By Emma Grimes
In Ireland we have a tendency to look to other countries such as France, the UK and the US for our skincare needs, yet we should really be supporting some of the award-winning and highly regarded homegrown brands that have been gracing the shelves of our pharmacies for years now but are often overlooked in favour of more well known names. Luxurious and boasting incredible natural ingredients, here are some of the brands that have been the thoroughly cleansed and well-hydrated face of the Irish skincare revolution over the last decade…
Voya is an organic skincare brand founded by husband and wife team Mark and Kira Walton in 2006. They saw a demand from customers of the family run Voya seaweed bath spa who were looking to replicate the benefits of the seaweed baths in their own homes. They have since developed a line of over 50 skincare and body care products using certified organic seaweed.
The reason that all Voya products make use of seaweed is that it contains minerals, vitamins and other beneficial ingredients that protect the skin and can help to treat conditions such as eczema, acne and psoriasis. Seaweed has many benefits for the skin including cleansing, purifying, moisturising and elasticity.
Voya is a cruelty-free, organic brand free from mineral oils, preservatives and synthetic colours and they also use eco-friendly packaging. Voya have plenty of face and body products as well as shampoo and conditioner, candles, teas and diffusers so you can create a relaxing spa atmosphere from the comfort of your own home.
Here are some of their best-selling products if you fancy treating yourself to the Voya spa experience:
My Little Hero- Facial Serum, €57, 30ml
Get Glowing- Illuminating Clay Mask, €40, 50ml
Lazy Days- Seaweed Bath, €20, 400g
Kinvara skincare founder Joanne Reilly started the brand five years ago because she couldn’t find skincare that suited her needs on the market. Joanne’s background is in natural sciences and after doing fieldwork in Sumatra and Mauritius, she believed that the key to helping her skin lay in the use of plants as a natural apothecary. So she began making plant based products for herself which grew into her creating her own brand Kinvara. The brand is cruelty-free as well as free from mineral oils, sodium laureth sulphate, parabens and alcohol.
In its short lifetime thus far, Kinvara products have won multiple awards, including the following fan favourites:
24hr Rosehip Face Serum, €32.95, 30ml
Absolute Cleansing Oil, €22.95, 100ml
Active Rosehip Day Cream, €25.95, 60ml
Pestle and Mortar is another award-winning cruelty-free Irish brand. The products are free from parabens, mineral oil, sulphates, silicones and synthetic fragrances. The brand was founded by Sonia Deasy after she realised there was a need for skincare products that were simple, effective and free from harsh chemicals and other ingredients.
She worked closely with her sister, a biochemist, to create products that would continue the natural healing traditions of her grandfather who was a medicine man in his village in India. Some of their best selling and most loved products are:
Pure Hyaluronic Serum, €43, 30ml
Erase and Renew – The Double Cleansing System, €76, 50ml
Superstar Retinoid Night Oil, €76, 30ml
If you’re looking for more great beauty articles, read on to Elle’s guide to contact lenses and Emma’s ode to lipgloss.
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