Good skincare should look nice, smell if not good then at the very least inoffensive, and feel pleasant to use. All of these characteristics, however, are rendered irrelevant if it does not also problem-solve. We must live inside our own skin, so skincare should ensure our skin is optimally comfortable to live inside. Whether yours threatens dryness, oiliness, dehydration or dullness, there are products that can comfort it into acquiescence.
La Roche Posay Lipikar Stick AP+ (€12)
This – the eczema cream I recommend for everyone of any age – is now available in stick form. Pop it on to patches of dry, itching or flaky skin for instant itch-relief and comfort on the go.
bareMinerals OIL OBSESSED Total Cleansing Oil (€27)
A good cleansing oil will cut through makeup without exacerbating any misbehaviour skin is prone to. This one is delectably effective and very pleasing to use.
Clinique Turnaround Overnight Revitalizing Moisturiser (€48)
You cannot go wrong with this overnight cream, which is rich but not congesting and works for skin types from oily combinations to very dry. It works overnight to soften and brighten the skin.
Lano Golden Dry Skin Salve (€21.45 from lookfantastic.com)
A cure-all salve that lives in a handbag or glove compartment is always very welcome. Ragged cuticles, dry lips, chalky hands or chapped noses ravaged by winter colds will all appreciate it.
Avène Hydrance Intense Serum (€26)
Avène’s new serum has been seven years in the making. The soft fluid texture is instantly plumping and comforting, relaxing taut, dehydrated skin. This is an antidote to the skin-sapping effects of central heating and flights.
L’Oréal Paris Pure Clay Bright Face Mask (€11.49)
The successful L’Oréal Pure Clay range has expanded to include two new additions. My favourite is the Bright Mask, which brightens and exfoliates skin quickly and efficiently.
La Mer Lip Balm (€60)
Listen, I know. The price is agonising and this is only a product for those whose budget can stretch to it. However, it is the most intensely comforting lip balm there is. It neither disappears into lips nor sits impotently atop them like a layer of cellophane. It soothes instantly but protects lips over time.
The Ordinary AHA30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution (€7.20 from cloud10beauty.com)
This chemical peel is not for beginners, and will cause skin uninitiated with increasing quantities of glycolic acid to become extremely irritated. If your skin is accustomed to higher concentrations of exfoliating acids, then this peel will resurface and decongest the skin.
Tata Harper Beautifying Face Oil (£68 from cultbeauty.co.uk)
The full Tata Harper range is difficult to find in Ireland, but can be found on Cult Beauty. One of the most high-end natural skincare ranges on the market, it must be tried to be believed. The Beautifying Face Oil, with its jasmine notes, is an exercise in luxury. Try it at night and you will wake to baby soft skin, but it works as well during the day and even under makeup.
