Louise McSharry: Here’s how to embrace the bright green beauty trend without looking like a St Patrick’s Day tragedy

Of course, I own other bags of similar shape and size, but this bag is special because it’s bright green. It goes with my bright green boots, the most expensive shoes I’ve ever bought, which have always been almost permanently on my feet since their arrival. I really am going through a green phase, I thought yesterday, as I unwrapped the bright green suit I bought last week.

Immediately, Miranda Priestly’s ‘cerulean’ speech from The Devil Wears Prada echoed through my mind. You know the one, it’s about the fact that all of our fashion choices are actually dictated by a small group of professionals at glossy magazines and in fashion houses in New York and Milan (in this case it probably started with Bottega Veneta). I’m not going through a green phase. Fashion is.

Of course, when fashion latches on to a colour, beauty does too. But how can you embrace the bright green beauty trend without looking like a St Patrick’s Day tragedy?

The nails are an easy place to get involved in a colour trend without too much risk, and short tidy nails in Kelly green look really chic. If block colour feels like too much, a French manicure using green on the tips instead of white is a nice way to dip your toe(nails) in.

The Gel Bottle, a brand used by many Irish salons, have created a limited-edition colour called Bottega (€18.50 via thegelbottle.ie) specifically to roll in with this trend. Otherwise, (1) Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri Nail Polish collaboration with Jelly Belly in Green Apple (€6.49 via boots.ie) is a good option.

Colourful eyeliner is also an easy way to introduce a bright colour into your beauty routine without it dominating your entire look. (2) Glisten Cosmetics Wet Liner in Split Peas (€8 via beautybay.com) includes two shades of green, one of which is the exact shade trending at the moment. These are really easy to apply with a thin brush as you wet them yourself with water, meaning they’re nice and slick and won’t drag. Any green eyeshadow can be fashioned into a wet liner, if you already own one. Just use a wet brush to pick up the product and apply! A line of green above the lash line with a neutral lip and bronzed face is a beautiful combo, and a tiny pop of colour always looks cool.

Of course, if you’re feeling bold you can always go for a colour-blocked lid by filling it with green. I think this looks best on just the upper lid, with neutral tones elsewhere on the face, and certainly puts forth a statement of confidence.

(3) XX Revolution’s Mini Flexx Billie palette (€10 via boots.ie) contains six shadows in a green colour story, my favourite of which is a matte, Kelly green. Apply this to the lid with a dry brush for a wash of colour or a wet one for more intensity. The shimmery shades are lovely too but, in my opinion, matte options are best when it comes to bright colours if you’re looking to achieve a look that still feels grown-up.

Finally, if you’re feeling like you want to throw yourself into the green trend, green hair dye has never been easier to access. (4) Good Dye Young’s range of ultra-bright, semi-permanent hair colours (€18 via beautybay.com) are relatively inexpensive and leave the hair feeling surprisingly hydrated. Cowabunga is the perfect shade if you want your hair to be bright green!

Buying Irish

The Magic Hairbrush is a flexible, vented hair brush designed to easily detangle the hair. Soft bristles minimize snagging and pulling, making it perfect for children or people with long hair extensions. It also comes with a protective case, meaning you don’t have to worry about it getting wrecked in your bag. Currently, the brush is available in a gorgeous neon pink as part of a limited-edition collaboration with Breast Cancer Ireland (€24.95 via magichairbrush.ie). A minimum of 20pc of proceeds from the sales of this brush will go directly to the charity in order to fund breast cancer research.

Something old...

For years, my signature fragrance was Inis (€36.99 via chemistconnect.ie). An Irish perfume (the company operates out of a converted farmhouse in Wicklow), it “was inspired by the beauty and energy of the wild Atlantic coast”, specifically Roundstone Breach in Connemara. I’m sure it’s beloved by tourists and Irish-Americans, but its scent is delightful and can be enjoyed by anyone. A fresh fragrance of citrus and Lily-of-the-Valley, it would sit happily on people of all genders, and won’t break the bank!

... Something new

I’ve written before about the evocative Replica fragrances by Maison Margiela, but I couldn’t fail to mention its new release When the Rain Stops. Each Replica scent is designed to evoke specific moments and memories, and this one’s “provenance and period” as the brand terms it, is “Dublin: 1967”. When the Rain Stops is woody and aquatic, combining the scents of pink pepper and rose petal essence. It is unisex, and available now via Arnotts and Brown Thomas from €56 for 30ml.