Compiled by Phyl Clarke.
Fit for a Duchess
I was so transfixed by Keira Knightley's maquillage in The Duchess that I had trouble keeping up with the storyline. Those eyebrows, that hair - and don't get me started on the luminous skin. The perfect balance of elaborate 18th-century hairstyles paired with oh-so-divine dresses could easily have teetered over the good taste line with ill-advised make-up.
Luckily, Keira was in expert hands with make-up artist Daniel Phillips, who devised the magical hair creations as well as the ethereal make-up. You may be delighted to know that even a natural beauty such as Ms K can benefit from Crème de la Mer as both the gel cream and the tonic were used to prep her skin before colour was applied.
For colour, Daniel used only Chanel products, employing an old trick of applying lipstick on both cheeks and lips. This gives a natural, perfect match, and bee-stung lips to capture a future prime minister's heart. Have your own Duchess moment with Rouge Hydrabase Great Copper for €25.
Spirit away for facial
Los Angeles facialist Ole Henriksen has a legion of celebrity followers for his all-natural plant-based products and treatments. Until recently, buying the products was the only way to experience the range on this side of the Atlantic.
Spirit One at the Radisson Hotel in Galway offers a cheaper alternative to hopping on a plane to LA with its three signature Ole facials. The Micro Mini peeling treatment is an aromatic and sensual treat which will leave your skin spring fresh and perky. A deep cleanse with sweet-smelling almond paste is followed by a lemon strip gel to peel away dead skin cells, and finally a chamomile comfort cream moisturises and nourishes.
And all the while, a gentle fragranced steamer adds to the relaxing array of aromas. There is also a take-home pack of the three key products (€120). Phone 091-538462 for an appointment.
C'est magnifique
New season, new fragrances and Lancôme has a winner on its hands with the voluptuous new fragrance Magnifique.
How do I know? Well, I lost count of the number of people who inquired about my perfume when I wore it. Unashamedly luxurious, it hits that difficult nail on the head - a fragrance that appeals to all ages.
Making the most of Anne Hathaway's Snow White-like beauty, it's a dramatic campaign that screams, "Buy me for Christmas".
Darn it, I swore I wouldn't say that word 'till after Halloween.
Wrinkle room
The people at Estée Lauder are not afraid to call a spade a spade. There it is on the front of its new Perfectionist bottle - Wrinkle Lifting Serum targeting lines, wrinkles and age spots.
This is ideal if you feel your skin is looking tired and dull - it diffuses light away from wrinkles, resulting in fresher and brighter-looking skin. Collagen production is boosted over time, and continuous use of Perfectionist could ensure a cumulative lifted effect (€57).