Triona McCarthy: I may be at Paris Fashion Week but these are the Irish made creams and cosmetics that I rely on to look tres chic

​Greetings from gay Paree, mes amis, where I’m writing my column from this week. I was with the amazing Ashley McDonnell who pulled off the most elegant event, Live from Paris Fashion Week, at the Irish Embassy. A special live edition of her popular Tech Powered Luxury podcast was recorded on the night too. The event highlighted Ireland’s influence on the global luxury industry, with leading figures there from the beauty, fashion, jewellery and technology spheres.

I was delighted to see Irish brands such as Ella & Jo backstage doing skin prep, while Ayu Cosmetics were on hand to paint faces.

It was also a joy to chat with the always immaculately dressed Una McGurk who founded Seoulista Beauty, making clinical-grade skincare more accessible and affordable to the conscious beauty consumer. Her Seoulista Instant Wonder 4-in-1 Day Cream, €25, seoulistabeauty.com, is a deeply nourishing cream that is a must for autumn as it helps your skin to withstand the seasonal shift. It’s Infused with shea butter, squalane, skin-protecting ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which hydrates and soothes for a healthy, glowing face!

Travelling makes me look so tired and puffy so Ella & Jo Wide Awake Eye Gel, €42, ellaandjo.ie, is what I now reach for after co-founder and skin therapist Niamh Ryan used it on my face to refresh my eyes, making them look and feel more vibrant. It’s formulated with powerhouse ingredients like caffeine, hyaluronic acid and peptides, and tackles signs of fatigue while rejuvenating the delicate under-eye area. AYU Natural Glow Blush and Bronze, €27, ayucosmetics.com, is a great one when travelling as it’s multi-functional — I use it on my eyes as well and love the big mirror.

Ayu launched its chic new store in Kildare Village a few months ago and Suzie O’Neill and her team are playing a blinder there. Having not had time to tan, I was actually wearing their time-saving Ayu Gradual Tanner, €16.95, ayucosmetics.com, a buttery moisturiser designed to provide a natural-looking, streak-free tan. It contains high-quality ingredients like wine extract, which helps to protect the skin from free radicals, and truffle extract, which has tonifying and moisture-balancing effects to enhance the skin’s overall condition.

It also contains shea butter for deep hydration and sunflower oil, which is known for its emollient properties. The gradual tanner offers a controlled approach to achieving a bronzed hue, building colour slowly with each application so you can customise your tan. AND best of all, it’s non-transferable so it didn’t destroy the Aoife McNamara cream pussy bow top I borrowed to wear with my vintage Prada coat.

Now that you’re in the know, see for yourself. Bisous x

Trick

Legs up and wind down The Legs Up the Wall pose is a great trick for helping you to get some quality shut-eye, as it’s a yoga position that calms your mind and body. All you need to do is lower your back to the bed or floor and bring your legs up onto the wall with your feet turned outwards. Close your eyes and aim to stay in this pose for 10 minutes, breathing in and out through your nose.

Treat

Laura Mercier Winter Wonderment Eyeshadow Palette, €54.24, cultbeauty.com Laura Mercier has unveiled her Atelier Enchanté Holiday Collection. It’s a tribute to the wonder and joy of winter’s magic. There are 14 kits, including the brand’s bestsellers. I love this eyeshadow palette, which has nine warm and cool shades in matte, sateen and shimmer finishes. Perfect for show-offs like moi?

Treatment

Polynucleotides, €500 or course of three for €1,400, fitzgeraldprivateclinic.com Everyone is talking about the regenerative effects of polynucleotides, the hottest treatment for fine lines, under-eye dark circles, uneven skin tone and dry skin. The hard-to-pronounce procedure involves injecting salmon DNA into the skin to boost collagen and elastin. I know, right! But cosmetic doctors are raving about the results.

Triona’s skincare saviours