How long do you typically spend on your skincare routine? What is your skincare routine like for day and night time?

SS: In the morning, in complement to gentle cleansing, I would suggest Lucent Facial Concentrate. It is light, barely there, but holds potent benefits. Almost all skin types will benefit greatly from the vitamins delivered by just one pipette of this exceptional serum; if your skin is normal, dry or dehydrated, it can function as a vitamin-rich preface to your chosen moisturiser, and significantly boost hydration. In hot and humid conditions, it offers excellent nourishment and hydration without encumbering the skin.

In the evening, I would unreservedly recommend Fabulous Face Oil, for the sense of wellbeing it confers in addition to its hydrating, decongesting and balancing properties. The lightweight texture and smooth, near-matte finish make it a pleasure to experience on the skin; and the aromatic impression of this product is like no other—essential oils of Ylang Ylang and Jasmine, particularly, evoke a sense of warm, languid evenings and gardens in full bloom. Only a few drops are needed to effect an elevated mood while delivering multiple benefits to the skin. It’s a delightful precursor to sound sleep.

When did you start paying extra attention to your skin?

SS: Long before Aesop, I was passionate about exfoliants and masques. The tipping point for treatments came in my late 20s, when along with regular acupuncture, weekly yoga and daily exercise the desire to create more effort emerged. Now my mind understands how effortless it is to apply more than just a moisturiser and how fabulous the results can be, for seconds of application time.

What’s a skincare product you can’t live without?

SS: In the midst of the Australian winter, I am favouring Elemental Facial Barrier Cream for its protective properties and superlative emollience. My day almost always begins with a long, brisk walk, and there is no more effective product for shielding my skin from chill air and blustery winds. In tandem, I am using Seeking Silence Facial Hydrator—a formulation we created specifically to address the visible and non-visible manifestations of sensitive skin, and skin prone to sensitivities. This is a product to which I turn whenever my skin is irritated, assured that it will be swiftly calmed and balanced as well as thoroughly hydrated.

What’s the most important skincare step to you?

SS: We, at Aesop, believe in an uncomplicated approach to skincare, focusing on the health of the skin. We advocate the daily use of our formulations as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, daily exercise and a moderate intake of red wine.

We ignore product trends and industry conventions by formulating products with a clearly identified purpose, such as our antioxidant-rich Parsley Seed range, developed in response to the needs of urban-dwellers whose skin is exposed to environmental stressors daily.

We emphasise the efficacy of twice-daily cleansing, toning and moisturising, along with regular deep-cleansing and facial treatments. We advocate a generous application of our hydrating products and encourage blending—for example, of exfoliating products and masques—for a complete, optimal regimen.