Emer O'Callaghan:I'm not a fan of cosmetic beauty..I don't have any botox or fillers 

Hello, June, chapter six of the year, the halfway mark of 2026, and a reminder to us all that whatever we said we would improve on, take up, or get done this year, we now have six months left to do so!

I don’t know about you, but I certainly hope June is a lot better than the wet May we just had.

As a beauty doctor and skin specialist, I treat people of all ages with all sorts of skin issues, and I must say, after 25 years doing this job, this year has to be the worst I’ve seen on people’s skin.

Winter seemed to drag on into spring and summer, and I’m seeing the effects of that on the skin of those walking in the door of Emerald Beauty Clinic.

Like, we don’t ask for much, just eight weeks of dry, nice weather would do us, or just a break from the bloody rain would be a welcome relief! But we soldier on all the same.

Many of my clients joke that they don’t know why they are putting on SPF, and I remind them that it’s daylight, not just sunshine, that SPF shields us from.

Recently at Emerald Beauty Clinic, we launched our new Hydra 1000 facial machine, and it’s been classed as the instant glow-up. Clients have been so impressed with the results after just one sitting.

This week, I’d like to tell you more about it and also about how fantastic it is to see that natural beauty is making a comeback.

HYDRA 1000 FACIAL

This is being billed as the future of facials. People ask me if machines do the facials now, and I say not all of it - we still do hands-on touch therapy because we humans respond well to the human touch.

This is a combination of machine and my hands.

People are naturally cautious of machines, they think the treatment might be painful or unpleasant, and it is neither, thank God - in fact, it’s very relaxing, I’m not in the business of hurting people or making anyone feel uncomfortable and I only work with the safest and best skincare brands and treatments.

My motto from the day I opened my clinic 17 years ago is I will never have a treatment or product that I would not use on my own face.

Guinot, and Rennee Guinot as it once was known, launched the amazing Cathodermie facial over 40 years ago, and many readers and Guinot lovers will recall it.

It used a galvanic and high frequency current to push gels and transform all skin types. The results were fantastic. I worked 20 years ago with this Cathodermie facial and I got fantastic results for my clients.

Everything changes, and this facial evolved into the Hydradermie Plus, which is the one we have been doing for the past decade. Again, it got amazing skin results.

Now, in 2026, Guinot has evolved this again into the Hydra 1000 - and wow, what a facial. The new anti- ageing ingredients really work, I see it by my own skin. My clients say their fine lines have gone and their wrinkles smoothed out. It also tackles sun-damaged skin so well, and clients with acne and rosacea are also seeing good results.

This facial is the alternative to cosmetic treatments, and the best part is it’s so gentle and non-invasive, there is no altering your natural beauty, just an instant glow-up.

Like every beauty treatment, this is not suitable for some people, anyone with epilepsy or who has a pacemaker, stents, or any metal plates in their head, neck or chest should not be using it.

NATURAL BEAUTY IS BACK

I am no fan of cosmetic beauty, it simply goes against everything I believe in with the beauty profession, which is to promote natural beauty and positive ageing.

I don’t have any of the fashionable botox and fillers in my face, and I have always believed in staying true to myself.

It’s all personal choice, but people should be educated as to what their options are.

Now, like everything in beauty, I knew that the tide would turn, and 2026 is the year that natural beauty is making a comeback.

All the big fake lashes, and big bold black stencilled eyebrows you see coming a mile off, all the big botox lips, the filler so many pumped into their cheeks, the lifted faces, that constantly surprised fake face look, we’ve all seen far too much of them in the past ten years.

Now, I believe it is going out of fashion. Natural beauty is back and the emphasis is on good, clear skin.

It's like make-up, when it was first invented, it was oh so subtle, you could hardly tell if it was on someone or was it their own healthy glowing skin.

Fast forward to today, and in Ireland when we apply make-up you see thick layers on the skin, hiding the skin really, but this is not how it was ever supposed to be applied.

It was meant to be used to create an illusion between natural beauty and a little soft enhancement that was so hard to tell.

I listen to what our European neighbours say and do, and they are always so surprised at us Irish women, that we don’t work on our natural beauty more.

They are so envious of our skin and feel saddened to see us caking on layers of thick, heavy, make-up. They grew up learning less is more on the make-up front, and that was not the case here for us.

The beauty industry in Ireland has been geared in the last ten years towards covering up skin, 48 hour foundations, high-volume lashes, and the rest.

If you wish to stay on trend, as the cool kids say, then I suggest you start investing in good facials, less makeup, and more moisturisers, and kiss the fake looks goodbye.

Start embracing your own natural beautiful face, and if you would like some help with your skin and where to start, then I would be more than happy to help you.

I did one of my popular beauty videos on this recently and you can watch it on our Emerald Beauty Clinic Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages.

Emer O’Callaghan is a multi award winning beauty doctor and skin specialist who won Irish beauty Therapist of the year and works at Emerald Organic Beauty Products Ltd, trading as Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A Guinot Crown Elite and Dermalogica Centre of skin Excellence, 2008-2026, see www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie and follow us on Facebook/instagram/TikTok.

SIX WEEK SKIN KICK START

Are you confused about what your skin type is? What products you really should be using for your age and skin concerns?

My 6-week skin kick-start plan is exactly what you need, and it’s suitable for all skin types and ages over 21 years.

You will get three professional grade facials to remove decades of dead skin, a basic skincare plan, and the correct products for your skin needs.

The best part is you can start your six weeks any time.

If you would like to start your kick-start, simply call Emerald Beauty Clinic on 021 4365949, appointments necessary. Free parking.