Triona McCarthy on a new addition to the family and a make-up collection that celebrates true beauty

Not to blow our own trumpets, but I come from a pretty sustainable, animal-loving household. My son Maxi is a staunch vegan who wouldn’t hurt a fly and this has spurred me on to support and write more about sustainable and cruelty-free beauty products and treatments. I think, overall, we’ve all become more sustainably minded and, thankfully, brands are too. We’re also learning so much about the dangers of greenwashing and how to look out for brands who aren’t doing as much as they say they are. And, as for fashion, I get such a thrill from selling my clothes on resale app Depop, as well as vintage shopping — it’s good to know nothing’s going to landfill.

The trick

It’s all about strobing cream lately, but if you don’t have any to hand, just mix some clear lip balm or Vaseline with some rose-gold shimmery eyeshadow — et voilà, you’ve got the same strobing effect in a pinch.

Just peachy

With so many events in the calendar, getting our glam on like actor Blake Lively has just got a whole lot easier with Peach Beauty and Skin Clinic near Dundrum.

This place, which was founded by Anna Muldowney, just opened in February of this year. And Muldowney definitely knows the ropes, considering she has 10 years of experience and has won two Image Business of Beauty awards — in 2015 and 2016. If you have an event coming up, then this is the place to go to get the works. From tanning and mani/pedis to hair removal and facials, the best bit is that she uses a whole host of well-known brands that we know and love, including Waxperts, He-Shi, Image Skincare and St Tropez. See peachbeauty.ie

True to you

It makes perfect sense for the pros in the industry, be they MUAs or therapists, to branch out and release their own products. Make-up artist Aideen Kate is one of the latest to join the ranks with her simply named True Beauty line. I love how the collection focuses on self-love, self-expression and inclusivity in the beauty industry to promote body positivity and confidence. Products in the range include the True Beauty Royal Blush Lip Trio, €34.99, which includes a gloss, a lipstick and a liner, pictured right, for luscious lips. If you’re a lash fan, check out her falsies, True Lash and Fearless Lash, €9.99 each; they’re sure to open up your eyes and elevate your whole look.

There’s also the True Essentials Face Palette, €39.99 — a versatile collection of eight cream and powder blushes and bronzers and two highlighters. There’s also a Blending Sponge, €9.99.

There’s no doubt Aideen Kate has been a very busy woman. The True Beauty range is available to buy exclusively on truebeautybyak.com.

Drawing attention to pimples sounds counterintuitive — but not if we’re minimising them in the process. Each box of Starface Hydro-Stars Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches, €20, has 32 hydrocolloid stars — this ingredient is clinically proven to reduce inflammation, and shrinks spots overnight. They also stop me from picking my skin, which I can be an absolute divil for. At Superdrug stores or see superdrug.com.

Finding the perfect perfume is one of the most subjective choices we make — that’s why the one we choose is often dubbed our signature scent. Honestly, I can still get a whiff of a cologne on a random day that reminds me of a summer romance I had with a French boy when I was 15 — oooh la-la! Smell is an extremely powerful thing, especially if you want people to remember you.

I find that my perfume changes with every life change and, I assume, I’m not the only one (surely my teenage crush no longer wears Hugo Boss — he-he!). So, if you’re on the hunt for a new scent, whether it’s sweet and floral or musky and woody, here’s the lowdown on the latest releases to help you with your next choice.

Actually, sticking with memories of people from the past, I recently discovered Phlur Missing Person on TikTok. People have been on the social-media site sharing the feelings this nostalgia-laden perfume evokes in them. How a single perfume can resonate with so many people is anyone’s guess, but Constance Georges-Picot, Missing Person’s creator and perfumer, has certainly got people talking. It comes in a cute bottle and, alas, you can only find it Stateside at the moment; they’re not delivering internationally just yet. I can’t wait to see if it dredges up any feelings in me. It’s probably a good one to try if you have too many other perfumes to choose from; for the novelty, if nothing else.

Our skin isn’t the only part of us that clings on to a perfume spritz — hair does too. And seeing as hair and skin are made differently, directly spraying perfume on the noggin probably isn’t the best idea. So, check out this Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Hair Mist, €46, Brown Thomas, or see brownthomas.com. This mist will gently scent your hair without ruining your ’do.

I love popping into Seagreen in Dublin’s Ranelagh whenever I get the chance — partly to have a laugh with the friendly staff there and partly so I can check out the perfume selection. It’s extensive and high-end, so this is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a new signature. The Vilhelm Parfumerie range caught my eye lately, especially the cool, gold bottle. The range includes Vilhelm Parfumerie Dirty Velvet, €135, which is a great summer choice and isn’t too sickly sweet, thanks to top notes of bergamot and elemi, middle notes of white leather and labdanum and base notes of patchouli fraction and papyrus. Yum! See seagreen.ie