We're known for our 40 shades of green, our 100,000 welcomes and a bit of an old dance at the crossroads, but it's fair to say we're not that well recognised when it comes to beauty buys.

In recent years, the spa industry has cleaned up in Ireland , and Kerry -- particularly Killarney, a wellbeing hotspot since the Victorian era -- is its unofficial capital, attracting visitors to world-class offerings such as the Europe Hotel's spa with its gorgeous views out over the lakes. It's joined by other swit-swoo locations such as the Espa at the g in Galway and Wicklow's Ritz Carlton pamper palace, but when it comes to cosmetics and skincare, the general consensus is that we've got nothing to offer.

Truth is often stranger than fiction though, eh? So while you sometimes have to look for them, Ireland does have a fair few brands making high-quality beauty products: Seavite's Organic Seaweed Face Crème is an excellent moisturiser that's so kind and gentle that it can be used post-chemical peel, thanks to the inclusion of organic seaweed in the mix. Green Angel create effective bathing products and Irish make-up artists Annie Cribbin and Paula Callan O'Keeffe both have their own cosmetic ranges, Face 2 and Kohl, respectively.

I even hear tell of rumours that someone in the midlands is whipping up products made from peat. Yup. Peat. While I might be slightly reluctant to give that a whirl, the point is, it's never been more important to buy Irish. Supporting local industry during a recession is crucial, and it's not like it's going to be a hardship either -- get a load of what these six homegrown beauty brands have on offer, and drool.

1 FUSCHIA

Mineral make-up is a huge movement in beauty and Drogheda woman Gillian Moore got ahead of the trend when she set up Fuschia in 2004. Specialising in cosmetics created from minerals, the range now includes more than 100 products for face, cheeks, lips and eyes. Bouquet Blush, €38.50, is my pretty pick of the bunch. Three cheek shades are swirled together and moulded into the shape of a flower. Dust a big blush brush over the top, tap off the excess and apply to cheeks for a fresh pop of colour that's bloomin' lovely. Fuschia products are available nationwide and online at www.fuschia.ie.

2 CLOON KEEN ATELIER

Galway's Cloon Keen Atelier is well known for its lovely candles but last year the brand branched out into bath and body products with the launch of its Lindenblossom collection. Stellar black glass and silver-accented packaging marks the range out, but prices are affordable, belying the expensive dressing -- you'll pay €18.95 for Lindenblossom body lotion, a light, delicately scented moisturiser that's a treat to use and will dress up any bathroom. While Cloon Keen has two walk-in stores in Galway, those of us located on the east side of the country can buy online via www.cloonkeenatelier.com.

3 MAX BENJAMIN

Now, just where would we be in our beauty and pampering routines without a lovely scented candle to accompany a nice bath or 10? Buy wisely, and your candle will last the distance while fragrancing your whole house. The ones on offer from Max Benjamin -- named for the founder's nephews -- are produced in Enniskerry using 100pc soy wax which gives a clean, non-toxic burn. Scented with blackcurrant on a bed of jasmine and violet, their latest offering, the Cassis and White Jasmine candle costs €18 from Brown Thomas. But that's not the least of it: the twinkler completes a 14-strong range containing scented goodies such as cloves and cinnamon, lily and lemongrass. Yum!

4 NADUR ORGANICS

A commitment to the earth and reducing her chemical intake was what inspired Carol O'Hanlon to found Nádúr Organics a few years ago. Starting off with pampering bath boxes, O'Hanlon quickly moved into skincare, sourcing her ingredients ethically and reducing her carbon footprint by purchasing offsets. The Radiant Face Rescue Serum, €25.99, is a gorgeous product that contains hydrating rosehip-seed oil as well as essential oils of ylang ylang, bergamot and mandarin, which make it smell terrific. Soothing and nourishing, it's as good for a dry, mature skin type as it is for those with more sebum-prone skin. The secret? Oils are naturally balancing, and can help to normalise oily skins. Check www.nadurorganics.ie for where to find the range, or to buy online.

5 VOYA

Based on Ireland's west coast, Voya morphed from a family-owned seaweed bathing business into an organic-cosmetics pioneer, and quickly got a hip name for themselves when luxe getaway location Bellinter House took the company's seaweed on for use in their spa. They're getting a name for themselves on the celebrity circuit too -- Sharon Osborne and Lord of the Dance himself, Michael Flatley, are fans. Now stocked in House of Fraser, Dundrum, the range has expanded to include luxury skincare. Just launched are Cleanse and Mend cleanser (€25), Ritzy Spritzy toner (€25) and Me Time moisturiser (€55). The range is packed with seaweed, pro-collagen and aloe vera, so these products protect and perform.

- Kirstie McDermott