I feel like a different person when I'm wearing mascara — Joanne McNally
Comedian Joanne McNally and Davina Devine launch the new Boots store on Half Moon Street, Cork. Pictures: Kieran Harnett
It's a "new era for beauty in Cork" with the grand opening of the new-look Boots store in the city.
The first-ever Boots destination store in Ireland has officially opened with beauty enthusiasts flocking to the store to admire its new glitz and glam interior — and to explore the brands on offer.
The store on Half Moon Street has been transformed into a cosmetics haven, with a huge selection of iconic beauty, skincare and haircare brands located on the bottom floor while the store’s pharmacy and health and wellness products are located on the first floor accessible by lift and escalator.
Comedian and self-proclaimed beauty enthusiast Joanne McNally and one of Ireland's most recognisable drag queens, Davina Devine, were special guests on the night, discussing all things beauty.
Their conversation touched on the evolution of beauty and makeup over the years, the importance of finding the right products for different skin types, beauty routines, and their favourite skincare and makeup products.
Speaking about the beauty products they could not live without, Joanne opted for mascara, with many in attendance relating to her point that she feels “like a different person” when wearing mascara.
And Davina opted for bronzer which she said you can “do your whole face with”.
The pair also saluted the revamped Boots store as a store that has “something for everyone”.
“Boots are very involved with Pride and I feel like a lot of companies get on board to 'tick that box' but they do a lot of work outside of Pride as well so it’s great that Boots are so inclusive. I like that as a brand because Boots is actually for everybody, it really is. I don't know one person that doesn't shop at Boots, to be honest,” Davina said.
Speaking about the range of products available in-store, Joanne said: “I’m convinced that the new Boots store in Cork was built specifically for me. It’s like they raided my beauty wishlist and put it all in one glorious location.”
The flagship store features a collection of global beauty powerhouses including MAC, Too Faced, Benefit, Fenty, Milk, R.E.M., Urban Decay, Kylie Cosmetics, Huda Beauty, Sol de Janeiro and skincare from brands such as Kiehl's, Dr Jart+, and The Ordinary are also on offer, as well as luxury offerings from YSL, Chanel, Armani, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Clarins and Liz Earle.
Haircare enthusiasts will also be spoilt for choice with a selection from Kerastase, Quai, Redken, Matrix, Pureology, Philip Kingsley, Shu Uemura, L’Oréal Pro and Bumble and Bumble.
The store also features the No7 Pro Derm Scan, skin analysis tool.
Managing director of Boots Ireland, Stephen Watkins, said he is “incredibly proud” to bring the first-ever ‘best of Boots’ destination store to Cork: “There is no better place to do it than Cork and I know the Corkonians in the room will be delighted as this definitely puts Cork on the map as the capital of beauty, not just the 'real capital'.”
