Skin Savvy

Beauty guru Valerie Osborne, owner of Elysium Spa in Galway, on her beauty and makeup go-tos as well as business highs and lows.

Beauty/style icons?

Iris Apfel would be top of list my list. I absolutely adore her eclectic individual style but most of all her attitude, which is completely unapologetic. At 99 years of age, she has lived the most amazing life and, with that, comes wisdom. “Fashion is what you buy but style is what you possess.”

Go to haircare products?

I am always trying different brands but seem to come back to Redken. More recently my Kevin Murphy hair products have been steadily growing.

Go to makeup products?

I like to support Irish brands. I really like the Aimee Connolly Second Skin Dewy foundation and the AYU eye concealer. I generally use MAC blush – I have about 12 of them. I also use Aimee’s blush and highlight palette for an extra glowy finish. Huda Beauty and AYU for eyeshadows (as well as about 20 other MAC palettes I dip in and out of). I am still on the everlasting quest to find a liquid liner and mascara that doesn’t budge without powdering my eyes into dehydration.

Makeup every day? 

Yes, even if I’m not going anywhere – a tinted SPF, blush, mascara and Image Ormedic lip balm. It not only lifts my complexion and it also offers essential protection. When I do wear a full face of make up, I do the same as above just substitute in a foundation and add some eye liner and shadow. I tend not to go for the whole contouring and heavy layers. It might look well on camera or on stage. However in the cold light of day on 45 plus woman it is not the best look. I say, work on your skin and let that glow shine through.

What’s your hero product?

Having one ‘hero’ product is inconceivable to me as using a layered, multi system of daytime antioxidant serums with SPF and night-time actives: (AHAs, BHAs, Retinol) is more effective than one ‘anti-ageing cream’. Just a note - what everyone needs for healthy skin is: an antioxidant, a broad-spectrum SPF and Retinol/Vitamin A.

That said, I love Image MD Youth Repair Cream. It contains a highly concentrated blend of retinol, glycolic acid, kojic acid and oil soluble vitamin C to support skin rejuvenation, revitalise and brighten dull skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid which helps the skin retain hydration. I also love all the Ultraceuticals Retinols and Hydrating B2 serum. All my clients step-up beautifully with them without any adverse reactions.

Budget buy or splurge? 

Splurge on cleanser. You need a decent quality cleanser that effectively removes make up, sunscreen and environmental pollutants, without compromising or drying out your lipid rich skin membrane and maintaining your acidic skin pH.

If you have the right cleanser that is water soluble and maintains the correct pH balance, toner is an unnecessary step… and is so 80s.

Splurge as much as you can afford on serums and actives. Think of serums and active ingredients as the personal trainer in your skincare routine. They are formulated to tackle specific skin concerns, such as pigmentation, breakouts, dehydration

Spend on retinol products. The quality is nothing to do with having a high concentration but about carefully crafted formulas that will actually make a difference to the skin.

Forget anti-aging creams and let your retinol and serums do the heavy lifting. 

You can budget on enzyme or chemical exfoliants. Lactic, glycolic, mandelic and salicylic are my favourites. Our lovely delicate Irish skin typically is not suited to physical scrubs.

Splurge on sunscreen. It is the most important step in your routine for both short and long-term skin health. If you don’t like using them, you simply haven’t found the right one for you.

Budget on eye cream or cut altogether. If you have a high-quality serum (not moisturiser – the molecules are too large)  you could use a small amount, tapping it around the eye area. Just make sure is does not contain any actives that could irritate the eye area.

Investment buys?

My mother has always instilled in her four daughters, ‘buy well and buy once’. I firmly believe that quality rather than quantity is always best. If I can’t afford something, I would rather wait or not have it at all.

Our home was a self-build nearly 15 years ago. I invested in the things that would not change: floors, doors, bathroom fixtures. Everything else I have taken my time and loved curating over the years, as my taste and own sense of style developed room by room. With regards fashion, I follow my grandmother’s advice: ‘’A good coat, bag and shoes will take you anywhere’’. I always invest in those items.

Best skincare advice?

Have a consultation with a good skincare therapist. It will save you hundreds of euro in the long run. Avoid self-prescribing skincare or using what your friend recommends. They might have a completely different skin type to yours. I deal with the consequences of this on a daily basis. It takes so much more time getting the client back to normal functioning skin before we can even address the original skincare concern and get them the results they want.

Also, you should always revisit and review your skincare routine around the change of season and adapt your routine accordingly. A review is also needed if you become pregnant or are going through menopause, diagnosed with an illness or put-on long-term medications. All these things will have an impact on how your skin behaves and each individual person is completely different.

Business highs/lows?

I opened Elysium 18 years ago in 2003 and, within four years, I moved from a 500 sq ft premises to a 2,500 sq ft purpose-built day spa and laser clinic - literally just before the arse fell out of the economy. I had re-mortgaged our home and invested heavily in the build, décor and state of the art equipment, but within a year I had to seriously pivot the business. They were seriously tough years, especially as my boys were only babies. The pressure was immense from all sides. However, I got through it with a great team and support from my husband and continued to developed and grow the business to what it is today. We have won several national awards. The one that stands out most was the IBPA (Irish Beauty Professionals Association) award for best clinic in Ireland. 

Future business plans?

I added an extra element to Elysium three years ago with a very specialised skincare clinic called Valerie Osborne Advanced Skincare. It has really taken off and I am now back to doing what I love, which is being completely hands on in the treatment room. I am awaiting delivery of a new upgrade to my IPL machine which is going to allow me treat so many more skin conditions. I am so excited about this - seriously it’s like Christmas waiting for it. I also just upgraded my radio frequency machine before lockdown so can’t wait to get back using that again. I can do this because I have an amazing team. Gosia is my right-hand woman and has taken over the general running of Elysium, along with manager Kersty, Claire and Saoirse. We are also currently recruiting for more therapists so its onwards and upwards as always.

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