Phyl Clarkefinds season specials that you'll want to keep on using after the party's over
NEXT MONTH THERE WILL BE be no-holds-barred; all the stops will be out. Expect metallic finishes, red lipstick and lots of eye liner at the office party. But what if you're trying to find something a little less trend-led amid the glitter and gloss on the make-up stands? Here are a few little treasures you'll be happy to use beyond the party season
My favourite eye palette at the moment is this eminently wearable quartet from YSL's Bow Collection (€50). Tender pink and a rosy grey give a subtle daytime look, and adding warm brown or purple for evening gives extra definition. The colours blend effortlessly and the pink shade has just the right amount of sparkle. It's a winner.
One of the key products to have in hand for a glowing complexion is highlighter, and Prescriptives has just released a new instant pick-me-up in Winter Reflections All-Over Highlighter (€38). Soft powder pearls in three shades blend together to add a seasonal sheen which is flattering to all.
Benefit's HighBrow (€19) gives an instant lift for the face - simply draw under the brow and blend for an instantly clean and brighter look. Once you start using this brilliant pencil, its transforming effects will keep it in your make up bag.
Winter is not kind to hair and a handbag staple of mine is Pure Diamond Crystals (€17.50) from Alaparf. It's a weightless serum which adds sheen, and softens hair with just a few drops.
Did you know that the skin on your body has less oil glands and more sweat glands than on your face, making it more vulnerable to dryness? I love a rich formula cream at this time of year, and the gorgeous Epionce Enriched Body Lotion (€52) is a daily treat. Velvet soft texture, quick absorption and a subtly fresh fragrance combine with anti-ageing emollients to make this a great all rounder. Available from Derma Laser clinics. See www.dermalaser.ie.
Limited editions abound at this time of year, and Elizabeth Arden's vintage Eight Hour Cream (€21) will see you through windburn, chapped lips, and dry elbows and heels. It will also nourish cuticles, groom eyebrows and gloss lips. No wonder it's been a star since 1936.
Matching lip pencil with colour just got easier with the clever two-in-one Double Take Pencil (€24) from Smashbox, which perfectly blends pencil with creamy lip colour at either end. Long-wearing formula and nourishing ingredients keep lips moisturised and protected. Great for touch-ups on the go. The satiny colour can also be used on cheeks for the ultimate in co-ordination.
I've found the perfect eyebrow pencil and it's so good that its finely drawn lines are impossible to tell apart from the real thing, and you don't have to be a make-up artist to use it. This clever, twist-up pencil (€25.50), which never needs sharpening, is from cult range Kevin Aucoin. Available from Queen Beauty Emporium, Aungier Street, Dublin 2.