Triona McCarthy: The best skincare products that won’t break the bank

Feel free to make faces at my photo when you realise I’m writing this from Solar Alvura, a health hotel in Portugal that Dr Eva Orsmond runs — yes that Dr Eva, formerly of Operation Transformation. I’m here in the heat with my mum Margaret and we’re having the best time — despite this being something I thought I wouldn’t be mad about. I’ve been doing 10km walks in the morning, drinking alcohol-free gin and eating clean.​

Anyhoo, life is all about balance so I’m getting over the price of flights etc by using my favourite fail-safe brands for affordable skincare.

Olay is a brand I always reach for in the supermarket when I’m feeling the pinch. The brand has been around for years so the R&D in their products has been extensive. If your skin is tired and dry, may I recommend Olay Hyaluronic 24 + Vitamin B5 Day Gel Cream, €49.99, dunnesstoresgrocery.com. The skin’s moisture barrier is improved in a single application, visibly and for 24 hours! I love how light it feels. It absorbs beautifully and is non-greasy, even in hot weather.​

There’s a serum and eye cream as well, all at the same price.

French fave Avène has also launched a new range — Hyaluron Activ B3 and I am into it! It targets the cause and the visible signs of ageing .This range works with its ground-breaking ‘cell senescence’ approach, which turns so-called ‘zombie’ cells back on, allowing them to create new, refreshed skin from the inside out.

The hero product for me is the Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream, €45, pharmacies nationwide, a deeply soothing cream enriched with haritaki extract and an active ingredient, retinal — which is 10 times more active than retinol — to stimulate cell renewal. My mum has noticed her skin feels firmer as she’s been using this one as well.

Now on to Boots — always a great place to shop when funds are low.

I particularly like their No 7 Future Renew Damage Reversal range, which has four new products and a world-first super-peptide blend, ‘Pepticology’, that has everyone raving about it as it supports skin’s natural repair process, targeting visible signs of skin damage.

The range’s Day Cream, €44.95, has a wonderfully high SPF of 40. ​

There’s also a Serum, €44.95, with a super peptide blend, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and an Eye Serum (4 €34.95) which has been proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes.

For night, the Night Cream, €44.95, deeply moisturises for up to 72 hours.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, Dr Eva is calling me — I am off to have a colonic!

Three to try

1 Rituals M’Gouna Scented Garden Candle,€45, rituals.com and Rituals stockists. Specially designed for the outdoors, it’s inspired by ingredients found near the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It’s infused with crispy green and fruity notes with honeyed undertones.

2 Loewe Honeysuckle Scented Candle, €75-€150, Brown Thomas. Even when it’s not lit, you can smell the fragrance from the next room. It’s a bit spendy, but I’ve found you get some serious bang for your buck when it comes to burn time with this one. Reuse your empty candle jar to get over the price tag!

3 Nunaïa The Sacred Space Candle, €26, nunaia.com Billed as Ireland’s first eco-luxury candle, it has 100% essential oils of lavender and rose geranium. Best of all there’s no synthetic fragrance and it’s a lead- and paraffin-free wick and wax.

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