The arrival of our belongings changes the move to Australia from experiment to realitySo much has happened since we left that I’ve forgotten most of what was packedWed Jan 10 2024 - 06:01
I feel that same old new year pressure even in the midst of a burning Australian summerSo much has been new since we emigrated that there hasn’t been much time for immersing ourselves in the present. The new year seems as good a time as any to change thatWed Jan 03 2024 - 06:00
Laura Kennedy: This time of year feels very familiar … and yet everything is differentIn Canberra, Australia, everything except the people seems to be so much more intense than at homeWed Dec 27 2023 - 06:01
Sometimes, particularly at Christmas, home is more perfect in imagination than realityIt is easier to focus on the wonderful things when you step away from gripes you faced when you lived thereWed Dec 20 2023 - 06:01
E-scooters are perfect for getting around Canberra but I wouldn’t use one in DublinThe vast pavements of the planned Australian city allow for safe use - even when the rules are floutedWed Dec 13 2023 - 05:31
‘Our first Christmas in Australia will undoubtedly be an odd one’If you’re raised over here, where December is the height of a hot summer, then Christmas in the sun is standardWed Dec 06 2023 - 06:01
‘This is a difficult time to be Irish, no matter where you live’It has been unpleasant to witness from Australia, though I can’t imagine it has been less so closer to homeWed Nov 29 2023 - 05:00
The emotional toll of living so far away: ‘Someday, something dreadful will happen to one of those at home I love’The price emigrants pay for eluding some of the challenges of family is being on the outsideWed Nov 22 2023 - 06:01
Laura Kennedy: Emigrants are running, even if they claim otherwiseIrish people have a complex relationship with our home country - a bit like my relationship with my brotherTue Nov 14 2023 - 06:01
In Australia, my Irish accent carries less weight than it did in the UKIt is less politicised here, less burdensome to carry. Most people are simply not interested in it. This, it turns out, is far preferableWed Nov 08 2023 - 06:01
Avocados cost only about €1 in Australia and yet young people here cannot afford to buy houses eitherThough home ownership is as much of a pipe dream, the rental market works differently in Australia, and I find that fascinatingWed Nov 01 2023 - 09:17
‘You fit into Limerick – it won’t change for you. Nor should it’Laura Kennedy: Sydney may be cool, but Canberra has ‘Limerick weather’. I prefer a bit of rain. I don’t recognise myself without itWed Oct 25 2023 - 06:01
‘I was surprised to discover it is easier to be Irish in Australia than it is in Britain’Laura Kennedy: Australians I’ve interacted have encountered my accent with a sort of gentle disinterestWed Oct 18 2023 - 06:01
Emigrating is an exercise in unfamiliarity and discomfort. I don’t intend to go looking for Irish people just yetLaura Kennedy: How could it be that the first person I meet after landing in Australia is from KerryWed Oct 11 2023 - 06:01
Laura Kennedy: I didn’t expect to move to Australia. I have no idea what I’m doing‘They swoop you from behind and they will draw blood’: the magpies are the strongest signifier that I’m not in Limerick anymoreWed Oct 04 2023 - 11:45
‘Here are the beauty products I’ll love forever’: Laura Kennedy bids farewellAs she departs for an Australian adventure, Laura Kennedy picks the six hero products she holds dearest after almost a decade as beauty columnist with The Irish TimesFri Sept 22 2023 - 05:00
Ireland has two classes: working-class and ‘notions’. In London, it’s far more subtleBritish supermarkets mirror the nation’s class structure. Australia’s no-nonsense approach feels more like homeWed Sept 13 2023 - 06:30
The best lip masks to banish dry lips all winter longLaura Kennedy: It’s chilly season, and lip masks are much more effective than a lip balmFri Sept 08 2023 - 05:00
Laura Kennedy: I moved to London and put on the coat of Irishness. Now in Australia, I can’t take it offReturning home to Ireland didn’t feel like a viable option. And so we’re in CanberraWed Sept 06 2023 - 06:30
Blush-shy? These autumn shades will convert youLaura Kennedy: The most natural way to add structure back to the face after applying foundation is with a sweep of creamy blushFri Sept 01 2023 - 05:00
This luxurious Dublin city spa is a hidden gemLaura Kennedy: Velvaere Spa has a Nordic bathhouse feel and a competitively priced list of gorgeous treatmentsFri Aug 25 2023 - 05:00
Tips and tricks – and the best make-up products – to hide tired eyesLaura Kennedy: In an ideal world, we would get the sleep we need – but if you’ve had a bad night, these gels, creams and concealers work wondersFri Aug 18 2023 - 05:00
Great oils for dry skin or hair that won’t break the bankLaura Kennedy: The right oils can work for a variety of purposes – whether you’re using them on face, body or hairFri Aug 11 2023 - 05:00
The best of summer beauty products tried and testedLaura Kennedy: These products will last you into the season to come and beyondFri Aug 04 2023 - 05:00
Are DIY gel nails safe? Yes, but you must heed this advice Laura Kennedy: Gel manicures have made headlines recently for causing allergies, but there is a safe way to do them yourself at homeFri Jul 28 2023 - 05:00
Tired of shaving or waxing? This at-home hair removal device reduces body hair for goodLaura Kennedy: This is the best at-home hair removal device I’ve tried (and I’ve tried them all)Mon Jul 24 2023 - 05:00
Short, brittle or sparse eyelashes? This tried-and-tested serum worksLaura Kennedy: I spent more than a year testing eyelash serums. Here are the resultsFri Jul 14 2023 - 05:00
Skincare during pregnancy: What to use and what to avoidSkincare in pregnancy can be a minefield, but Dr Laura Lenihan assures that all over-the-counter products are safe to useFri Jul 07 2023 - 05:00
How to treat your feet to a DIY summer pedicure at homeLaura Kennedy: Banjaxed feet but no time or money for a professional pedicure? Here’s how to get your feet summer-ready at homeFri Jun 30 2023 - 06:00
Is your SPF causing breakouts? We ask a dermatologist for adviceLaura Kennedy: Dr Sam Bunting shares her tips for keeping your skin happy and spot-free in the summer heatFri Jun 23 2023 - 05:00
The best lip balms: what to keep in your handbag and what to wear at nightLaura Kennedy: How to keep lips moisturised in all weatherFri Jun 16 2023 - 05:00
Holiday beauty essentials: four make-up and haircare products to packLaura Kennedy: These hardworking basics will work beautifully on holiday but also join your daily product rotation until autumn rolls back inSun Jun 11 2023 - 05:00
Beauty: The Irish brow brand that should be on your radarLaura Kennedy: Brow guru Kim O’Sullivan has launched her own brand of brow products to recreate her coveted aesthetic at homeFri Jun 02 2023 - 05:00
Considering the chop? It’s ‘Big Hair Change’ season and bobs are backLaura Kennedy seeks advice from Dylan Bradshaw on what you need to ask yourself before your summer haircutFri May 26 2023 - 05:00
Chanel’s travel-friendly summer beauty collection is minimalist make-up perfectionLaura Kennedy: The central feature of great summer make-up should always be skin, and this collection is worth fawning overFri May 19 2023 - 05:00
The quick-fix beauty essentials for your summer makeup bagLaura Kennedy selects a foundation, a concealer, a lipstick and a haircare product that have become her must-have items of the seasonFri May 12 2023 - 05:00
Here comes the sun: The best facial SPFs for every skin type and budgetLaura Kennedy: If you’re a skincare enthusiast who spends money on products, it’s all a waste if you’re not wearing SPFFri May 05 2023 - 05:00
Scents of the season: Three floral perfumes to try this summerLaura Kennedy: Joy-giving, flirtatious fragrances for the warmer months that are not overly sweetFri Apr 28 2023 - 05:00
Two luxurious city spa treatments that are worth the costLaura Kennedy: A trip to the spa is the ultimate indulgence so you want to leave feeling it was money well spentFri Apr 21 2023 - 05:00
Sam McKnight: From window cleaner to the world’s most celebrated hair stylistMcKnight, who has styled everyone from Princess Diana to Kate Moss, is set to launch his hair brand in Ireland this monthFri Apr 14 2023 - 06:15
Galway perfumer Cloon Keen’s new candle is a masterclass in aestheticsLaura Kennedy: Cloon Keen has always been different. With its roster of personal and home fragrances, it should really be a bigger deal on the fragrance world stageFri Apr 07 2023 - 05:00
Make-up artist Bobbi Brown: ‘I have lines on my face and I’m okay with that’The beauty entrepreneur on ageing, conquering the industry for a second time and the Irish launch of new brand Jones RoadSat Apr 01 2023 - 05:00
Bronzer is back and it’s the key step in your spring makeupLaura Kennedy: Bronzer is a tickle of colour where the sun might leave its markFri Mar 24 2023 - 05:00
How to master spring skin with neutral finishes and flattering tonesLaura Kennedy: Spring make-up is generally both easier and more forgiving than its heavier, less subtle winter siblingFri Mar 17 2023 - 05:00
I test beauty products for a living. Here’s what I always repurchaseLaura Kennedy: From dry shampoo to mascara, these are the products I go back to again and againFri Mar 10 2023 - 05:00
The best skincare products for menLaura Kennedy: Gender-neutral brands offer effective skincare for all that’s not overly perfumedFri Mar 03 2023 - 05:00
Is the new ghd hair styling device worth €399?Laura Kennedy: The latest hair straightening tool from the brand belongs firmly in that ‘shockingly expensive’ categoryFri Feb 24 2023 - 05:00
Beauty: How to wear spring colour (even if you’re scared)Laura Kennedy: At this time of year, I feel an immense mood boost through wearing colourFri Feb 17 2023 - 05:00
The expert guide to changing your hair colour Sabrina Hill of Cork’s Kopper salon shares her top tips and aftercare adviceFri Feb 10 2023 - 05:00
Is your eye cream doing anything, and do you need one? Laura Kennedy: They can’t eliminate dark circles or reverse the ageing process, but the right eye cream will brighten and tightenLaura Kennedy: They can’t eliminate dark circles or reverse the ageing process, but the right eye cream will brighten and tightenFri Feb 03 2023 - 05:00
