BEAUTY BAZAAR:If you're looking for something different, ultra-glamorous and fun, let me introduce you to Dianne Brill.
She’s the Dita Von Teese of the make-up world, with oh-la-la packaging and a range of products that both benefit and beautify. Brill sources the cream of European suppliers for her products: skincare from Switzerland, fragrance and foundation (which contains crushed freshwater pearls) from France, and eyeshadow from Italy. The range is now available at Harvey Nichols, Dundrum, so if you need a little boost, sit yourself down on their heart-shaped chairs and prepare to be pampered.
Pool party
Just look at that photo. It's the stuff of dreams and lotto wins – both luxurious and exotic. The "staycation" is where it's at this year, but if you can journey as far as Dublin, you could yet be reclining on one of those loungers. The Summer Goddess treatment at the Four Seasons hotel includes an exfoliating body scrub, a facial and either a manicure or pedicure. Afterwards, enjoy a two-course lunch poolside and make believe for a day. Available until August 31st, Mon-Fri €150/Sat €170.
Good hair days
Recently I've been having good hair days and I thought I'd never be able to say that out loud, never mind put it in writing, so I must take a moment to review the situation. Fellow frizzies may find the following helpful. For a start, I'm washing my hair less often, down to twice per week. In between, it gets a daily damp-down in the shower. A spray of Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance leave-in conditioner (€5.99) to towel-dried hair keeps tresses smooth. For grooming dry hair throughout the day, my new favourite product to tame hair without weighing it down is L'Oréal Texture Expert Smooth Ultime (€22).
Sea tonic
If you're ever in the Strandhill area of Co Sligo, treat yourself to a seaweed bath. This is the real thing – a bath with great swathes of green goodness floating about. Any initial trepidation will disappear as you sink into its silky liquid – skin and hair are revitalised during a most pleasant experience. The Voya story began here in 1912, and is still Irish- and family-owned. Harnessing the nutritious vitamins, minerals and trace elements of seaweed, the skincare collection comprises deep cleanser (€25), spritz (€25) and nutrient packed moisturiser (€55). 071-9168686, www.voya.ie.