The perfectly-painted claws are out as two of Ireland's most powerful beauty titans prepare for a showdown releasing very similar products in the same week.
Suzanne Jackson, the SOSU Cosmetics founder who built an empire from scratch, will take to shelves alongside Pippa O'Connor Ormond, the model-turned-mogul, whose POCO line has become one of Ireland's most popular beauty brands.
The duo are making the most of the extremely lucrative world of K-beauty, both releasing skin-transforming ranges inspired by the South Korean 'glass skin' phenomenon on the very same week.
For the uninitiated, K-beauty (Korean beauty) is a relatively new skincare phenomenon to reach Western shores.
It has its origins in the East, where oriental women are famed for their translucent, youthful-looking complexions.
It has now garnered a global reputation as being the gold standard for skincare, focusing on hydration, gentle exfoliation and that elusive 'lit-from-within glow'.
Now, Suzanne and Pippa are bringing those Seoul-inspired secrets to Ireland.
So as the two influencers battle for the top spot, who really has the winning formula?
Famed for her 'get-up-and-go', Suzanne Jackson was first out of the K-beauty trap with the launch of her 'Sosu-K' range, which is loftily billed as a comprehensive collection that promises to 'reset' the complexion.
The SoSu Skin Renew range
Not to be outdone, Pippa has countered with Poco Skin, a curated selection of essentials designed for the woman on the go.
In keeping with the stock-in-trade that has propelled Suzanne to multi-millionaire status - her latest accounts show she has banked a conservative €10 million - she has gone all-in on the ritualistic element of K-beauty.
Her range features a 'standout' Double Cleansing Duo, deemed the holy grail of Korean skincare.
Sources close to the SOSU camp say Suzanne spent two years perfecting the textures, focusing on fermented ingredients and snail mucin alternatives.
Her Glow Serum has already sent social media into a frenzy, with fans claiming it provides an 'instant filter' effect. Suzanne's approach is maximalist: more steps, more glow and more glamour.
Pippa, true to her more pared-back personal brand, has opted for a less-is-more philosophy. Her POCO Skin line focuses on multi-tasking heroes.
The star of Pippa's K-beauty show is the Hydra-Cloud Moisturiser, which uses advanced Korean technology to lock in moisture for 24 hours.
While Suzanne focuses on the process, Pippa focuses on the result for the busy mum-of-three.
It's chic, streamlined and housed in the kind of quiet luxury packaging that looks expensive on any vanity.
Of course, in a cost-of-living crisis, the battle is often won at the checkout.
Suzanne has remained loyal to her affordable luxury roots. With price points typically ranging from €15 to €35, she is firmly targeting the Gen-Z and Millennial market who want high-performance skincare without the designer price tag.
Pippa, however, is positioning POCO Skin slightly higher in the market.
With some products nudging the €45 mark, she is courting the investment shopper, the woman who previously plucked for top-tier creams like La Mer or Charlotte Tilbury but now wants something more affordable and also to support Irish brands.
When it comes to cultivating loyal customers, a faithful community translates to cold, hard cash.
Such is the nature of the social media sphere; people are no longer purchasing a product; they are buying into a person and, by extension, a virtual circle of friends.
By shelling out for an eponymous influencer brand, consumers are co-opted into feeling they're part of a clique.
It is not uncommon for normal people to immediately share pictures of their recent purchases or screenshots of their online shopping baskets to feel like they are part of the particular influencer's inner circle.
It's the Mean Girls effect in reverse, where buy-in gets you into an elite clique.
If there is competition between the influencers, the clamber of clout among their followers is beyond fierce.
The influencers themselves are acutely aware of the power they hold over their fans.
It is not uncommon - in fact it is de rigueur - to see influencers respond with energetic gusto to flattering comments or prying enquiries from their starry-eyed base when new products drop.
Engagement rates between influencer and the influenced skyrocket in efforts to bring them further into the fold and not see them stray to rival brands.
It's a failsafe marketing strategy that has served both Suzanne and Pippa enormously well.
The pair are all too aware that the Irish beauty market is crowded, and there's always a new pretty social media whipper-snapper waiting to step in.
So it is testament to their respective tenacity that they have maintained their high ranking.
Suzanne, with her 300,000 followers, has the 'SoSueMe' army behind her. Her marketing is high-octane, featuring glossy shoots in Dubai and high-energy TikTok tutorials.
She is the 'every girl' who made it big, and her followers are more than ready to buy into her 'boss bch' lifestyle.
Pippa, meanwhile, occupies a different space. She is the epitome of aspirational elegance.
Her 400,000 followers tune in for her interior design tips and family life as much as her make-up. When Pippa says a cream works, her devotees (the 'Pippettes') clear the shelves within minutes.
As the two moguls now go head-to-head, the industry is watching closely. Can the market sustain two major K-beauty launches from two of the country's biggest stars?
If you want the full, ten-step Korean experience with all the bells and whistles, Suzanne's Sosu-K is your winner. It's fun, trendy and delivers that high-shine glass skin look that is dominating Instagram.
However, if you are looking for a sophisticated set and forget routine that fits into a hectic lifestyle, Pippa's POCO Skin might just have the edge. It feels like the grown-up option for those who want the benefits of Korean technology without the complicated steps.
One thing is for sure - the great skincare divide has begun. In salons and coffee shops across the country, the debate is raging.
In the world of Irish beauty, there can usually only be one queen. But as K-beauty takes over the world, there might just be enough room on the throne for two.
To help you decide which mogul's formula belongs on your vanity, here is the technical breakdown of the ingredients and where these beauty powerhouses are produced.
PIPPA O'CONNOR: POCO Skin
- Where it's manufactured: Pippa's products are made in Italy. Known for high-end luxury cosmetics and 'clean beauty' standards, Italian labs are where many of the world's top designer brands (like Charlotte Tilbury or Chanel) produce their formulas.
- 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid: This is a highly stable, non-irritating derivative of vitamin C used in her Universal Glow Serum to brighten skin without the 'stings' often associated with pure L-ascorbic acid.
- Ceramides: Her Skin Flood line is packed with ceramides to repair the skin barrier, essential for the Irish climate, which can be harsh on sensitive skin.
- Marshmallow root and liquorice root: These are used as natural brightening agents to reduce hyperpigmentation and redness.
- Squalane: A plant-derived emollient that mimics the skin's natural oils, used to provide a 'lit-from-within' finish that isn't greasy.
SUZANNE JACKSON: SOSU-K
- Where it's manufactured: Suzanne's skincare line (below) is made in South Korea. By manufacturing in the 'home' of K-beauty, she utilises the specific fermentation technologies and lab expertise that South Korean manufacturers are world-famous for.
- Fermented ingredients: Many SOSU-K products utilise fermentation (like galactomyces), which breaks down molecular structures so nutrients can penetrate the skin more deeply.
- Snail mucin alternatives: To achieve that 'glass skin' slip without using animal-derived ingredients, she uses botanical alternatives that mimic the repairing properties of snail secretion.
- Niacinamide and adenosine: These are the workhorses of her range, targeting pore size and fine lines respectively.
- Hyaluronic acid multi-complex: Most of the range features multiple weights of hyaluronic acid to hydrate both the surface and the deeper layers of the dermis.
THE VERDICT
If you want the authentic, lab-certified South Korean experience, Suzanne is your go-to. If you prefer the Italian luxury finish and scientific 'clean beauty' approach, Pippa wins the day.