coverage is even and we found the cream to glide on smoothly with the included sponge. You need very little for full coverage, and none of the moisture seems to be lost when the ‘cream to powder’ transition happens – so no dry and flaky look. This product boasts two beneficial active ingredients;
Dermaxyl – which delivers anti-ageing and skin repair benefits, smoothes wrinkles by preventing and fighting their formation in terms of skin depth, stimulating cellular communication using peptide messengers that repair age related skin damage.
Collagen Tripeptide – which firms the skin’s extra cellular Matrix, thus reducing the depth of main wrinkles improving the condition of fine lines and crow’s feet.
PARI Beauty is available from www.rachelmurphymakeup.com
