Simply the best - and Irish
This week I am feeling rather patriotic and feature two excellent Irish brands.
Skingredients is a brand-new line of products born out of The Skin Nerd’s passion for exceptional skincare. It is a capsule wardrobe of skincare for all skin types and concerns, and is in my humble opinion, fantastic.
Every detail from design to ingredients have been thought out for even the most discerning skincare aficionado. As an expert in skincare with more than a decade of experience as a dermal facialist, Jennifer has formulated these products to be suitable for use by all and they are cruelty free.
As a devotee to my regular regimen, I was interested to see how Jennifer’s range would measure up, especially given my love for stronger retinoids and acids.
The Core 4 are your everyday active products that are integral to skin health and the Mix + Match products are your additional treatment products to target your specific skin concerns.
The PreProbiotic Cleanse (€25) is all about the three P’s - prebiotics, probiotics and polyhydroxy acid (a gentle exfoliant). Prebiotics and probiotics are to maintain equilibrium, it is all about keeping your skin’s microbiome – its defence force of bacteria – balanced. We have long been hearing stories of how good pre and probiotics are internally so it’s important that we also use them topically.
PrePro cleanses, revitalises and gently exfoliates the skin for plumpness, softness and hydration. It’s a featherweight, non-greasy yet hydrating lotion with the power to remove oil, pollution particles, and makeup, including eye makeup.
I find the creaminess comforting even though it’s a wash. It is also suitable for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Skin Veg (€42) - while we might struggle eating our greens, Skin Veg is your hero, hydrator and highlighter, a pre-serum and penetrant enhancer with hyaluronic acid (essential for all) and your skin’s 10-a-day, including real veggie goodness like broccoli and tomato extract. It has a clinically proven pro-collagen peptide to reduce the depth of lines and wrinkles and polyhydroxy acid (PHA) to help your active ingredients to penetrate optimally.
The fresh silky Skin Veg is perfect applied post-cleansing and prior to your serums for a shot of dewy plumpness. It’s the skincare version of a primer. Created for use by all, to fit into all skincare routines and to suit all skins, even the most oily, driest and sensitive.
Skin Protein (€42) is a vitamin A and C serum that revamps, re-educates and restores the skin for glowing, smooth, tight and plump skin. It’s an active formula with two forms of vitamin A, ascorbic acid and ascorbyl palmitate two forms of vitamin C and vitamin E, good fats and tea extracts alongside a massive serving of potent antioxidants and a powerful, clinically proven vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) and pro-collagen peptide.
This AM and PM serum supports and balances your skin while protecting it from the environmental stressors that can cause it to age prematurely. The retinols were nonaggressive and my skin liked the gentler approach while still reaping the benefits of the active skincare.
Skin Shield SPF 50 (€42) is a lightweight, moisturising physical/mineral daily protection against UVA and UVB rays, infrared, pollution and HEV/blue light from computers and screens. It’s always important to shield your skin, both for health and appearance. Featuring niacinamide, vitamin B3, and vitamin E for antioxidant protection, Skin Shield is your invisible mineral parasol.
It has a nice skin coloured tint which means that you aren’t like Casper the ghost if you wear it alone, nor does it interfere with the makeup application - two very important factors.
And for the boys, while many people wish to age gracefully, no one really wants puffy eyes or dark circles to become their most immediately recognisable feature, do they? The Kennedy & Co Revitalising Eye Gel (€14.95), featuring a combination of pro-vitamin D, vitamin E and the much-loved sodium hyaluronate, alongside caffeine, work to not only tackle puffiness and dark circles, but also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines where you need it most. Use it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. The metallic nib applicator is instantly cooling to the touch and feels like a real treat.