Latest news with #BrownThomas
Irish Times
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Charlotte Tilbury's new cream blush is summer skin, bottled
This time last year, I wrote about Charlotte Tilbury's new Unreal Skin Foundation Stick (€47 from Brown Thomas). It offered light bulb skin in foundation stick form – a finish so luminous it looked like you were permanently standing in front of a ring light. Offensively, aggressively radiant skin – and I absolutely loved it. Twelve months on , Tilbury has launched a cream blush version of that same formula , intensely pigmented (as her products always are) with that same unmistakable sheen. Unreal Blush Healthy Glow Collection (€40 each from Brown Thomas) encompasses six shades, ranging from deep berry hues (Berry Glow) to intense fuchsia pink (Pinky Glow) to a rich cherry red (Cherry Glow), with more in between. Housed in a stick, they're designed for swipe-and-go application, offering a strong hit of colour with a very noticeable glossy sheen – more blush-highlighter hybrid than subtle flush. Tilbury, never one to shy away from a bit of romantic drama, says: 'I wanted to bottle the unreal glow of Ibiza sunsets and golden hour, that dreamy glow of happiness you get when you're on holiday.' She's done just that. READ MORE Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Blush Healthy Glow Collection Aside from lashings of sunscreen, brightly hued cream blush is, to me, the epitome of summer. Nothing says 'healthy, sun-kissed, summer loving' quite like a gorgeous pop of peach or pink on the cheeks. I think I might be blush-blind which is, delightfully, a real internet trend. It basically means you're someone who applies too much blush. But really, is it even possible to apply too much cream blush? [ From soothing serums to hydrating masks, these overnight heroes work hard for your skin while you sleep Opens in new window ] Some other cream blush favourites for summer include: Jones Road Miracle Balm (€46 from ), a multitasking wonder that works on lips, eyes, and cheeks. Jones Road Miracle Balm in Miami Beach (€46 from My current favourite shades are Pinched Cheeks, a cool-toned rosy pink, and Miami Beach, a bright coral-peach. Both add a sheer wash of colour and a dewy glow to the skin. One pot seems to last forever, too. If you're after something compact and chic, Rhode Pocket Blush (€32 from ) is a great option. Rhode Pocket Blush in Juice Box: The formula melts into the skin A strong nine-piece shade range (standouts include Juice Box, a hot pink, and Spicy Marg, an orange-coral), creamy texture, and quick and easy application. The formula melts into the skin. Chanel has stepped up their cream blush game this summer, too. Their bestselling Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick is available in two new shades as part of the Les Beiges Golden Hour summer collection. Chanel Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick in Refresh delivers a flush of colour that looks and feels expensive Reset, a luminous orange-coral, and Refresh, a bright, cool-toned pink (€48 each from Boots). Both look somewhat bold in the tube, but in reality deliver a sheer flush of colour that looks and feels expensive. This week I'm using … Sol De Janeiro Body Badalada Lotion A new vitamin-infused lotion from Sol de Janeiro, Badalada Body Lotion (€32 from Brown Thomas) smells and feels like a slightly softer, more pared-back version of their bestselling Bum Bum Cream – and it's also more affordable, at €32 for a generous 400ml bottle. Sol de Janeiro's Badalada Body Lotion costs €32 and is available from Brown Thomas Formulated with vitamins K and E plus hyaluronic acid, it's perfect for soothing post-sun skin or for daily hydration that leaves your skin looking amazing (and smelling of summer holidays).
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Laura Nolan Horgan: 'A tablecloth makes people sit longer at the table'
When Laura Nolan Horgan started LNH Edit online four years ago, she thought she had bought enough stock to last for an entire season, but then sold out over a weekend. It was the start of her fast becoming the leading light in Irish tablescaping textiles for all of us interiors aficionadas who unleash our creativity on the blank canvas that is our kitchen table. Since then, her tablecloth and napkin designs have evolved into cushion covers and removable lampshade covers to add an injection of colour, but are easily changed when you redo your décor. They're eye-catching, as are her conversation-piece accessories and a nightwear range, the latter having just been picked up by Brown Thomas. 'We have a vision board and BT was on it, but it's now ticked off,' says Laura, who recently dispatched her 20,000th order, having had a booming Easter. 'This year, we couldn't keep up with tablecloth orders. I think there's less pressure at Easter than Christmas as there are no gifts, so there's more time to decorate.' Given the age of the business, you might imagine it was lockdown inspiration which launched it, like it was for so many others, but it actually grew out of personal adversity when Laura discovered she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation. With its heightened risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, she underwent a mastectomy and hysterectomy in her early 30s while raising three young children. It was during the course of her recovery that lockdown started. 'My husband encouraged me to launch during covid,' she says. 'It gave me something to think about other than my health, but my health has also made me shape my priorities and be more in tune with the smaller things in life now. 'I work between 9am and 2pm, and then I'm mom. When they're in bed, I do a few more hours, and I'm growing the team, so I'll get a bit more time.' It's also informed her wider ethos focusing on sustainability and ethical practices, including her relationship with two artisan families in India who make all her fabrics, a place which has also proved to be a source of design inspiration. 'When we're there, we stay at the Khoti guest house in Jaipur,' says Laura. 'It's a home from home for us, our hub, and it's where the inspiration for one of our designs came from. The headboard in my bedroom has a vintage palm tree design, and it's now in one of our summer designs.' Laura's love of tablescaping with vintage tomato, olive and drinks cans and bottles has become a range of ceramic vases, planters and cutlery holders; from €9.50. Back at home in Dublin, she launched the palm tree design this week, along with a second one featuring bold stripes with a crab motif printed from a mango wood carving. It's all about summer entertaining or just making al fresco dining a bit more special. Both looks are the latest in what are four main collections annually. 'To brighten up the patio we also have cushion covers so you can match your cushions to your tablecloth,' says Laura, who also practices what she preaches, always having tablecloths as a feature of daily family life and one that seems to have a positive impact on her family, including Elizabeth, 11; Hugo, 10, and Toby, seven. 'We use a tablecloth every night, but my husband and I noticed that when one time I didn't use a cloth that the children got up quickly from the table,' she says. 'A cloth makes people sit longer at the table, I think.' Blue and white are summer fabric colours ideal for a picnic or a relaxed lunch on the deck; Blue Crab tablecloth, from €79.50, with napkins, €39.50 for four, Maybe it's the sense of effort and ritual, something she may have picked up from her mother, who she speaks of having an 'amazing eye', and how she always had a beautiful table. Fabric is probably in her DNA, too, as her mother is Fran Nolan of the fashion retailer, Fran & Jane. It's here Laura's career started and where she became creative director, and later a buyer for Penneys. The skills and experience she acquired no doubt transferred to LNH Edit to create a curation of covetable home textiles and wares reflecting her personal taste rather than the vagaries of trends. The Red Crab tablecloth with napkins injects subtle fun to a summer tabletop; tablecloth from €79.50, napkins, €39.50 for four. 'I don't follow trends, but I have a style,' she says. 'I adore colour, slightly boho, eclectic, English country garden meets Long Island, The Hamptons, New England vibe. Bits of happiness, and if you can add a little of this into your home, how bad.'
Irish Times
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Laura O'Mahoney: ‘I once paid €70 for a massive quiche as I was too embarrassed to say I only wanted a slice'
Comedian and director Laura O'Mahony directs Footnote, at Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, on June 14th, 16th and 17th as part of Cork Midsummer Festival. Are you a saver or a spender? I am a spender. A wild spender. I don't necessarily spend on myself, but I do spend on my children. In fact, I recently queued outside a Brown Thomas store to purchase a shamrock Jellycat for my kids. Did they need it? No, but it did fill them with joy, and I am into joy. What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid? Working in a bookshop in Cork . I think I got paid quite well but I was emergency taxed , and I remembered being scandalised because it felt like my money had simply disappeared. Do you shop around for better value? I don't. I know I should, but I'm not that type of person. I am a fan of immediacy and getting things solved quickly, so shopping around feels like a major hassle. It makes no sense, I know, but at nearly 40 years of age I understand the way my mind works. READ MORE What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost? I bought an absolutely beautiful bike for my birthday. I think it was €700. It has a stunning basket at the front. I had images of myself popping into town to buy bread for my basket, but sadly this dream is yet to be realised, and my cycling leaves a lot to be desired. What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? We bought a rice cooker recently and, quite honestly, it's a game changer. We now have rice coming out of our ears morning, noon and night. With three hungry mouths to feed, it's a lifesaver and a timesaver. Is there anything you regret spending money on? I don't really ever regret anything. I mean, I have a leaky Stanley cup that I absolutely did not need, but it did bring me joy, and it at least attempted to keep me hydrated for a small while. Do you haggle over prices? I don't have the guts to do that. I get all flustered, so I am such an easy target. I would nearly pay too much not to be mortified. I once paid €70 for a massive quiche because I was too embarrassed to say I just wanted one slice. We were eating quiche for weeks. Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency? I don't, mainly due to lack of knowledge and a bit of trepidation. It's not really my area of expertise, and I suppose I have heard horror stories about things going wrong. Ultimately, I like to know what my money is up to at all times. Do you have a retirement or pension plan? No. As a theatre director and comedian, it is hard to ever see myself retiring. Plans such as these are, of course, something I need to resolve and seek advice on but I'm not brilliant at taking advice even when it's for my own good. What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money? I bought a holiday to London for my family for my 40th birthday and it was great value. We are staying in a lovely apartment close to everything. Those kinds of memories are priceless. Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? I saved up for our wedding. Aside from our house, it was probably the biggest purchase but there was real pleasure in saving for something so beautiful. Have you ever lost money? I haven't, but my son lost €20 in a toy shop the other day. His little heart was so sad. I should have used it as a learning experience about the importance of money but, instead, I pretended I found it. The world will teach him the tough lessons; I am a soft touch, and I don't feel the need to yet. Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win? I am not a gambler. I will take risks in life but not with money. I threw a fiver on Sweden to win the Eurovision this year, and look where that got me. What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst? My best habit is not overspending on myself. My worst habit is wildly overspending on everyone else and forgetting that saving is a very important life skill. How much money do you have on you now? I could probably scrape together about a tenner for you from coins at the end of my bag. In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
Irish Examiner
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Bernard O'Shea: Nicola Coughlan has Supermacs, I have Coppers — Five Irish businesses we'd love gold cards for
In 2025, being granted a gold card isn't just a privilege—it's a cultural achievement. Forget Netflix deals or BAFTA nods. If you want genuine Irish respect, you need a VIP card for something that actually matters. Take Nicola Coughlan, for example. In between starring in Bridgerton and charming everyone from Graham Norton to the Vogue crowd, she casually revealed her most impressive accomplishment to date: a Supermac's Super VIP card. Issued for life. Unlimited access to garlic cheese chips. Possibly more potent than her passport. She posted a photo of the card with a caption that read like a mic drop: 'Few things that have happened to me impressed people more than this.' Honestly? Fair. Now, I can't compete with international fame, but I do hold a similarly revered item: a Coppers Gold Card. That's right. Free entry to Copper Face Jacks, the nightclub where careers are forged, relationships bloom and die, and where you're never more than six minutes away from someone roaring 'Maniac 2000.' But what if we thought bigger? What if there were more gold cards for more sacred Irish institutions? Let's say the quiet part out loud: here are five Irish businesses we'd all secretly love gold cards for. 1. Barack Obama Plaza – The spiritual home of mid-journey toilet stop It might be a motorway service station, but it's also a shrine. Named after the 44th President of the United States (via ancestral links to Moneygall, Offaly), Barack Obama Plaza is where Irish people make pilgrimages for breakfast rolls, diesel, and a quiet cry in the carpark. A gold card here? Game-changer. Unlimited sausage rolls, priority access to clean loos, and your own reserved spot under the statue of Michelle and Barack. Imagine pulling in, flashing your card, and being greeted by name like a celebrity on tour. It's not just a rest stop. It's a state of mind. 2. Brown Thomas – Where aspirations are spritzed with perfume Ah, Brown Thomas. You go in for a browse and come out with deep financial regret and a free spritz of Tom Ford on your left elbow. It's less a department store and more a test of willpower. But with a gold card? Suddenly, you're the main character. No more side-eyes from Chanel counters. No more pretending to be buying a wedding gift when you're just sniffing candles. You get a personal shopper, a glass of prosecco on arrival and a makeup artist who calls you 'darling' unironically. Heaven. 3. All Car Parks – Because modern Irish success is measured in free parking There are two types of Irish people: those who pay for parking and those who know a fella. A gold card for all car parks? That's prestige. That's wealth. That's freedom. Forget flying private. The proper flex is driving into any town in Ireland and confidently ignoring the parking meter. No more tapping apps, scrambling for coins, or desperately trying to decode whether you're in a loading bay. Your gold card waves all fines. It's basically diplomatic immunity with a windscreen sticker. 4. The NCT Centre – Where dreams are dashed over wiper blades The NCT Centre is Ireland's great leveller. It doesn't matter who you are—teacher, builder, bishop, or Taoiseach—if your car fails due to a dodgy headlamp alignment, like your driving test, you're driving home in shame (yes, I know the irony). The waiting room is a temple of tension, where people sit in silent prayer, watching their reg plates pop up on the screen like the results of a medical test. Nothing brings out middle-aged existential dread like a softly muttered, 'It didn't pass today.' A gold card means guaranteed passes, fast-tracked appointments, and immunity from the man who asks, 'Have you your insurance disk up?' You drive in, they salute. You drive out with a cup of tea and a sticker that says, 'Passed First Time (Because I'm Class).' And best of all? You never have to look up what 'axial play in wishbone bushes' means ever again. 5. Every Deli Counter in Ireland – The beating heart of the nation No matter how fancy our coffee gets or how many brunch spots are open, the Irish deli counter reigns supreme. It's where real decisions are made. Where builders, teachers, and sleep-deprived parents queue shoulder to shoulder for sustenance wrapped in foil. A gold card for all deli counters? It's the ultimate fantasy. You walk in, and they know your order. You say nothing. You raise an eyebrow, and they start buttering the roll. Chicken fillet, stuffing, cheese, taco sauce—all yours. No charge. No judgement. Just warm, bready love from Malin to Mizen Head. Nicola Coughlan might have Supermacs. I might have Coppers. But the truth is, a gold card isn't about VIP velvet ropes or getting a table at some rooftop bar in Manhattan. The real Irish fantasy isn't excess—it's recognition. It's walking into a place and being seen. Being known. Not for fame, but for familiarity. For being part of the furniture. And if it comes with free curry chips and a club orange? Even better. Read More How Cork got a science centre and space observatory in a 16th-century castle
Irish Daily Mirror
04-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish organic brand VOYA set to host stress-busting event in Dublin
Brown Thomas is set to host an event that aims to help relieve stress for anyone feeling the weight of work. 'Finding Balance' is a one-hour evening workshop hosted by the founders of Irish wellness brand VOYA, with expert insight from career consultant Angela Burke. Hosted at Brown Thomas in Dublin on June 19, it's designed to help people calm the chaos, offering practical tools and an honest conversation about work-life overwhelm. Co-founder Mark Walton said the event will hopefully help people "reconnect and feel more centred". He said: "At VOYA, we believe that true wellbeing isn't just about what you put on your skin — it's also about how you care for yourself in the moments in between. "This event is about helping people reconnect with that idea, giving them space to breathe, reflect and leave feeling more centred." VOYA founders Mark and Kira Walton will also be sharing how they built a now global Irish wellness brand while raising a family and protecting their own balance. Tickets are just €25 and that is all redeemable on VOYA products on the day.
