Mamamia’s What’s In Her Bag series asks Aussie women to give us a look at their everyday beauty routines. Kind of like a sex diary but with beauty. So… not like a sex diary at all. We discover what women are putting on their faces, how much of their hard-earned cash goes towards beauty, and what works for their busy lives. There’s no right or wrong, just real beauty from real women. This week, a 31-year-old former lifestyle editor turned stay-at-home mum shows us what’s in her bag.
Side note – we road tested a coffee mask for your face and the results are, interesting. Post continues after video.
Name: Jade.
Age: 31
Occupation: Mum (I hang out with my kids).
Skin Type: Combination. Usually oily, but pregnancy made it dry! Now it’s edging towards oily again. (You can learn more about different skin types here.)
Biggest beauty concerns: Congestion, acne and pigmentation.
AM skincare routine.
My daily goal is to get up and shower before my newborn needs me and my toddler knows I’m awake. Those 10 minutes of self care set me up for a great day.
My morning routine is straightforward and rarely changes, I’ve found something that works so I try not to deviate. With my first child, I was conscious about using only organic/natural products but I’m definitely a lot more relaxed with my second. I’d rather use products that work — because having healthy skin is one less thing I have to worry about!
I rinse my face in the shower, then apply the Rationale Immunologist Serum which has been a game changer for my acne! It’s probably my favourite serum ever. I follow with Skinceuticals AGE Eye Complex (because #children) and Rationale Immunologist Ultracreme.
Ultra Violette Supreme Screen is non-negotiable because there’s no point using fancy skincare if you’re not protecting it from the sun. Once or twice a week, I’ll use Skinceuticals C E Ferulic instead of the Immunologist serum to help fight pigmentation.
Rationale Immunologist Serum, $170.
Skinceuticals AGE Eye Complex, $138.37.
Rationale Immunologist Ultracreme, $175.
Ultra Violette Supreme Screen, $45.
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic, $194.93.
PM skincare routine.
Evenings are a bit insane getting both kids bathed and to bed, but I succeed at fitting in my full routine 99 per cent of the time! I double cleanse with Rationale Proceramide Cleanser in the bath (with my toddler, once my husband has taken the newborn to get dressed. We don’t use soap on the newborn so I wait 'til he’s out).
I use Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 twice a week, followed by Rationale Immunologist Serum OR Estée Lauder ANR. On non-P50 days, I’ll go straight to the serum (sometimes both depending on my skin!), and always finish with Rationale Immunologist Ultracreme. Once a week, I’ll switch to Rationale DNA Serum and DNA Night Cream, the night after using P50. I try not to overdo the retinol because too much makes me breakout. But it’s so great for pigmentation — talk about a first world problem.
Occasionally, I’ll apply a layer of Weleda Skin Food before bed to seal everything in. I was using almost every night during pregnancy but my skin is oilier now so I’m probably using it once a fortnight. Then a generous layer of Dermal Therapy Lip Balm and I’m ready to settle the baby.
Rationale Proceramide Cleanser, $96.
Biologique Recherche Lotion P50, purchase from clinic.
Rationale Immunologist Serum, $170.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, $152.
Rationale DNA Serum, $161.
Rationale Immunologist Ultracreme, $175.
Rationale DNA Night Cream, $192.
Weleda Skin Food, $14.95.
Dermal Therapy Lip Balm, $5.45.
Everyday makeup routine.
My everyday look is super basic. I just want to look alive!
A regular day looks like: brows filled in with Billion Dollar Brows Universal Brow Pencil, YSL Touché Eclat under eyes (necessary with kids!), Benefit Boing Airbrush Concealer on any redness around nose. I set with Mirenesse Invisible HD Blotting Ping Pong Powder followed by Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze swept across cheeks and Kevin Aucoin Curling Mascara on lashes.
If I am going somewhere nice on the weekend, I’ll start with IT Cosmetics CC Cream. And I can’t commit to just one lip balm – I’m currently loving Laneige Lip Mask in Vanilla, Dior Lip Maximiser or the tinted Lanolips for day.
Billion Dollar Brows Universal Brow Pencil, $28.
YSL Touché Eclat, $70.
Benefit Boing Airbrush Concealer, $38.
Mirenesse Invisible HD Blotting Ping Pong Powder, $69.95.
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow, $97.
Kevyn Aucoin The Curling Mascara, $43.
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream SPF 50, $61.
Laneige Lip Mask in Vanilla, $26.
Dior Lip Maximiser, $52.
Lanolips Tinted Lip Balm, $14.95.
Hair care, body and fragrance.
After many years of experimenting, I’ve finally found what my hair loves! I find it I “do” my hair properly every time I wash it (a.k.a two or three times a week), it looks decent without much effort. Yet if I leave it natural, I feel the need to wash it more often.
I wash it with Oribe Beautiful Colour Shampoo and Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask in Ash Brown OR Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask as a conditioner. I love the Ouai hair oil, and I use Oribe Straight Away Smoothing Blowout Cream if I am drying my hair straight, or Oribe Imperial Blowout if I’m doing tousled waves. I’ll blow dry, then finish the ends off with my GHD (or create waves and spray with Oribe Texturising Spray if I am feeling fancy/have time).
For body, I use Epaderm cream as an all over moisturiser. I initially bought for the kids but it’s so hydrating without leaving any residue, so now I use every morning. At the moment, I don’t wear fragrance because of the baby, but I am very much looking forward to reigniting my love affair with Le Labo Bergamote 22 when he’s older!
Oribe Beautiful Colour Shampoo, $65.
Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask in Ash Brown, $67.
Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask, $93.
Ouai Hair Oil, $44.
Oribe Straight Away Smoothing Blowout Cream, $64.
Oribe Imperial Blowout Transformative Styling Creme, $94.
Oribe Texturising Spray, $66.
Epaderm Cream, $14.95.
Le Labo Bergamote 22, 50ml for $280.
Jade's Spendy: Hydropeptide Polish & Plump Peel.
Using the Hydropeptide Polish & Plump Peel is such a luxury. The two-step peel takes approx. 10 minutes and you are left with juicy, glowing skin without having to leave the house, win!
Hydropeptide Polish & Plump Peel, $125.
Jade's Savey: 1000 Hours Brow and Lash Kit.
The 1000 Hours Brow and Lash Ki keeps my brows looking groomed in between visits to Kristin Fisher Eyebrows!
1000 Hours Brow and Lash Kit, $18.95.
Mamamia's What's In Her Bag series drops every Wednesday. Want to share your beauty routine? Easy, just send us your What's In Her Bag story to submissions@mamamia.com.au.
You can perve through more What's In Her Bag stories here:
- What's In Her Bag? An ICU nurse who works 12-hour shifts and uses a $10 Aldi serum.
- What's In Her Bag? A 31-year-old dance teacher who uses a $228 tool for dark under eye circles.
- What's In Her Bag? A 53-year-old midwife who uses a $1,653 skincare routine.
- What's In Her Bag? A 29-year-old designer with a 9-step evening skincare routine.
- What's In Her Bag? A 52-year-old banker who uses a $39 'bee venom' serum every night.
- What's In Her Bag? A 25-year-old ex-makeup artist who uses men's hair gel on her brows.
Want to chat more about beauty? We've got a podcast for that. For helpful advice, interviews and great exxy and budget beauty recommendations, get the You Beauty podcast in your ears below.