5 skincare non-negotiables

Mid-last year, my skin started breaking out in hormonal acne like i’ve never experienced before and I thought it was time to start investing into proper skincare and health practices. This involved a lifestyle shift in regards to health check ups, professional skincare advice, dietary changes, exercise and wellness, skincare/ makeup product research and learning more about holistic health and the causes of problematic skin. Needless to say, I’ve learnt a lot from people around me and finally seeing some great results with my skin, without medication. I may share my skincare journey in detail a little later but for now, here are my current five skin care non-negotiables.

Aff Links: Gua Sha & Jade Roller Set , Glow Cube Ice Roller for face

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, being absolutely irreplaceable and one of a kind. If I could offer my younger self any wisdom for skincare, it would be an extensive list but these are the top five pieces of advice.

1. Drink minimum 2 litres of water. Tip: Get a great water bottle that will inspire you to drink from. Girls with their Frank green/ Stanley Cups know the drill.

2. Wear sunscreen SPF 50+ everyday rain, hail or shine. Tip: Find one that works for your skin type. They are not all made equal. My Skin Therapist (Yvette from Pellis Medi Spa Clovelly, found me the most heavenly tinted SPF50 from Guinot and it’s top tier. Little exxy but worth it).

3. Never go to bed with make up on. It’s so obvious but I’m talking to the 20-year old party version of you, who just did 5 Jaeger Bombs at the club.

4. Mornings - De-Puff and brighten using my Glow Cube Ice Roller. A new part of my skincare routine but an absolute game changer with instant results targeted to inflammation and brightening. I starting this using my ice cubes in the freezer but bought a Glow Cube after a friend laughed at me.

5. Evenings - Gua Sha Facial Massage to promote lymphatic drainage, blood flow and reduce inflammation. If you’re not doing this already, do yourself a favour and start. It’s part of traditional Chinese skincare routines for a reason. Tip: Going slow is key. Treat yourself to a Gua Sha facial massage for 5-10 minutes after you have applied all your evening skincare products.

Style Notes

My style is ‘less is more’. I find myself continuously reaching for black and white ensembles for a put-together look, with minimal effort. Sydney weather has been all over the shop this Summer, with rain and chills still lingering. This outfit has been on repeat lately. Perfect for casual Friday’s in the office, weekend strolls or running errands.

Uniqlo Sweater , H&M Sandals , The Curated Bag , Reliquia Earrings , Camilla and Marc Pants (Sold out)

Hello, let’s be friends

Hello,

I’m so happy you’ve stopped by - let me introduce myself.

My name is Jo Sopha, I’m almost 30 years old (yikes) and was born in beautiful Sydney, Australia, where I currently reside. After graduating university, I entered the corporate world and now work a pretty normal corporate girly job with a nice side dish of occasional burnout and anxiety attacks… jokes but not really.

So, how do I combat the latter issues?! BALANCE BABY.

I know life is meant to be lived. Wherever and whenever I can indulge in life’s blessings - I do. For me, that means doing the things I truely enjoy in life and getting to know myself whilst doing it. I love to travel and discover new places, cultures and ways of living. I grew up in rural Sydney on acreage but my family frequently explored the east coast and city. Fashion has always been a part of who I am from an early age and really helped curate my identity from a young girl to a woman. Although I will never turn down a pub feed, I really enjoy dining out/ in with friends and family. My fondest memories in life involve being gathered around tables for meals with my dearest. Food is love, shared. My ultimate go to cuisines are Italian, Japanese and French. I’m a certified coffee and croissant snob (IYKYK).

In contrast to all the fun fluffy bits I do to love myself, I am also a realist in life’s peaks and troughs. We are dealt cards in life that may be unfavourable but I’m learning to dive into uncomfortable situations and be light in a world of uncertainty. I am becoming the person who I have always wanted to be. I want to inspire myself. I ground and reset myself often through reading, meditation, being alone and talking to close friends.

This is a personal blog of my life. Welcome and let’s be friends.

- Jo