Emer O'Callaghan reflects on the beauty hits of 2025

I’ve lots planned for 2026, I’m a big goal setter. I like setting goals and achieving them.

I set goals in all aspects of my life - business, health and personal goals. I also do some for the clinic and home.

Last year, two of my goals were to paint all the ceilings in my house, and my neck and back felt that, but I was delighted I did it.

A fitness goal I set was to perfect my flip turn at the wall when swimming, and also to get back doing hand stands - I used love doing them. I can do them in water easy but it was harder doing them since I got older on land. But I got there from practicing and only breaking a few ornaments!

My other goals I keep private because life has taught me that privacy is in fact a superpower. People cannot ruin what they don’t know about.

I truly believe we all must be pushing ourselves more out of our comfort zones, regardless of our age. Far too many have a limiting belief system, but I believe there are no limits and anything you put your mind to, you can do.

Here I am all glam pictured for a Christmas wedding. I felt a bit like the Statue of Liberty but sure, I pulled it off. I love seeing anyone, man or woman, making an effort to look well.

I will be honest, due to my job and it being the busiest time of the year, the thought of a Christmas wedding puts me out in a cold sweat.

It’s funny how, when you get older and you have been to so many weddings, you can see an invitation more as a summons! That feeling can increase at this time of year as we are all naturally tired, and the over-indulgences and late nights make squeezing into a dress and heels a challenge in itself.

Nonetheless, we do it, and I am a firm believer in putting your best foot forward, regardless of how you feel.

When it comes to weddings, I’ve a great three-step rule for ya - mother or not. Just glam up, show up, and shut up - and everyone will have a great day. It’s alarming to see how so many still do not realise that the day is about the couple and not them, if you can’t show love, don’t go at all is my motto.

We had a lot of popular trends in beauty last year, here is a reminder of what was on trend and big news in the world of beauty in 2025.

PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP

Getting your make-up done professionally was back with a bang last year and I don’t think I have done as many professional applications on all ages since the boom.

I use only the best in Emerald Beauty Clinic and our Master Colors make-up is second to none. It suits every age group and as it is a serum base, it does not seep into the lines or wrinkles and is very youthful. I did clients aged from 20-87 last year with this make-up and each and every one loved it and looked amazing.

For the previous five years after covid, far too many were doing their own make-up going to weddings and Christmas parties, but they see the big difference now in getting make-up done professionally. We have all the tips, tools and tricks to have you looking amazing and it will last all day and night too.

Fake eyelashes were not as big last year, pardon the pun, sales dropped in those, but rocketed in lipstick and every age group bought more lippy last year.

FACIALS

This was the year so many finally returned back for facials after years of post-covid neglect.

With many years of dead skin to be removed, many had to do courses of three facials, such was the amount of dead skin and neglect.

Many finally realised that if you want to look younger, you need a personalised skincare plan, far too many are decades picking up any old skincare with no routine or expert advice and they can see now that is why they have prematurely aged so fast.

ONLINE / SOCIAL MEDIA

We finally got the word out through social media and media platforms that not every beauty site is safe and not every social media influencer is an expert - far from it.

I’ve had to educate women in their 50s and 60s that the sites they are buying from are not selling legitimate skincare. At what price is cheap? The price of your health?

My clients are so well educated now, they know the dangers of buying off knock-off sites and their loyalty is testament to how healthy they look.

I did a beauty video on this topic recently and you can watch it on the Emerald Beauty Clinic Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages now.

SERUMS

You’re not at the races at all on the skin front if you’re not using good quality serums. We now know the science is there to prove that the correct serums, used under the suitable day and night cream, help take decades off the skin.

Serums are big business now in the skin world, but sadly we have some on the market that I wouldn’t use if you gave me them free.

Far too many are pumped with perfume and other ingredients which our skin does not need.

I only use serums on my own skin and my clients’ skin from the two professional skincare brands I use myself - Guinot and Dermalogica - as both are made by doctors and scientists and they are safe, FDA approved and you are guaranteed there are no perfumes, parabens or nasty toxins in them.

Far too many in Cork alone have spent thousands over the years on skincare and still have a face of wrinkles, never realising their error.

It’s never too late to start, my eldest client is 91. She first came to me when she turned 80 and she looks 75.

EMERALD ANNUAL AWARDS

In 2024, I started our annual Emerald Beauty Clinic awards, and I award a trophy to a client I feel deserves one for all their dedication and hard work, not just over the year but for so many years.

Last year I gave more than one, such was the standard.

I can’t tell you how beautiful it is to see the reaction on the faces of the chosen clients, and that I truly believe is what the beauty industry is all about. It’s about lifting people up, making them feel and look better, educating clients to know better product choices, empowering them to know better so they can do better, and that is why this is the job I love so much.

May I take this opportunity to wish all my amazing clients and weekly readers a very Happy New Year and may 2026 be a very healthy, happy, successful, fun one for you and yours.

Stay beautiful, Cork.

Emer O’Callaghan is a Beauty Doctor and Skin Specialist who won Irish Beauty Therapist Of The Year and works at Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A Multi Award Winning Five Star Gold Standard Clinic 2008-2025, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie, follow us on Facebook/Instagram/TikTok.

SPECIAL OFFER: Start your new year off right with one of our award-winning Deep Cleanse Facials, 90 minutes, at Emerald Beauty Clinic this month - get a complimentary eyebrow shape, heated hand treatment and sample bag with every facial. Appointments necessary, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949.