Dr Laoise Hook explains what can be done about pigmentation and why now is a great time of year to start treatment

After a summer of sunshine, even with SPF, pigmentation tends to be at its most visible right about now. Many of the treatments that work best for pigmentation, such as IPL and peels, work by making the skin temporarily more sensitive to UV light, so they need to be paired with strict sun avoidance and daily SPF during and after treatment. That’s a tall order in June or July, but with the sunshine easing off and the days shortening, autumn and winter give your skin the best possible conditions to heal properly without the risk of further triggering pigment. It’s also simply easier to stay consistent with treatment when you’re not dodging strong sun on the school run or heading off on holidays. Starting now means you can work steadily through a course of treatment over the coming months and be in great shape well before pigmentation has a chance to build up again next summer.

Pigmentation is caused by an excess of melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its colour. When skin cells called melanocytes produce too much melanin in a concentrated area, you get patches that are darker than the surrounding skin. It’s not one single condition. There are several different types, and knowing which one you’re dealing with matters, because the wrong treatment can sometimes make things worse rather than better.

The main types of pigmentation include sun damage, or solar lentigines, often called age spots or sun spots. These are flat brown marks caused by years of UV exposure and typically appear on the face, hands and chest. Melasma is a little trickier, tending to appear as larger, symmetrical patches across the cheeks, forehead or upper lip. It is strongly influenced by hormones, including pregnancy and contraception, as well as sun and heat exposure, and can be notoriously stubborn, sometimes flaring with the wrong treatment. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs after the skin has experienced some form of trauma, such as acne, a cut or an aggressive treatment, leaving behind a darker mark as the skin heals and produces extra pigment.

Because pigmentation has different causes, treating it isn’t a one-size-fits-all job. The first step is always a proper consultation, where we work out which type (or combination of types) we’re dealing with. This is essential, because melasma in particular needs to be handled carefully.

From there, a combination approach usually gives the best results:

Homecare is, without question, the most important part of the plan. No in-clinic treatment will hold if the skin isn’t being properly protected and supported at home. That means SPF every day, without exception, plus targeted active ingredients to control pigment production between sessions. Importantly for those with pigmentation you need to be using a mineral SPF every day. The reason for this is that pigmentation is not just caused by UV but also by any visible light including overhead lights and computer screens.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is very effective for sun damage and age spots, using light energy to break down excess pigment. Important note: IPL is not suitable for melasma, as the heat involved can actually aggravate it and make pigmentation worse.

Perfect Peel is a versatile option that can be used for either sun damage or melasma and even PIH, gently resurfacing the skin and encouraging even pigment turnover.

Obagi Nu Derm is a prescription-strength homecare system that we often recommend alongside in-clinic treatments, particularly for melasma. It works over a period of months to regulate pigment production at a cellular level.

Microneedling can help by encouraging the skin to renew itself and improve the absorption of active ingredients, making it a useful addition to a broader plan.

If there’s one thing I want you to take from this, it’s that pigmentation rarely responds to a single quick fix. The best results come from a considered combination of in-clinic treatment and consistent homecare, and homecare really is the backbone of it all. Without daily SPF and the right active ingredients, even the best in-clinic treatment will only offer a temporary improvement.

With the sun behind us for another while, now is the perfect window to get started. If you’re dealing with pigmentation and aren’t sure which type you have or what might help, it’s always worth coming in for a consultation so we can put together a plan that’s actually right for your skin.
www.thehookclinic.ie

Fatigue and reduced stamina is normal and can persist long after the initial stroke making everyday tasks more challenging. Other symptoms include paralysis (often on one side of the body), spasticity or muscle weakness that affect balance, ability to walk, stand and swallow. Sensory deficits can cause visual issues, speech and language challenges and numbness or tingling. Cognitive functions may be affected too, leading to memory loss, problems with concentration, impaired judgment, confusion, or generally slowed thinking.

Understandably survivors describe the aftermath as a profound process of grief and loss. Emotionally many struggle with depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, or a loss of motivation. Each of these impairments can deeply affect a person’s quality of life, underscoring the importance of timely intervention and comprehensive rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation should include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy psychological support and scalp acupuncture. Scalp acupuncture is a specialised form of acupuncture that involves stimulating specific areas of the scalp that correspond to different brain regions. It is used for stroke rehabilitation in Chinese hospitals, as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan and, is becoming more common in the West, as part of an integrative medical approach.

Scalp acupuncture aids stroke recovery by targeting areas that map the autonomic, motor, sensory and speech areas of the brain. For example motor area stimulation can reduce spasticity, improve limb movement, co-ordination, balance, fine motor skills of the fingers and the swallow reflex. Stimulating the autonomic areas of the brain will support the systems of the body that work without conscious control ie. the organs that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and digestion.

Speech-related areas in the scalp can improve a person’s ability to comprehend, retrieve the correct words and articulate, helping both Broca and Wernicke’s aphasia. Scalp acupuncture activates neural pathways and promotes neuroplasticity helping the brain to reorganise and form new connections after injury. It can also influence neurotransmitters that regulate emotional wellbeing and improve blood flow, which may increase cerebral blood flow to regions of the brain

that were deprived of blood supply during the stroke and help to nourish brain tissue and support the repair process.

While the journey of stroke recovery is unique, and rehabilitation should ideally start soon after the event, research is confirming that patients can still experience functional improvements and reduced neurological symptoms years after the event with scalp acupuncture.

Amanda Roe is an Acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life and Health Coach specialising in Women’s Health. She offers a range of services including scalp acupuncture for stroke and wishes you and or your loved one strength and healing on your journey of stroke recovery. For more information or to book a consultation visit www.roehealth.ie or call/text Amanda on: 087 6331898.

Viktor Palazhchenko lives in Skibbereen with his wife, Olga, and their seven-year-old son, Lavrentii. He was born and raised in Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, and spent most of his life there. The family then lived for five years in Lviv before eventually coming to Ireland.

They left Ukraine after the beginning of the full-scale war. 

For Viktor, leaving was first and foremost a decision made as a husband and father. His wife was recovering from a serious car accident and surgery, while their son, who has a disability, needed ongoing support. Ireland offered the family access to that support, and because they already had some English, settling in an English-speaking country felt a little more manageable. This July marked three years since they arrived.

Before the war, Viktor’s professional life looked very different. He trained as a journalist and worked as a television correspondent and presenter. He worked in communications, managed social media, wrote and edited, and produced small video projects.

“Practically my entire adult life before the war was connected with words,” he says. Then life began to change very quickly. After Olga and their son were injured in a car accident, Viktor stepped away from work for several months to care for them. By the time he was able to work again, Ukraine was dealing with widespread power cuts. He remembers fellow journalists searching for cafés and other places where they could charge a laptop and find Wi-Fi.

So Viktor went to work for Nova Poshta, the Ukrainian postal and delivery company.

“It was a very conscious, strategic choice,” he says. “The postal service remained essential. Parcels still had to be delivered whatever the circumstances.”

His branch had a petrol generator, so even when the electricity disappeared, the work continued.

After moving to Ireland, he had to begin again. He worked as a waiter, then as a kitchen porter at the West Cork Hotel, and later as a night porter. Working nights also became a very practical way to improve his English.

Later, when Olga began working with Irish National Opera, the family rearranged their lives again. Viktor moved to part-time work and took on most of the day-to-day care of their son.

He then trained as a special needs assistant and began working with children with additional educational needs.

That professional change is closely connected to his own experience as a father. “A lot of what other parents go through is familiar to me personally,” he says.

He is now beginning his second school year in this field, working as a substitute SNA in several schools around West Cork and taking part in home-support programmes for children.

For more than a year, he also volunteered at CoAction West Cork’s Possibilities Hub, working with adults with autism. This summer, CoAction recognised his volunteer work with the Body Award 2026.

And there, unexpectedly, some of his old journalistic skills became useful again.

Viktor heard one participant reading and immediately noticed his voice. He suggested trying audiobook narration. The participant read; Viktor recorded and edited. Together they produced several audiobooks.

The project gave the participant a chance to try narration and hear his own voice become part of a finished creative project.

There is another important part of Viktor’s life: the Church.

He has served as a deacon in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for seven years and continues his theological education. This year he completed his degree at Kyiv Theological Seminary and began further studies at Kyiv Theological Academy.

When our conversation turned to clothes, it became clear that Viktor had always had an interest in style.

He does not follow fashion constantly, and everyday life usually calls for practical choices. But he has always paid attention to clothes and the way people present themselves.

He likes classic menswear and strong, masculine silhouettes. Even as a teenager, he might stop while changing television channels if he came across a fashion show.

His willingness to experiment started even earlier.

He laughs as he remembers inventing outfits for his younger sister Maria as a child, cutting up his mother’s tights and turning them into improvised clothes.

At university, he enjoyed dressing in a way that was bright and noticeable.

“Perhaps somewhere inside me that 18-year-old boy is still there, even though in the mirror now I see a grown man with a completely different life experience.”

That was the Viktor I wanted to work with for this shoot: an adult man accustomed to thinking first about family, work and responsibility, but who had not lost his curiosity.

Before the photoshoot, we went to Cork together to choose clothes for several different looks.

Normally Viktor shops in a very practical way: there is a budget and there is a list. Comfortable trousers. Shoes. A few t-shirts. A white shirt for church.

This time we tried things on, compared combinations and looked at clothes he probably would not have stopped to consider on his own.

For me, styling a person is not about disguising them. 

After the shoot, I wanted to know not only whether Viktor liked the photographs, but whether the experience had changed the way he saw himself.

“I am quite a modest and self-critical person,” he says. “I know what my strengths are, but it is still important for me to have the chance to see myself through someone else’s eyes.”

Then he added: “With Galyna’s help, I felt comfortable trying something unfamiliar and looking at myself differently. Now I know that from time to time I would like to return to that kind of experience.”

Look 1: This look continues the theme of natural ease, but takes it in a more classic and refined direction. A navy blazer, light blue shirt and linen trousers create an elegant seaside combination that sits naturally against the coastal landscape.

Natural fabrics and relaxed styling keep the outfit from becoming too formal.

There is structure without stiffness here.

Stylist’s tip: Classic menswear does not have to feel strict. An unusual necklace adds an unexpected, more personal detail to the classic outfit. Mixing classic pieces with a less expected accessory can soften the whole look and make it feel much more personal.

Look 2:  This look is built around relaxed summer elegance. A pale blue linen shirt, worn open at the collar with the sleeves rolled up, is paired with lightweight trousers in a natural tone to create a silhouette that feels easy but still considered.

Suede shoes and a simple piece of jewellery add character without making the outfit feel over-styled.

The appeal comes from restraint: good fabrics, soft tones and nothing that feels overworked.

Stylist’s tip: Do not be afraid to let natural fabrics look slightly rumpled. That is part of their beauty.

Look 3: The final look is about natural elegance.

A linen shirt and lightweight trousers in natural fabrics fit well in the surroundings, while suede shoes bring warmth and softness to the overall look.

It brings us back to something Viktor said after the shoot: clothes can support the person rather than overwhelm them.

Stylist’s tip: Choose clothes that allow you to move naturally and feel comfortable. 

Stylist and photographer:
Galyna Zaitseva.

But recently I upgraded to a watch which had far more bells and whistles. While I’m still not on board with most of its features – being a rather simple creature and not particularly tech savvy – one feature in particular caught my attention: sleep tracking.  I didn’t have to programme anything, but each morning I got a “sleep score”, complete with a breakdown of my night in neat little timestamps. My curiosity was piqued by the breakdown of my night’s sleep into three main component parts – deep sleep, light sleep and REM sleep. 

It got me thinking about what actually constitutes a good night’s sleep and why does it matter? 

Sleep has always been something of a mystery. Where do we go when we sleep? What happens to our waking selves — our personality, our persona, our sense of being? In ancient times it was believed that our spirits travelled to another realm to be replenished while our bodies lay inert, awaiting the soul’s return. This was an attempt to explain sleep and dreaming long before science stepped in. 

Modern sleep science tells us that we cycle through four distinct phases of sleep, repeating them four to six times per night:

Stage 1 is the lightest phase, marking the brief transition from wakefulness into sleep. Stage 2 is also light sleep and is the longest stage, during which the heart rate slows and body temperature drops. Stage 3, known as deep or slow-wave sleep, is particularly important for immune function, physical repair and recovery. Stage 4 is REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the main dreaming phase, when brain activity becomes more similar to that seen during wakefulness.

Deep sleep is prioritised in the first half of the night, when the body focuses on physical repair. Slow delta waves dominate, growth hormones are released, and when this stage is sufficient, we wake feeling refreshed and restored. As we age, however, our deep sleep phases shorten while our lighter phases lengthen.

REM sleep, meanwhile, is vital for the brain. It’s during this stage that we consolidate memories, process emotions, and make sense of the day’s experiences. Entire schools of thought have been built around dream interpretation, exploring how the unconscious mind communicates symbolically through our dream world. Creativity has long been linked to REM sleep – Einstein famously claimed that the inspiration for his theory of relativity came to him in a dream.

Most of us could benefit from improving our sleep and particularly our deep sleep – so how do we do that?

Consistency is key: going to bed and waking at the same time each day helps regulate your internal clock (bad news for weekend lie-ins). Make your bedroom as cavelike as possible – cool, dark, and free from screens or bright lights, this will stimulate melatonin, our sleep hormone, which is rapidly coming on board now as the evenings shorten. 

Regular exercise and time outdoors support deeper sleep. Avoid caffeine after lunch and be mindful of alcohol late in the evening; while it may feel sedating at first, its thermogenic effect can raise body temperature and wake you during the night. 

Try to get natural light within the first hour of waking, which will suppress melatonin and boost cortisol in a healthy way, and most importantly if you are addressing a poor sleep pattern, it will set your sleep timer for the night ahead. Ten minutes outdoors is enough.

And if sleep still feels elusive, here’s a practice you can try. Counting sheep has long been shown to do little for a busy mind, but recalling a familiar walk – one your body knows as well as your thoughts do – can be surprisingly soothing. Choose a route you love and follow it in your imagination: involve all your senses, the way the air feels at the start, the small sounds that accompany you, the scent of the trees or the sea, or the feel of the earth beneath your feet. This helps your mind begins to loosen its grip on the day and it’s interesting to see how far along your path you make it before sleep overtakes you.

Our biology is ancient – shaped by sunlight, darkness, temperature, and the rhythm of the of the seasons – yet our daily modern environment couldn’t be more different.

Where is our time for quiet reflection and rest, where we can drop into our parasympathetic nervous system and rest as nature intended? Light, noise, notifications, deadlines, responsibilities, and the relentless hum of doing make can make us feel both wired and tired. Even when we stop moving, our minds churn and turn, tilting at windmills as we effort to rest.

Our stress response is activated far more often than it was ever meant to be, and cortisol – which should gently decline in the evening – often stays stubbornly high. A body that thinks it’s under threat cannot prioritise deep sleep.

Much as I have appreciated the sleep data provided by my humble smart watch, I am mindful of the trap it sets – where something as natural and intimate as sleep becomes yet another objective to fulfil. And so, while grateful for the initial information it offered, I’ve stopped using it to track my nights.

Instead, I’ve returned to something simpler: giving myself thirty minutes each evening to experience the luxury of dark, empty quietude – the stillness within that invites sleep. Turn down the lights, switch off your screen, light a candle if you feel called to, and rest in the enveloping quiet as the autumn evenings draw in.

Sleep, after all, is not a performance, nor should it be a chore. It’s a return – to ourselves, to our bodies, to the deep rhythms that have always carried us where our spirits can be replenished, our bodies restored.

Look after yourself

As women we are bombarded by fads; best thing for sleep, energy, belly fat – you name it and someone claims to have re-invented the sliced pan in terms of a cure.

I found it refreshing to read The International Menopause Society (IMS) white paper emphasising the vital role of lifestyle medicine when navigating menopause. This puts power into the woman’s hands by pointing out the vast body of evidence showing that changes to lifestyle have a big effect on not just menopause symptoms but risk of subsequent chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, and enhance quality of life. It talks about the six pillars: healthy eating, exercise, mental wellbeing, avoiding risky substances, good sleep and  healthy relationships.

Not rocket science, is it? Yes, HRT or other non hormone drugs help menopause symptoms but unless you are looking after yourself, all your symptoms will be worse

The heart: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Dutch cardiologist professor Angela Maas, who wrote a fascinating book ‘A Woman’s Heart’, presented at the MSI conference. I mentioned in previous articles that women’s CHD is different to men’s. However, women have rarely been included in studies on cardiac drugs or procedures. There is an assumption that what works for men will work on female physiology. Angina is chest pain caused by reduced flow to heart muscle. In men, this is as a result of  blockage in large arteries. Most female angina occurs as a result of narrowing of small arteries, a process called vasospasm. This vasospasm can be brought on by exercise, nicotine, but also by stress. The arteries then open again returning blood flow so symptoms are intermittent and can seem inconsistent; the same activity causes symptoms one day but not the next.

Studies have shown that 80 per cent of women after a heart attack, have a normal angiogram.

Female CHD symptoms are also different from men’s who get chest pain when exercising. Women can get chest pain, but also fatigue, back ache and low mood. The chest pain can be atypical, typical being pain brought on by exercise.

Diagnosing CHD: The treadmill test looks for  ECG changes and symptoms brought on by exercise. An angiogram, when dye is put through heart arteries, looks for large artery blockage. The term ANOCA, ‘Angina with Non Obstructed Coronary Arteries’ is a relatively new term recognising that not all CHD involves large arteries.  

 Angiograms and treadmill tests are not accurate CHD diagnostic tests for women; negative results do not rule out CHD. Invasive coronary function tests do assess reversible vasospasm but are available in specialist centres only.

Prof Maas confessed that in her field there are still some, usually male, cardiologists who “do not believe” in female heart disease – like we are some kind of mythical creature.

Can we believe what we read and see on social media about menopause? Probably not. Findings of a study in 2024 was presented at the BMS conference, looking at accuracy of content of posts about menopause on social media platforms; whether they reflected evidence based guidance of bodies such as NICE, National Institute  of Clinical Excellence, the BMS and IMS: 67 per cent did not.

Always get your female health and menopause information from reputable sources. I recommend the BMS patient facing arm of their website; Women’s Health Concerns (womens-health-concern.org).

Testosterone: We all need it, right? Wrong.

Previous studies have shown that testosterone very gradually starts to decline in both men and women from age 18. There is no sharp drop for women during menopause. Yes, the ovaries produce testosterone, but a significant amount of testosterone is produced by adrenal glands and this is unaffected by menopause. Professor Susan Davis, Head of Monash University Women’s Health Research Program Melbourne, presented the fascinating findings of a study involving over 1400 randomly-selected 18- to 75-year-old women; 500 had testosterone levels analysed.

They found the same slight, gradual decline in testosterone levels from 18 to 62, with then a rise in levels. No significant difference in testosterone levels were found between women who were pre, peri or post- menopausal. The study also found no association between sexual function and testosterone levels. I was fascinated to learn that in placebo-controlled studies on testosterone to treat reduced libido, the placebo consistently produce a 33 per cent improvement in libido. Never knock a placebo.

Studies have looked for but found no evidence that testosterone helps with other menopause symptoms such as fatigue, mood, brain fog, general energy, strength or muscle mass.

The testosterone we prescribe is for men, is not licensed for women, and risks of overdose are real, which is why regular blood tests are needed. Even when levels are kept in the female range, we can see side effects of facial hair, hair thinning/male pattern baldness, voice changes and even clitoromegaly – enlargement of the clitoris – which might be irreversible. In addition we lack safety data on use of testosterone by women for longer than 12 months in terms of effects on cholesterol and cardiovascular risk.  

Bottom line, ladies; we are complex creatures. Our sexual function and desire is multifactorial. While it is tempting to think that a dab of testosterone gel every day will fix everything in the bedroom department, emerging data shows that perimenopause and menopause are not times of testosterone deficiency. Plus there are strong signals that our testosterone levels will rise over the age of 60; something to look forward to… or not? You decide.

So what/when exactly is perimenopause?

No two women are the same and neither are the symptoms experienced through menopause transition. Dare I use that term journey? Became, if it was a trip we paid for we’d all want our money back. 

Professor Susan Davis presented findings of the Australian Women’s Study (AWS) looking to see what menopause symptoms women experienced and when ie in early or late perimenopause, in menopause or in post menopause. A few definitions:

A woman is said to be in the menopause if it has been more than 12 months since her last period. 

Postmenopause is the time beyond 12 months after the last period.

A woman is pre-menopausal if she has a regular four-week cycle, no symptoms and no changes to her periods.

These three stages are easy to spot. 

Perimenopause is not so straight forward.

We lack evidence-based or indeed any guidelines on treatment of women in perimenopause.

The global gold standard for the past 15 years  defining a woman’s reproductive stages is the  STRAW-10 system. In brief, it says perimenopause starts once cycles vary in length by seven or more days; ie periods become either further apart or closer together by seven or more days. That may need to be rethought.

The AWS found that women experienced typical menopause symptoms like hot flushes when their periods were still occurring at the usual interval, but what they had was a change in flow; either lighter or heavier periods.

What we do know about perimenopause is that it is a time of hormone chaos, not oestrogen deficiency. This is because some months we ovulate, others we do not. A cycle without egg release results in high oestrogen levels giving heavier, longer periods, headaches,  bloating, fluid retention.

‘PMS on steroids’ is what one patient described what it felt like for her in her early 40s. Many women start to get migraines for the first time in their 40s. Anxiety is also a prominent symptom in perimenopause.  

This is where social media is definitely not your friend: It is often advocated that HRT needs to be started the minute a woman starts to experience any menopause symptoms. Stop and think about that: if your hormones are all over the place, does it seem like a good idea to throw a load of other hormones in on top? That is what taking HRT in the early perimenopause will do.

HRT is a product designed and safety tested for use by post-menopausal women to treat oestrogen deficiency. What we need to do in perimenopause is stop the hormone chaos and this is achieved by switching off ovulation; HRT products will not do that. Also we have no safety data on the use of HRT starting in women as young as 43 in terms of lifelong risks of breast cancer.  

What we do have is a range of very safe hormone therapies that will stop ovulation and therefore stop the chaos and get rid of the PMS. Once the hormone roller-coaster stops, anxiety symptms invariably settle. Many of these products now contain the same oestrogen you get in HRT.

New drug for hot flushes

Some  readers may have come across Veoza, brand name for Fezolinetant. It acts centrally in the brain to calm the thermoregulatory system and is very effective. A sister medication, Elinzanetant has been studied in women with breast cancer, who are unable to use HRT, and it is very effective and safe.

But, it is expensive and can affect the liver. While the HSE is considering whether it might be covered by medical card or DPS, drug prepayment scheme, it is not currently and costs €80 a month. Liver blood tests need to be done before starting, a few weeks after and again six months later. 

I have rheumatoid arthritis/Lupus so I cannot have HRT. Not true.

Dr Arvind Kaul, consultant rheumatologist, St George’s Hospital London gave an interesting presentation at the BMS conference, emphasising that transdermal HRT is safe to use in autoimmune disorders such as RA, Sjogrens, or Lupus. 

I’ve had a clot so I cannot have HRT. Not true.

While the link between oral HRT and clots is well-established – the risk is increased two to four times – we have compelling evidence from large studies that using HRT through the skin, transdermal HRT, does not increase the risk of clots. The presentation by haematologist and clotting specialist Professor Beverly Hunt highlighted an issue we have all come across as doctors and patients; a doctor or nurse telling you that you must stop HRT before a procedure or surgery; not true. Yes, if you are on oral HRT you should stop four weeks before any operation but a safe option is to switch to transdermal HRT.

If you have questions about any if the issues raised here, please discuss with your GP. 

One of the things I love about working in a health food shop is that, despite all the changes in health and wellness over the past 30 years, some of the old herbal remedies remain firm favourites.

A.Vogel is a good example. We have stocked the range for as long as I can remember, and Echinaforce was actually one of the very first herbal products our father, Alan, brought into Organico when he started the shop in 1992. When we were kids we used to laugh at the tingly feeling we got on our tongues when we were dosed with Echinacea drops – and it has been one of the most reached-for products on the Organico shelves ever since. 

I’m a huge fan of herbal remedies. They are a lot gentler than pharmaceuticals, and it’s important to remember that just because they are natural that doesn’t mean they are suitable for everyone – herbal medicines can interact with medicines or be inappropriate for certain conditions, so it’s important to have a chat with a qualified Herbalist or Health Shop advisor when you’re choosing what to take. But used appropriately, they can be a very useful part of the everyday health toolkit.

Echinaforce is probably the best-known example. It is made from fresh Echinacea purpurea herb and root and is traditionally used for the symptoms of colds and flu. The Echinaforce range has grown considerably since those early days, and two of my personal favourites are the Echinaforce Hot Drink and the Echinaforce Sore Throat Spray. 

The Hot Drink is one of those things I reach for when I feel a cold coming on. There is something wonderfully comforting about making a hot drink when you’re feeling under the weather, and this combines fresh Echinacea with black elderberry. It is licensed as a traditional herbal medicine for cold and flu-like symptoms. Echinacea boosts our white blood cell production while Elderberry is effective for warding off viral infections. 

The throat spray is another of my favourites. If your colds tend to start with that familiar scratchy, uncomfortable throat, it is incredibly effective and I love the fact that it doesn’t contain any sugar. It contains fresh Echinacea and sage and is traditionally used for sore throats associated with colds and flu, and I find that the regular dose of both help my overall symptoms as well as helping to prevent the sore throat getting a hold of me. I always take it travelling and use it before, during and after a plane trip!

Another A.Vogel product I recommend a lot is Menoforce Sage. This is one of those remedies that has become a staple for women going through the menopause. Sage has a long traditional use for excessive sweating, and Menoforce is licensed specifically for menopausal hot flushes and night sweats. It is a very concentrated one-a-day tablet, which is particularly convenient when you are already juggling a whole range of symptoms.

For me, sage is particularly useful for the sweating and hot flushes, while A.Vogel Menopause Support is aimed at the wider menopause transition. It contains soya isoflavones, magnesium and hibiscus and is designed for use through all stages of menopause. Magnesium also contributes to normal psychological function and to reducing tiredness and fatigue.

This distinction is useful because menopause isn’t simply about hot flushes. The transition can involve changes in sleep, mood, energy, joints, digestion and much more, and what one woman experiences can be completely different from another. There isn’t one herbal remedy that suits everyone, which is why talking through the actual symptoms is often more useful than simply asking for “something for menopause” – again the best thing is to consult your local health shop staff, as there are a lot of different options! 

Herbs can also be useful when it comes to aches and pains. Atrosan contains Devil’s Claw and is traditionally used for the relief of minor joint pain. I particularly like it as an option for those occasions when you have sore joints or muscular discomfort and want to try a traditional herbal remedy that won’t upset your stomach. 

And then there is Bronchoforce. This is one I always use myself when a cold seems to be heading downwards. I find it particularly useful when a cold starts to move into the chest and that horrible mucus-producing cough appears. Bronchoforce contains fresh ivy and thyme alongside liquorice and is traditionally used as an expectorant to relieve a chesty cough associated with a cold.

One thing I think is important with herbal remedies is knowing what they are actually for. Bronchoforce, for example, is for a chesty, mucus-producing cough; it isn’t simply a general remedy for every type of cough. There’s another Marshmallow and Mullein Cough Spray for dry, tickly coughs. 

My father started Organico with a belief that food, herbs and natural health had a vital role in helping people look after themselves. More than 30 years later, I still find myself reaching for some of the same bottles that were on our shelves when I was growing up. Echinaforce is one of them, and I it will be there for a long time yet.

PS Marilyn Glenville is coming to Organico on October 5 to give a talk on ‘Food, Mood and Nutrition’ – it’s a must for anyone who wants to improve their sleep, energy, concentration, or focus. It’s aimed at all ages. Tickets (very limited!) available from the shop or from www.organico.ie.

We’ve eaten all the beans, most of the tomatoes and the courgettes aren’t happy with the drop in temperature so they have slowed to an almost stop. It’s that time of the year again. This is when the brassica cage becomes very attractive – we’re not terribly interested in it when the summer veg are still around.

I was poking around while we were tidying up – there’s plenty of debris with everything dying off – and I discovered some sprouting calabrese. Sprouting calabrese is like a summer broccoli. This had mostly been ignored, as we had so much else to eat but now I’m delighted it’s there.

Broccoli is one of those reliable vegetables that always seems to be available, so it never sits in the exciting department, even though there are many ways to use it.

When we had our shop we made broccoli salad that was so popular we could never make enough of it. I seldom make that salad now. Truth be told, I seldom make anything that we used to cook at the shop as a gazillion bowls of anything would put anyone off, but I do have a new broccoli salad recipe which I’m going to share.

I was checking out recipes for our up-coming trip to Greece, where I teach cooking with my Greek friend Elisa, and I discovered a broccoli salad with sun-dried tomatoes and toasted almonds. It isn’t mayonnaise-based like our shop recipe but it’s equally as delicious and simpler to make.

It’s a little different, as the broccoli isn’t one hundred percent raw. I blanch it in a big pot of boiling water but only for 30 seconds. This is important – the big pot of water and the 30 seconds. The big pot of boiling water means that when the broccoli is dropped in, the temperature doesn’t drop, and 30 seconds is enough to make the broccoli bright green and take the raw edge off, but not cook it. It’s also important to have a big bowl of cold water handy to drop the broccoli in to stop it cooking further.

I use sun-dried tomatoes that are dried rather than sitting in oil but either would be good, whatever you can lay your hands on.

And toasted almonds are easy, just lay them on a baking tray and cook for four to five minutes, until they are golden.

Broccoli, Sun-dried Tomato, Toasted
Almond Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 head broccoli
– around 500-600g

• 6-8 sundried dried tomatoes

• 1 medium/large red onion

• 50mls white wine vinegar

• 1 dsp sugar

• 50g flaked almonds

• 1-2 cloves garlic

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• 100mls extra virgin olive oil

• Juice of half lemon
– about 2tbs

• 1tsp honey

• Salt and black pepper

Method:

If you are using dried sun-dried tomatoes, cover them with boiling water and a splash of vinegar. Leave aside for 15-30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 180c. Spread the almond flakes onto a baking tray, then cook for four to five minutes until golden. Tip them into a small bowl and allow to cool. 

Peel and finely slice the red onion, sprinkle over a little salt, then massage the onion until the rings separate. Put the vinegar and sugar into a bowl, mix until the sugar dissolves then add the onion. Mix well then leave aside.

Fill a big saucepan with water and bring to the boil, cover it with a lid, as this will speed things up.

Discard the very end of the broccoli stalk, then thinly slice the rest until you arrive at the florets. Chop the sliced stalks into matchsticks, then divide the head into florets. By now the water should be boiling. Fill a big bowl with cold water and have it ready on the side. Add a heaped tsp salt to the boiling water, then drop the florets in, count to 30 then lift the broccoli out, or drain into a colander then tip it into the cold water. Allow the boiling water to return to temperature, then drop the chopped broccoli stems in; count to 10, then take them out and drop into the cold water. When the broccoli is cool, drain, break the florets into small pieces and put into a big bowl – all the pieces should be the right size to eat without a knife and fork.

Drain the sun-dried tomatoes and chop small. Add to the broccoli. Drain the onion and reserve the vinegar. Add the onions to the salad. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Add the garlic and Dijon mustard to the oniony vinegar, then whisk in the olive oil, honey and lemon juice. Season with salt and black pepper.

Pour the vinaigrette over the broccoli then toss together, Add the flaked almonds then toss again.

Tip into a serving bowl and it’s ready to go.

Whether it was the continual sunshine or the constant presence of some good people and mindfulness practices in my life, or most likely a combination of these things, I really notice and appreciate how good I feel, having a sense of becoming ‘whole’ and more familiar to myself and feeling very grateful to have some vitality and energy back. I owe huge thanks to my mindfulness groups, because to have the opportunity to share our feelings and vulnerabilities in a safe space is priceless, whilst at the same time learning the sustainable skills of mindfulness and self-compassion.   I have met so many wonderful people through some beautiful work opportunities over the summer, including mindful picnics on and around the Healy Pass for the Caha Centre, mindfulness meditation by the sea in Castletownbere and my ongoing work with family carers which I value hugely.  

Even though my life and work are still a bit nomadic these days, I have the very best of both worlds, travelling the length and breadth of West Cork and Beara. I am beyond lucky to have been able to turn some of my own life experiences into programmes that can support others. While I am only beginning the process of planning my mindfulness work for the Autumn, I would like to flag two important events and programmes in the coming months. Because mindfulness practice has helped me through my own darkest hours, helped return me to some semblance of ‘normality’ and wholeness after crippling life events, it helps me massively to be able to offer these healing practices to others who might be facing difficulties.  

I will be running a new three-week compassion-based mindfulness programme for family carers in October. I am proud to say that this is the sixth year of this gentle, but impactful programme. I developed this programme whilst caring for my own dad and noticed how mindfulness helped and supported me as a family carer.  It helped me realise I was not alone, that my self-care mattered and taught me how to make best use of precious time with my dad, as well as some precious moments for myself. My ‘Reconnect and Re-engage’ programme consists of three workshops and is free thanks to the continued support of REACH funding administered by Cork Education and Training Board.  Once people have completed the three-week programme, they are welcome to join a monthly mindfulness peer support group. There is no pressure whatsoever to do so. For some, the three-week programme is enough, while many other family carers have been coming consistently for years now.

In November, (date and venue to be confirmed) by way of remembering and honouring my lovely, kind, brother, Dermot, I will be running another ‘Live Your Legacy’ mindfulness workshop as a fundraiser for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and Eden Valley Hospice, where Dermot was shown great kindness. I hosted this workshop for the first time last November and was delighted to divide the monies raised between these two wonderful organisations. The KBRT provides support to Irish families who have a loved one die abroad. They help families to bring them home. KBRT is a wonderful example of a family, who lost their own son abroad, Kevin Bell, healing and honouring their own loss by supporting others in similar situations. There is such great healing and meaning to be found in giving a hand to others who travel a similar road, recognising our common humanity.  These lines from Emily Dickinson came to mind.

“If I can stop one heart from breaking, / I shall not live in vain; / If I can ease one life the aching, / Or cool one pain, / Or help one fainting robin / Unto his nest again, / I shall not live in vain”.

FREE Mindfulness programme for family carers coming in October at Cnoc Bui, Union Hall on Tuesdays October 14, 21 and November 3 from 11am -2pm with refreshments and light lunch provided.  Please keep in touch: 087 2700572 or email: susanoreganmindfulness@gmail.com. www.mindhaven.ie

I feel that urine infections in women can be a condition that is put down to something we simply have to put up with. The reality is that many women do not ‘bother’ their GP every time they have a bout of cystitis; urine infections are not regarded as a serious illness in women under the age of 80.

Let’s first talk anatomy. The urinary tract is a plumbing system made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. This system plays an important role in removing wastes from your body. The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs that lie in the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. One of their functions is to filter waste from your blood. Tubes, called ureters, carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder, where it is stored until it exits the body through the urethra. 

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that can occur anywhere along the plumbing system but most commonly involves the urethra and bladder, a so called lower UTI. Infection of the kidneys, an upper UTI, is a more serious condition called pyelonephritis.

Most UTIs are caused by the bacteria E.coli, that lives in the colon, especially the rectum.

Adult women are most commonly affected, as their urethra is shorter than men and opens nearer to the anus. This means it is easier for bacteria to enter the urinary system and cause an infection. About 40 per cent of women get at least one UTI in their lifetime. It is more common in sexually active women, during pregnancy, after surgery and menopause. It can also occur if the bladder does not completely empty or if catheters are used to empty the bladder.

How do I know if I have a urinary tract infection?

You will generally know! Your GP might ask about “tummy pain and burning or cystitis?”

When asked the question, can we be a little more honest about symptoms; lower abdominal pain on par with labour pains and peeing razorblades dipped in hydrochloric acid. That sounds about right, ladies?

We also tend to pee much more often than usual, sometimes needing to get up several times in the night. Urgency, a dire need to pee can be a feature, often with little or no urine being passed and, if you don’t get to a loo fast enough you might wet yourself. There can be blood in the urine. You may feel pressure in the lower pelvis or lower back ache. Urine may also become cloudy or smell unpleasant. These symptoms are seen with lower UTIs.

Symptoms and signs of more serious infection are fever, nausea, vomiting, chills and pain on one side in your lower back, indicating a kidney infection, called pyelonephritis. 

Why do female UTIs matter? 

A serious UTI can cause infection to spread to the bloodstream called sepsis. This can cause death if not recognised and treated on time. Even if sepsis does not occur,  UTIs involving the kidney, pyelonephritis, require hospital admission for IV antibiotics. Recurrent UTIs can result in cumulative damage to the kidneys reducing their ability to function and filter our blood. So, yes; every episode of cystitis is important and potentially harmful.

Why do some women have recurring Urinary Tract Infections, (rUTIs)?

The definition of  rUTIs is having two in six months or three over the last 12 months. There may be a structural issue in the plumbing, which may be related to menopause, and it is more common in pregnancy, when untreated UTIs are associated with increased risk of miscarriage. Post-op, they are more common, most likely related to needing catheterisation through the operation.

Often no specific cause is found. However,  you still should not ignore return symptoms.  

What can we do to prevent UTIs?

Number one – tell your GP! Every time you have symptoms! 

As a GP for 30 years, I have come across patients self managing recurrent episodes of painful peeing many times. Cystitis or discomfort when we pee can happen without infection; this is very common from age 45 onwards when it is caused by oestrogen deficiency associated with menopause transition. Urine testing is usually negative for infection, and the symptom of recurrent cystitis resolves with vaginal oestrogen, either as a pessary or cream.

So cystitis does not always equal UTI. But the only way of knowing that is to see your GP or practice nurse for a urine sample – every time you have symptoms.

Urine dipstick is a very accurate, sensitive way of confirming UTI. If dipstick is positive, your GP practice should send a sample off to the lab for analysis. This is especially important if you are having recurrent symptoms. The clinical definition of rUTIs is based on laboratory confirmation of infections.

However, especially in West Cork and during a late evening GP surgery, it is not always possible to get a sample off to the lab. But you should have a sample dipstick as a minimum every time you have symptoms. Only by doing so, can your GP diagnose rUTIs. If confirmed, your GP needs to investigate why they are happening.

Investigations

As a minimum, you need a scan of your urinary tract, ideally first with a full bladder, and again after you pee, to check you are emptying your bladder completely. What we call a residual volume, over 50 mls in younger, and over 100 mls in older women, is significant and requires referral to a specialist; a urologist. A scan will also rule out structural abnormalities such as one kidney being smaller than the other or hydronephrosis, a condition characterised by swelling of the kidney collecting system,  a marker of long standing back pressure. This might have been as a result of a childhood condition or obstruction of urine outflow by narrowing of the wee pipe called a urethral stricture.

If any abnormalities are found on scan or your recurrent UTIs are largely unexplained, your GP should refer you to see a urologist who may want to do an examination called a cystoscopy where they look up the urethra into the bladder. 

You’ve had rUTIs confirmed, your scan is normal; what next?

Two treatments need to start, ideally in your GP surgery: The first is a course of preventative or prophylactic antibiotics.  This is a very low dose, once at night mild antibiotic, usually for three to six months. Secondly, start vaginal oestrogen.

As a Menopause doctor, I, and readers of my articles, will be aware that oestrogen deficiency in perimenopause, menopause, and more so in the post menopause years, is the cause of many urinary symptoms including rUTIs.

Yes, we know that any woman, 45 and over, getting UTIs, should be started on vaginal oestrogen, as studies have repeatedly proven vaginal oestrogen prevents recurrent UTIs in this age group. Often oestrogen deficiency-related rUTIs start over the age of 65, many years after menopause transition, so both the woman and her GP may not realise that vaginal oestrogen is the cure, not repeated courses of oral antibiotics.

But that does not apply to women of all ages, or does it?

So what’s new? 

I chose this topic after reading a US study published in Urology Journal June 2026. The study team examined US healthcare data base to identify women with rUTIs,  defined as two separate coded UTIs within one to six months. Vaginal oestrogen prescription classification was either (1) never received or (2) received within two months of the second UTI. Outcomes of sepsis, hospital admission, and all-cause mortality were assessed within eight years of inclusion 

The study group looked at the records 1.8 million women aged 20 to 99 years with r UTIs: five per cent were prescribed vaginal oestrogen, 95 per cent were not.

The study team then looked at the outcomes for those two groups: vaginal oestrogen prescription was associated with lower odds of sepsis, hospitalisation, and death across all age groups.

Even I was surprised; I expected that outcome for the perimenopause/ menopause and post-menopause age cohorts, ages 45 to 99, but not for the younger women.

I hope this has been helpful. I urge women of all ages having symptoms suggestive of recurring bladder infections to see their GP. 

If you are having recurrent urinary symptoms, cystitis, leaking, frequency of urination, getting up at night to pee, then your GP can refer you to see Dr Aenne Helps, the gynaecologist who runs Bantry Hospital Gynaecology clinic once a month, where I work.

It’s finally time to start packing away those flimsy summer bits after a hot and glorious summer. I’m going to dive straight into something that I think is absolutely wonderful – mascara. As we age, mascara gives back a wonderful bit of life to the eye area, especially if you are like me and have zero interest in botox-ing or needling and so on. With more and more women developing an intolerance to mascaras and even foundations as they age, many of us are looking for more natural products. I would never share something with you unless I’ve tried it myself and I think that I have hit the jackpot. Did you know that you can mix organic castor oil and activated charcoal in a little glass jar and make your own mascara? The glass jar is also really important, organic products tire and lose their ‘goodness’ in plastic! All you need is a mascara brush and you are good to go. You will find that your lashes lengthen thanks to the castor oil. This is my gift to anyone whose eyes get easily irritated and have, alas, given up on wearing mascara. Please give me some feedback on this because I absolutely love my homemade organic mascara and I hope that you will love it too!

If I have heard it once, I have heard it a million times – ‘What can I do about my belly and what should I wear?’ Most women with a fuller stomach make the same mistake, they choose the baggiest, most shapeless top they can find, thinking that it will hide everything. You need to know which tops, pants and dresses highlight your best features and create more balanced proportions. It’s not about hiding your body, it’s about directing the eye to the right places. You want the focus to be on your face, neckline and legs, not on your stomach. That’s why v-neck tops work so well; they create a vertical line, open up your neckline and visually lengthen your upper body. Wrap tops or wrap dresses are another great option, they create diagonal lines and gently define your figure. Styles with soft draping or ruching around the stomach skim over your body without clinging to it. High-waisted straight leg pants create a smoother silhouette and visually lengthen your legs. An open structured blazer creates two vertical lines down the centre of your body making your entire shape appear longer and more balanced.

So what should you avoid? Very thin clingy fabrics that highlight every line of your body, Low rise pants that cut across your stomach, tops that end exactly at the widest part of your belly and extremely over-sized clothes that completely hide your shape and make your figure appear heavier.

Choose fabrics that hold their shape without looking stiff, soft knits, medium weight cotton and gently structured fabrics are usually especially flattering. Try monochromatic outfits or combine similar shades on the top and bottom. This creates one continuous vertical line and visually lengthens your silhouette. Add an interesting neckline, statement earrings or a bold neck piece, these features naturally draw attention towards your face.

Here is the real secret… The most beautiful women are not the ones with perfectly flat stomachs, they are the ones who understand their proportions, choose the right clothes and don’t allow one part of their body to control or affect their confidence.

I know that you will all say ‘I know my body shape’ but do you really know your proportions? The most stylish women that I know are not a perfect size or shape, they just really understand their proportions and, once you understand this, everything changes.

Familiarise yourself with where your ‘middle’ sits. Not everyone’s waist is at the same place and, dressing as if it is, is where most women go wrong.

Find yours and define it. Everything else follows from there. A defined middle creates an hourglass illusion on every body shape – it’s the foundation all great outfits are built on.

Always think ‘volume on one, fitted on the other’! Full on top means that you streamline the bottom and wide-leg trousers mean a fitted or tucked-in top. This works because the eyes need a place to rest. Too much volume everywhere and the outfit overwhelms you, especially if you are petite. A taller person can get away with it, on occasion. Too fitted everywhere and there is no movement or interest because balance creates harmony.

Hem length is everything because where a skirt or trouser ends changes the entire look of your leg – too long and you lose height, too short and you lose elegance. The magic spot is just below the knee or at the ankle, both create a clean unbroken line and this makes legs look longer.

Make vertical lines your ‘Bestie!’ Wear a v-neck, a long open coat, a column of colour from top to toe. These work because the eye naturally follows a line. Vertical lines draw the gaze up and down, rather than across, creating length and balance on every body shape without changing a single thing about you.

Shopping and styling becomes a completely different process when you ‘stop thinking in pieces’ and ‘start thinking in silhouette’.

Stand in front of a full length mirror, step back and blur your eyes slightly. What shape are you making? That shape, not the individual items, is what other people see. Designers call this the ‘total look’ and it’s the difference between an outfit that works and one that almost does.

Proportion isn’t about having the right body, it’s about understanding the one you have!

Olive green is the absolute bomb and you will be seeing a lot of it this coming season. Here are a few colours that add even more elegance to this rich and glorious shade of green, navy (unexpected but sensational with a pop of white), light grey, burgundy, tonal – as in different shades or textures of olive on olive and a crisp white over an olive leather skirt or trousers! Any shade of blue denim works incredibly well too.

Clothes should be fun. If you have lost the joy of styling, have a quiet word with yourself and be willing to do a little research, let go of a few core debilitating beliefs and don’t keep anything for ‘good wear’ – every day is a wonderful occasion to celebrate something or other. Google your body shape for advice, hire a stylist as a treat but don’t stay stuck.

September always feels like a fresh start. As we settle back into routine after the summer, it’s an ideal time to reassess our skincare and beauty essentials. This month’s Beauty Edit features a selection of new launches that combine innovation, performance and everyday practicality to help your skin and hair look and feel their best.

Dr. Hauschka Renew & Activate Ampoules

Designed as an intensive nighttime treatment, these ampoules help support the skin’s natural collagen production while providing long-lasting hydration. Formulated with extracts of Madonna lily, witch hazel and rose, they help strengthen the skin barrier, improve resilience and leave the complexion looking smoother, firmer and more radiant by morning. Ideal when your skin is looking tired, dull or in need of a boost, 28 × 2ml €74.95. For those with sensitive or redness-prone skin, the Dr. Hauschka Calm & Balance Ampoules are a lovely alternative (these come in a seven-day treatment, 7x2ml €24.95 as well as a 28-day treatment option, 28 × 2ml €74.95). They help soothe and cool the skin while reducing the appearance of redness, making them particularly useful after sun exposure or whenever skin feels stressed and reactive, available online from drh.ie and selected Dr. Hauschka stockists nationwide. 

Hawaiian Tropic Fragrance Collection

Known for its iconic sun care, Hawaiian Tropic has bottled the scent of summer in a new collection of affordable fragrance mists. Inspired by tropical holidays, warm sunshine and sandy beaches, the range includes body mists, shimmer editions and pearlescent fragrances designed to bring a little escapism to your everyday routine. My favourite is Golden Paradise, a beautifully balanced blend of juicy pear, pineapple and creamy coconut, with warm notes of sandalwood, amber and musk creating a soft, sun-kissed finish. Tropical Oasis is another lovely option, combining coconut, nectarine and papaya with delicate floral notes for a fresh, tropical scent that’s perfect for everyday wear. Light, easy to wear and great value at just €13, these fragrance mists are ideal for anyone who loves fresh, holiday-inspired scents and wants a simple way to keep that summer feeling going all year round, available from selected supermarkets and pharmacies nationwide

Aveda One For All Leave-In Elixir

Aveda has expanded its haircare range with the launch of One For All Leave-In Elixir, a lightweight multi-tasking spray designed to suit every hair type and texture. Offering an impressive 25 benefits in a single formula, it helps hydrate, smooth, detangle and nourish the hair while reducing frizz, enhancing shine and protecting against heat styling. While offering deep conditioning benefits, the formula remains lightweight enough for fine hair while providing lasting moisture and manageability for thicker textures. It also helps minimise breakage, prevent split ends and protect hair from the drying effects of the sun, making it an ideal everyday styling companion. Vegan, silicone-free and 99 per cent naturally derived, it’s finished with Aveda’s signature botanical aroma of rose, jasmine and ylang ylang for a luxurious finishing touch. Suitable for use on damp hair before styling, it’s an easy addition to any haircare routine and a great all-rounder for anyone looking to simplify their styling products without compromising on performance, €34 available to buy online from avedastore.ie and Aveda partner salons nationwide.

Dermalogica Smart Eye Density Cream

The skin around the eyes is often one of the first areas to show visible signs of ageing, making a targeted eye cream a worthwhile addition to your skincare routine. Dermalogica’s new Smart Eye Density Cream is designed to help improve the appearance of skin density while visibly firming, smoothing and hydrating this delicate area. Its lightweight yet nourishing formula helps soften the appearance of fine lines and supports the skin’s natural resilience without feeling heavy, making it suitable for both morning and evening use. If you’re noticing changes in firmness or texture around the eyes, this is a sophisticated treatment that delivers hydration while helping the eye area appear smoother, stronger and more refreshed, €143, available online from dermalogica.ie and Dermalogica stockists nationwide.

ASAP SPF50+ Moisturising Defence+

A daily sunscreen is one of the most important steps in any skincare routine, and ASAP’S new SPF50+ Moisturising Defence+ combines high-level sun protection with skincare benefits in one lightweight formula. Acting as a moisturiser, primer and SPF, it provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection while helping to defend against premature skin ageing and environmental damage. The fragrance-free formula is enriched with Kakadu Plum, a potent antioxidant rich in naturally occurring vitamin C, alongside niacinamide to help strengthen the skin barrier, improve skin tone and support a more even complexion. Hyaluronic acid, panthenol, aloe vera and vitamin E work together to deliver lasting hydration while helping to soothe and protect the skin. With its invisible, non-greasy finish, it’s suitable for all skin types and wears beautifully under makeup, making it an excellent everyday sunscreen that combines effective UV protection with high-performance skincare, €55 available online from asapskincare.ie and ASAP skincare stockists nationwide.

To make an appointment for one of my Advanced Facial Treatments | Medical Microneedling | Byonik Laser | Dermalux LED Light Therapy |Slimyonik Body Airstyler | Teen Facials book online at www.shernamalone.ie 

For me, fashion has always been a playground for experimentation. Perhaps this feels especially natural when you are young, when curiosity is still stronger than habit and personal style has not yet settled into a fixed formula. That was one of the reasons I wanted Caoimhe Teeling to be part of this project.

There is an ease about her that immediately makes you want to experiment. She is energetic, cheerful, open and, most importantly, genuinely curious. She does not seem interested in fashion as a set of instructions. For her, it is much closer to play.

“I see fashion as a way of expressing yourself and showing a bit of your personality,” she says. “I love feminine pieces, colour and anything that feels a little different, but I also like mixing things up and not taking fashion too seriously.”

Caoimhe works in the pharmacy in Schull, where she especially enjoys the human side of the job. That warmth comes through very quickly when you meet her.

Outside work, beauty and makeup are a big part of her world. She has always enjoyed experimenting with different looks and styles, not in a particularly serious or perfectionist way, but as something fun and creative.

She talks about spending time with friends, getting ready together, trying something different just because you feel like it.

When I asked Caoimhe whether she was willing to experiment with her style, the answer was immediate. “Definitely.” And she meant it.

“I love experimenting, whether that’s with clothes, makeup, hair or trying a style that I wouldn’t normally go for. I think that’s one of the most fun things about fashion and beauty because you can change it depending on your mood and discover new sides of yourself.”

That attitude became the starting point for the styling. I wanted the clothes to feel playful rather than polished in a predictable way.

There is something wonderfully disarming about fashion in a rural setting. Clothes immediately lose some of their seriousness. 

The three looks in this shoot are not choosing one fixed version of femininity, but allowing softness, humour, colour, toughness and a little contradiction to exist side by side.

Look 1

The first look begins with something familiar and romantic: a red gingham dress.

But instead of wearing it in the expected way, I layered it over wide-leg jeans and added a chunky textured cardigan. That simple shift immediately changes the mood. The dress is still feminine, still slightly nostalgic, but it no longer belongs to one particular style story.

A red ribbon with a flower at the neck echoes the red shoes, creating a strong colour rhythm through the outfit. Then the yellow checked bag and hat are thrown in almost like an interruption.

The statement earrings pick up the warm yellow accents and give the upper part of the look more presence.

There is a lot going on, deliberately so.

For me, this look is where cottagecore meets contemporary eclecticism. It has the romance of the countryside, but without being overly sweet or predictable. The jeans toughen it slightly, the colour combinations make it more playful, and the different checks don’t match too perfectly.

Stylist’s tip: Don’t be afraid to combine several prints or strong colours in one outfit. One of the easiest ways to make an eclectic mix feel intentional is to repeat a colour in more than one place. It creates a visual thread and helps even unexpected combinations feel connected.

Look 2

The second look is more mischievous.

Stripes become the visual thread running through the whole outfit. They appear on the micro shorts, return on the high socks and, unexpectedly, continue onto the teddy bear attached to the bag – who is also wearing a striped shirt.

It is a tiny detail, but those are often the details I enjoy most.

The romantic white top brings softness, while the oversized leather jacket and heavy boots pull the look in a grungier direction. Neither side wins completely. That is what keeps it interesting.

The large earrings add another point of focus around the face, while the little bag and teddy bear introduce a sweet, almost naive element.

I like clothes that contain a slight contradiction.

Something feminine with something rough. Something polished with something silly. Something that looks serious from a distance and makes you smile when you notice the details.

Stylist’s tip: Accessories do not have to be the final, practical addition to an outfit. Sometimes they can be the starting point. An unusual bag, a pair of bold earrings or one repeated pattern can give an entire look its personality.

Look 3

The third outfit is quieter at first glance, but the contrast is still there.

A soft white knitted top and a flowing skirt create a light, romantic base. Over that, I added an oversized leather jacket and cinched it at the waist with a wide brown belt.

The belt is the detail that changes the entire silhouette.

Without it, the jacket would remain loose, oversized and slightly detached from the softness underneath. With it, the proportions shift. The waist becomes visible, the jacket becomes almost sculptural, and the whole outfit feels more deliberate.

Black slingback flats with metallic details add a sharper note, while the small black bag connects back to them. Large earrings once again bring attention towards the face.

The romance is still there, but it has some resistance now. Leather, metal and the strong line of the belt stop the outfit from becoming too delicate.

Stylist’s tip: Try wearing a belt over an oversized jacket or blazer. It is such a small adjustment, but it can completely alter the proportions and make a familiar piece feel new again.

A special thank you to Mary and Gerry for so generously allowing us to photograph on their farm and for making us feel so welcome.

Makeup, styling and photography by Galyna Zaitseva.