A haven hidden away on Exchequer Street, Skinfull Affairs is the salon of dreams. Set up on Christmas Eve of last year, the store works to uphold its strong ethos of embracing natural beauty and using natural products. Offering ethically and naturally sourced products, as well as treatments, Skinfull Affairs is perfect for anyone interested in beauty or skincare.
Products sold at Skinfull Affairs come from all over the globe, including Danish brand Badeanstalten and the Estonian brand Dr Konopka, as well as Botanical, a brand of essential oils that are distilled here in Ireland. Founder and owner of Skinfull Affairs Grace Rubinger prides herself on offering products that are COSMOS Certified: the international standard for organic and natural cosmetics. The majority of products on offer boast a proud “I’m vegan” sticker and those that do not simply contain beeswax, honey or another natural substance among their ingredients. Unlike many health food stores, the prices at Skinfull Affairs are extremely budget-friendly. Speaking to The University Times, Rubinger explained that “just because it is organic or because the product is vegan I don’t think you have to hijack the prices. This is one of the things here that we truly believe in”.
Maybe it’s the plant-based diet and natural skincare, but Rubinger’s face lights up when she speaks of her store. Her passion has filtered through to her staff, who are warm and welcoming, chatty and helpful. “She’s amazing”, one member of staff admitted. “She doesn’t feel like my boss.” Keeping “friendly” prices, as well as friendly staff, are just some of the ways that Skinfull Affairs draws people in. Rubinger hosts numerous in-store events, aiming to educate and entertain. “I wanted to have like-minded people around”, she said. “We have a beautiful space, let’s do it. Let’s get together and learn something new.”
Skinfull Affairs hosted an event on Tuesday that taught you how to make your own natural cosmetics, from body butter to lip balm and moisturizer. “It might be a nice idea for Christmas presents”, Rubinger suggested, “handmade by you”. Today, a specialist has been invited in, along with a digital scanner, to analyse your skin and come up with the perfect skincare routine, tailored just for you.
Not only are the prices low, but the natural ingredients make nearly all of the products multi-purpose. “The more natural you can go, the more you can use [the products] in different ways. That’s something that I feel is important as well.” Skinfull Affairs is ideal for a student budget, beauty fanatic or not.
