When it comes to beauty, style, and ageing, model Violeta Zuvela's secrets to success are not hooked on buying expensive products or letting a number define how she looks and feels.
Instead, the 57-year-old mother, grandmother, and influencer's key piece of advice is to find what makes you feel happy in your own body and then stick to it no matter what.
While it might seem like a simple life motto to live by, Violeta weaves this mantra into every moment of her day. Whether it be her stance on cosmetic procedures or which item of beloved clothing she pulls from her closet in the morning.
"I would describe my style as classic, polished, and a little edgy," she told Mamamia. "To me, edgy is just throwing on something that's a bit bolder, like a belt or double earrings. I'm a lover of neutrals, but I do like to pair moody tones with them. I'm also a little masculine with my clothing, for example, I love buying secondhand men's clothes, like a blazer, and I've been doing that ever since I was 15 years old.
"I always loved seeing my mother and grandmother ageing," Violeta continued. "They always embraced a very natural look and I think that's the way I'm choosing not to have any cosmetic procedures.
"I'm a grandmother now myself and I love that my kids and my grandkids will always have that warm feeling when they see me as I get older."
When it comes to feeling her best, here are Violeta's six non-negotiable skin tips.
1. Don’t over-cleanse your skin in the morning.
"In the morning my face is already clean from my skincare routine from the night before," Violeta said. "It really only needs a light cleanse, as I don't want to over strip my pores and impact my skin's natural moisture. So, I like to use the QV Intensive Moisturising Cleanser in the shower on my face, and all over my body as well. It's a gentle soap-free cleanser that's perfect for very dry or sensitive skin. It's also scientifically formulated with 60 per cent glycerin to help hydrate my skin and maintain the skin's barrier function.
"I like that it doesn't block my pores, because as you go into menopause your skin becomes dryer and I feel like I need more intense moisture. Then I like to use a lightweight serum and then moisturise my face and neck."
2. Skincare doesn’t need stop at your neck, so don’t forget your whole body.
“I always use my QV Intensive Cream over my whole body, and I've been doing that for a while because its preservative-free formulation really helps to maintain moisture in extremely dry skin," Violeta said. "Never forget to look after your skin across your whole body. It's the same as your face, in that it can get dry and need some care. So many people forget to put moisturiser on areas such as their elbows and heels which can get very dry and become cracked. So make sure you moisturise your body every day, I see it as a form of self-care."
3. Don't be afraid to mix up your nightly skin routine.
"I know it's become popular at the moment, but I don't like to do a double cleanse," she said. "If you double cleanse at my age, when your skin is more delicate, it could strip out too much moisture, drying out your skin and could even damage it. So after using QV's Intensive cleanser, I then use a sweep of toner, and then a more intense serum than I would use in my morning routine just on my face and neck.
"Then, every second night I use a retinal eye cream just under my eyes. But that's only every second night, and that's an important step."
4. A daily face massage is a game-changer.
"One of my non-negotiable skin tips is that I always spend at least five minutes a day massaging my face and neck upwards, always upwards," Violeta said. "I use a bit of serum as I do this and I massage my face and along my jawline. There are around 43 muscles in your face and I'm finding that it's important to exercise them. I've still got wrinkles, of course, but I find that a daily face massage really makes a difference to how my skin looks."
5. Always apply sunscreen.
"For more than 25 years I've been using sunscreen, every day before I leave my house," Violeta said. "If I'm going out into the daylight, no matter if it's winter or overcast, I put SPF 50+ sunscreen all over my face, neck and any other sun exposed areas. It's so important to have sun protection, and absolutely should be part of your daily routine."
6. The most important thing is not how much your skincare costs, but what order you use it in.
"An important skincare rule is to apply your skincare products from the thinnest to the thickest," Violeta said. "So you could start with your cleanser, then your serum, and then your moisturiser. I like to apply my thickest product last because I feel like it seals all of the other products in.
"It's also important to remember that having luxurious skin is not about having the most expensive products. There are so many options now to access budget-friendly skincare products that give results, just as a more expensive option can deliver. For example, I would not put a $50 moisturiser on my body when a more cost efficient one will last me longer and work just as well.
"Overall, just remember that ageing is a natural, healthy, beautiful and normal part of life. It's all about staying connected to the people and things that make you feel the best."
Check out the dermatologically tested QV Intensive range, specially formulated with intensely hydrating ingredients for extremely dry skin.
Feature Image: Instagram/@violeta.zuvela