The head of strategic partnerships of Zalora and mother of three also shares her affinity for ayurvedic skincare
"When I first moved to Malaysia, I tried to bleach the hair on my face with a home DIY kit," shares Sarah Illyas with a bashful laugh. "I burned my skin and had to go to the doctor. I spent the next few weeks with cold potato skin on my face."
Like most of us, Illyas has experienced some highs and lows in figuring out what works best for her face. In this beauty profile, the style trailblazer gives us a glimpse of her beauty journey over the years, including the lessons she has learned along the way and how her routine continues to evolve during the pandemic.
See also: Asia's Most Stylish: Meet 18 Malaysian Style Trailblazers of 2021
What is your beauty philosophy?
I strive to be gentle to my skin and use organic products where I can.
I'm from Sri Lanka so ayurvedic skincare is second nature for me. I always go back to things like turmeric and yogurt pastes, especially during each of my pregnancies. My mother is also a big believer of natural ingredients—she actually cuts open the aloe vera leaf and sticks it under her eyes! It's like the OG under-eye patches but I'm still glad PIXI made it easier with their DetoxifEYE hydrogel eye patches.
What is your go-to beauty look?
Before the pandemic, I would go into work every single day with make-up. Not necessarily a full face but it was enough to affect the skin. This has definitely changed for me.
These days, I only focus on three things: base, lips and eyebrows. I mix my moisturiser, sunblock and a little dab of foundation, warm it up on my hands and apply it on my face to keep it hydrated and protected. I highlight my brows and add a bit of colour with my Benefit Lip Tint (I use it on my cheeks as well) so that I don't look like I haven't slept, which is the reality with three kids!
