BEAUTY:Lancome's Teint Miracle foundation shot to fame when rumours spread that the future queen of England chose to wear it on her wedding day (and good on her for doing her own make-up).

The combination of a flawlessly smooth base with a luminous finish won the day. The original liquid formula is now available in compact form, which can be applied in two ways: used wet (dampening the sponge and squeezing out) it gives extra coverage; and used dry, it’s perfect for on-the-go touch ups. It costs €39.50.

Laying the foundation

Using a special brush to apply foundation has been a big trend in recent years, but I must confess to not being a fan of the usual flat brushes that most companies carry, and usually end up applying foundation with the brush, then blending with fingers for the best finish.

Shiseido has completely rethought the typical shape with its new Perfect Foundation Brush – the angled slant of the hairs makes applying around the contours of the face a cinch, and it can be used to apply any type of foundation (€30). The blend of different types and different lengths of hairs ensures a seamless finish.

Horse sense

You may be familiar with the Seavite range through its invigorating shower gel, now this family-run business has added a skincare line. Founded in 1993 by the late marine biologist Pat Mulrooney and his wife Kaye, the company used the natural healing powers of seaweed in products which proved particularly popular with eczema sufferers, as well as those looking to improve their natural skin tone.

Daughters Katherine and Jane have gone on to become two of the country’s best known dermatologists and have overseen the new collection, which includes products for the face, body and hair. I’m glad they’ve kept the iconic seahorse as part of the new packaging design. Prices start at €10 and products can be bought at pharmacies and health shops. See seavite.ie.