Fresh out of the jungle, Miss Universe Australia, Maria Thattil shares how she gets her effortless glow with It's All Her.
How do you keep your skin plump and hydrated leading up to going into the jungle?
Cleansing and moisturising my skin daily is also a must as it protects my skin’s barrier from becoming irritated and dehydrated.
Serums are essential – because as much as I love a good moisturiser on the skin’s barrier, protecting against dehydration requires us to go a little deeper.
I opt for serums rich in hyaluronic acid because it helps to rehydrate and smooth the skin’s surface.
For example, in the mornings, before I even apply a moisturiser or a primer, I will apply a few drops of the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum – it’s fast absorbing and retains 1000x its weight in water so you bet it will quench your skin’s thirst.
Hear Maria on the podcast
What general wellness tips do you have for keeping your skin hydrated inside and out?
Hydration is key. To keep my skin hydrated from the inside out, there are a few tips I employ religiously:
1. Drink lots of water. It’s an obvious one, but I keep one of those big 1L bottles by my side and just refill it throughout the day. I also make sure drinking water is the first and last thing I do when I wake up and go to sleep. I really feel it too – my energy levels improve as does my digestion.
2. Eat your water – and I don’t mean swishing it around your mouth and trying to chew it. I’ll stock up on fruits and veggies with high water content such as celery, berries, grapes, cucumber or melon etc. so that I’m satisfying snack cravings with food that is nutritious and hydrating.
3. I’m highly attune to when my body is dehydrated. When my lips get tight and dry, fatigue sets in, headaches dominate or my pee is unappealingly dark, I know I’ve gone way too long without hydrating myself. Waking up from a deep sleep where I have been sweating a lot is another signal that I should up the H20 intake. Pay attention to your body.
4. Eating broth-based soups is another hot tip that my Mum would recommend if I was unwell, sweating out toxins and in need of keeping my fluids up. When you sweat, your body loses sodium, so eating broth-based soups are a great way to get water in whilst replacing sodium.
5. Limiting alcohol and caffeine at night works wonders for hydration too. They can have a diuretic effect and interfere with your normal sleep cycle – so I avoid these into the evening.
6. After seeing a dermatologist, I picked up an unorthodox little skincare tip that initially made me uncomfortable. She advised me to stop using a cleanser in the morning to stop stripping my skin of it’s natural moisture. In the mornings, I simply wash my face with cold water – getting rid of any excess oil and ‘sleep’ in the eyes, lightly pat dry and apply my skin care products. At night, I add the cleanser to the regimen. This is something you should consult your dermatologist on as individuals have different skin care requirements – however, this works for me on her advice.
7. Curate your space, time and lifestyle as much as you can to minimise stress. Let’s be honest though – a life without stress would require you to live in a bubble shielded from the world. Particularly in times like these where we are exposed to turbulent, volatile social and political climates, civil unrest, chronic anxiety, financial distress and more … it can feel impossible.
8. Sleep is essential. Without proper sleep, your cortisol levels increase which makes your skin more susceptible to inflammation. Doing things to prime me for a good night of sleep helps – I’ll try and get off Tik Tok before I fall into the rabbit hole of memes and virtual tarot readings, have a night-time tea, and read a book before retreating to my bedroom which doesn’t have a TV in it and is styled to be conducive to sleep – free of distractions and comforting.
After a good night of sleep, my skin always looks rejuvenated, my dark eye circles are less prominent, and my skin is less prone for little breakouts along my chin and jawline.
How are you keeping your skin fresh in the warmer weather?
As my skin approaches it’s third decade, I want a product that will keep it fresh and counter signs of ageing. So, to keep it fresh, I will use a few drops of the L’Oréal Revitalift Laser Pure Retinol Night Serum in the evenings (about 2-3x a week) – it’s the highest concentration of pure Retinol from L’Oréal so you should consult your dermatologist about introducing it gradually and only at night. It’s brilliant for resurfacing the skin and helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines, pigmentation or uneven skin texture.
Other than that, the only thing I’m doing differently to keep my skin fresh in preparation for coming out of lockdown is upping the TLC and face-mask sessions.
My favourite is the L’Oréal Filler Hyaluronic Acid Replumping and Smoothing Sheet Face Mask – yes, you may look like a serial killer with it on, HOWEVER, you will have a glow like nothing else once you take it off. I feel like I look fresh out of the amniotic sac after wearing it, after all, it’s designed to absorb 10x more serum than a regular fabric sheet mask.
How do you prepare your skin each morning, what are your go-to products?
My morning regimen is simple.
1. I start by blasting a playlist with my favourite tunes of the moment (currently it’s an eclectic mix of ABBA, Ed Sheeran, vintage Hilary Duff and Doja Cat) because it helps me vibrate higher – and I feel like we glow different when we are vibing.
2. Then, I will splash my face with cold water, skip the cleanser to avoid stripping my skin of natural oils and start with the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. This is like a big drink of water for the skin.
3. Next, I will moisturise and go in with a primer before applying a good base. I am LOVING the L’Oréal Paris True Match Tinted Serum – it reminds me of the True Match foundation but it has the plumping power of 1% Pure Hyaluronic Acid, so it’s a beauty/makeup hybrid that combines skincare serum with the coverage of a foundation. The finish is very natural, glowy and complimentary to your skin.
4. At the bare minimum, I will also opt for a little under-eye concealer.
5. I will then finalise with lashes and my every-day go-to is the L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara. Take my word for it – I’ve lost count of the number of times I have been asked if I have false lashes on when I have been wearing this mascara. The perfect mix of smooth volume and length with no mascara crumbs.
6. Finally, a good lip to complete the look is essential!
Finally, what is your best piece of beauty advice?
I encourage you to invest in your skin! We’ve all been stressed, indoors, masked up and our skin tells the story of what is going on in our world and inside of us. If you are noticing inflammation or changes in it and it is within your means, please speak to a dermatologist, clean your makeup brushes, drink lots of water, eat fresh, delete Tik Tok if you must to get a good night of sleep and invest in skincare that supports healthy skin.
Look at how your skin responds to changes in the weather and speak to your dermatologist about whether you need to tweak your skin care regimen accordingly.
Wear SPF more frequently than you wear underwear (saying this as someone who wears knickers almost daily, but occasionally likes to free ball – there is no free balling with SPF). Wear a hat and not just because it looks cute.
