You all know my love of ranting about the industry and our woes as poor makeup artists etc. etc. etc. well, for a change I wanted to pay tribute to some of the amazing Irish brands that grace our shores.
These success stories should be enough to keep us buying Irish and encourage us to admire and respect those that excel in this tough industry.
So without further ado and in no particular order here are my fave Oirish brands and the people that continue to make them a success.
How could I not start with NIMA BRUSH. A great Irish brush range created by the lovely Niamh Martin. Now yes, there are a number of Irish brush companies out there but for the most part they are private label brands (nothing wrong with a private label brand of course, quality is usually great but it’s certainly an easy option in terms of creating a brand in this way, we have all done it, believe me, so I know!)
NIMA BRUSH is different. Niamh Martin (www.irisheyesmakeup.ie) has been a good friend of mine for many years now and I know so much about the ridiculous amount of research, testing and adjustments she has made to her brush line in order to bring us a range that is both great quality and fantastically priced.
Niamh has two brush collections currently in her range, the Sunshine Collection and the Elite Collection. And who could forget that amazingly colourful range of brush caddy’s or cylinder’s as they are often called! Available in 5 colours – pink, yellow, teal blue, purple and dark pink. Each cylinder holds about 30 brushes, keeping your brushes neat and secure whilst travelling or working.
Not only all of that, but her website also covers all of the information you could possibly need in terms of brush know how. With sections on how to use the various brushes and a section on how to keep them clean and in turn lasting for years.
It’s very easy to see why NIMA BRUSH has been getting the serious publicity it has since it launched just over a year ago and it really is a credit to Niamh Martin. This truly is Ireland’s Brightest Brush Company!
Available online at:
www.nimabrush.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/NIMA-Brush/219992084765421
I came across the HUMAN+KIND brand in a pharmacy in Drogheda, or as we like to call them, a good ole chemist! I love that their products are firstly completely natural but also that they are simple! They have an all-in-one anti-ageing cream, an all-in-one day and night cream, all-in-one body oil and an all-in-one family remedy cream.
No chemicals | No colourants | No parabens | No perfume | No animal testing on product and ingredients | No additives
They HUMAN+KIND products are made in Cork and truly are 100% Irish. They were created for women everywhere who are tired of wasting time and money on unnecessary products – simple, superior natural and dependable beauty products that multi-task as much as you do! What a fantastic ethos.
HUMAN+KIND eliminates the need for multiple skincare products to achieve beautiful and healthy skin. Over the decades the beauty industry turned the simple act of cleaning and protecting our skin into multi step, multi skin type, selling unnecessary products, just packaged differently for the same problem.
I have been using (and highly recommending) the All-in-One Family Remedy Cream for quite some time now. This truly is a miracle product. It soothes, heals, relieves and reduces the appearance of a multitude of skin irritations including: Eczema | Psoriasis | minor burns | itching and razor burn | acne | stretch marks and scars | cold and bed sores Nappy rash | Athlete’s foot |insect bites &stings | brittle nails |sunburn | hydrates dry, cracked and sensitive skin. And at a price point of just €22.95 it’s worth every penny!
Uncomplicated products that do exactly what they say on the tin/jar/pot/tube!
http://www.humanandkind.com/where-to-buy/
https://www.facebook.com/humanandkind
ÓGRA restores skin to a youthful state in a natural and effective way.
This is revolutionising skincare at its best. ÓGRA harnesses the natural power of peat through science and technology. Skincare from the rich bogs of Ireland, now you can’t really get much more Oirish than that!
ÓGRA, meaning youth, is Ireland’s only full range of cosmetic products that uses peat as an integral ingredient in its range. (For those of you that don’t know, peat is the main constituent of a wetland known as a bog (peatland). Peat is basically the material that is formed when plant remains partially decompose i.e. the organic soil layer to be found immediately below the vegetation layer of a bog. In its natural state, this peat layer will contain about 90% water and the remainder being dry matter.)
So why is peat good for your skin? Here’s why:
It promotes youthfulness – Peat contains strong anti-oxidants that can combat free radical damage. This free radical damage is generally recognised as the main cause of premature ageing. It also promotes increase collagen production which helps to increase cell re-generation and slow down the ageing process.
For its astringency – It binds together skin tissues giving your skin a smoother look.
It detoxifies – It stimulates the lymphatic system and is therefore a very effective detoxifier. Peat removes dead skin cells, toxins and other impurities from your skin.
It contains natural essential oils – The natural abundance of essential oils, fatty acids and lipoids penetrate into the skin re-establishing the skin’s natural PH balance.
What more could you want!
There is a list of products from ÓGRA as long as your arm but my two fave products are:
ÓGRA SKINCARE
ÓGRA Peat Face and Body MaskThis hero product is known for it's rejuvenating properties as well as being used in a facial routine.
100% peat and priced at €39.95
Cucumber & Orange Toner
This soothing toner with cooling ingredients that include cucumber and orange is perfect to help tighten up the pores after cleansing.
Benefits
Detoxifies and tightens the skin
Calming and anti-inflammatory
Returns natural PH to the skin
You can buy all of these products and more from:
http://www.ograskincare.com
https://www.facebook.com/ograskincare?fref=ts
Lucy Annabella Organics was born in the heartland of Northern Ireland. This is where they formulate, develop and create their entire organic range in the bliss of Co. Tyrone.
Colleen Harte, the founder of Lucy Annabella*, is a Complementary Therapist and Clinical Aromatherapist who had been an organic health enthusiast for along time and lives by the ethos that 'Our health is paramount to our happiness'. In 2011 after travelling all over the world from Ireland, London, Thailand, Australia, Provence, France and beyond in search of knowledge and the finest ingredients and organically dedicated farmers, Colleen felt it had become time for her to actively combine all aspects of her life's loves and purse her passion, to formulate and blend beautifully organic ingredients and share them.
*Lucy Annabella was Colleen's grandfather's fond pet name for her. 'Lucy Annabella' has sentimental attachment and it sits close to Colleen's heart therefore it was the perfect name for her company when she took the leap to share her little pots of magic with the world.
My fave product by far:
Date Night Organic Bath Milk
An organic, aromatic bath milk. The seductive blend of organic Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Nutmeg, Palmarosa and Mandarin essential oils will invigorate and arouse your senses. This exotic aroma is perfectly accompanied by an exquisite fusion of aromatic soybean, argan and coconut oils.
Priced at £43.00
https://www.lucyannabella.com
https://www.facebook.com/LucyAnnabellaIE
KINVARA SKINCARE
Low maintenance produce that all the family's can use, from Galway. In a nutshell, Kinvara skincare Is Good - Does Good - Feels Good!
My faves:
Kiss Me I'm Irish Lip Balm (10ml) priced at just €4.95
Express your in Irishness & protect your lips with this creamy protective balm. No need for constant application!
http://www.kinvaraskincare.com
https://www.facebook.com/KinvaraSkincare
ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Based on hand-harvested seaweed, Voya strives to bring you the full power of nature in its purest forms throughout their range. A family run business in Strandhill, Co. Sligo which was set up by Neil Walton. As the popularity of the Walton’s Seaweed Baths grew and spread, more and more patrons wondered if there was some way they could replicate the experience in their own homes and so, Voya Beauty Products were born!
VOYA products try to capture something of the sea and bring it to you in as pure a form as possible: whether it be the hand-harvested seaweed in their seaweed baths, renowned for its detoxing and skin moisturising effects; or the rejuvenating and repairing effects of their raw seaweed face mask, rich in minerals and oils from nature; or organic body washes, face creams, soaps and body lotions, which marry the finest organic ingredients, such as shea butter, bee’s wax, Dead Sea salts and pure Aloe Vera, to their own seaweed extracts.
Not only do these ingredients restore and rejuvenate the mind, the careful blend of Essential oils in each product balances the body and soul.
One of my faves:
SILKY BY NATURE Priced at €19.00 for 200ml
Create body and shine as nature intended with their organic shampoo. Infused with the natural purifying properties of wild organic seaweed, Silky By Nature’s vitamin- and mineral-enriched formula will leave hair healthy, shiny and full of vitality. Gentle and all natural, Silky By Nature is suitable for everyday use.
http://www.voya.ie
https://www.facebook.com/pages/VOYA-Organic-Beauty-from-the-Sea/89673660820
BURREN PERFUMERY
It goes without saying (I think) that this company creates their beautiful natural and organic cosmetics by hand from a small facility in the middle of the beautiful Burren!
My fave product:
Spring Harvest Eau de Toilette 100ml Priced at €35
Created to evoke the scents of an armful of wild herbs gathered in the Spring. A fresh, aromatic fragrance with top notes of Mint, Lemonbalm and Fennel.
Formulated without the use of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, animal derivatives, GMO ingredients or colourants.
http://www.burrenperfumery.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Burren-Perfumery/122051287809210
SEAVITE
Created in 1993 by Patrick Mulrooney, a marine scientist who believed in the healing powers of the sea. He, and his wife Kaye set about bottling the goodness of the sea, and after years of research Patrick combined his in-depth knowledge of marine science and nature to create Seavite-Irelands original organic seaweed based skincare range.
They are passionate that only the finest ingredients are used in Seavite products, including hand-harvested organic seaweed, from the purest marine waters of the Atlantic , making the entire Seavite range suitable for sensitive skin.
My fave product:
Seavite Purifying & Detoxifying Mask (75ml) priced at €14.00
The Seavite Purifying and Detoxifying Mask contains nutrient-rich organic seaweed plants specially selected for their purifying properties.
Formulated with a natural mineral clay, kaolin, this face mask deeply cleanses and purifies, whilst potent marine vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants actively nourish and revitalize the skin. After use, the skin feels incredibly fresh and clean with renewed radiance and vitality.
http://www.seavite.ie
https://www.facebook.com/seavite
DECADENCE TAN
A luxurious Irish tanning brand, created by Kassy Lucas, who has worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years. Kasey worked closely with top cosmetic scientists in Ireland to develop the most beautiful tan on the market suited exactly to Irish skins.
Decadence tans are formulated with superior organic ingredients and a combination of high performance tan accelerators and also carries the guaranteed Irish quality mark.
http://www.decadencecosmetics.com/
https://www.facebook.com/decadencetan
