A $12 mascara and an SPF primer hack: Everything that Ruchi Page puts on her face.

Mamamia’s What’s In Her Bag series asks Aussie women to give us a look at their everyday beauty routines. Kind of like a sex diary but with beauty. So… not like a sex diary at all. We discover what women are putting on their faces, how much of their hard-earned cash goes towards beauty, and what works for their busy lives. There’s no right or wrong, just real beauty from real women. This week, content creator Ruchi Page shows us what’s in her bag.

Name: Ruchi.

Age: 30. 

Job: Content creator, model, and writer. 

Biggest skin concern: Congestion, fine lines and dullness.

AM skincare routine.

Things I will comfortably complain about in the AM: early starts that should be illegal, functioning without coffee and the neighbours 7am decision to bring out the leaf blower. Things I will not complain about: breakfast in bed and my beloved morning skincare routine. Let’s unpack.

It all begins in the shower. I pump two to three to an unnecessary four pumps of the Go-To Skincare Properly Clean Cleanser and smother it onto my face. Once massaged and refreshed, rinse. The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser makes a regular appearance during the cooler months, this is a keeper for retaining moisture in the skin. Both of these are on high rotation and I wouldn’t mind being buried with them, to be morbidly honest. 

Hydration and protection are the next steps. First up, the addictive Fresh Beauty Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence for a supple base followed by a soothing dab of the Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream around the orbital bone. Then, depending on how freaky I’m feeling, I’ll throw on a Go-To Skincare Much Plumper Skin Serum for ultra juicy skin, followed by a vitamin C for antioxidants galore and skin tone evening benefits. The Caudalie VinoPerfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum and the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum have been responsible for the luminosity boost lately.

To continue the hydration/protection finale of this morning routine, I always lock in the serum-y concoctions with a lightweight moisturiser. Lately, I've been reaching for the Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream for a moisture boost.

Lastly, this regime means nada if SPF isn’t involved. The Cancer Council’s Mineral CC Cream SPF50 is a tinted mineral sunscreen that gives sheer coverage whilst protecting against UVA and UVB rays. It comes in two tints (light and medium), and can be used as a primer beneath foundation suited for girlies with sensitive, combo or dry skin. 

Here she is. Image: Supplied.

It's fragrance-free and dermatologically tested, and acts a hybrid product for your skin with its use of aloe vera and antioxidant vitamin E. Sun exposure is responsible for up to 80 per cent of premature ageing, wrinkles and fine lines, so I encourage everybody to lather on the SPF as part of their morning routine, with top-ups throughout the day.

Image: Supplied.

Everyday makeup routine.

My everyday makeup routine has been known to feature editorial liner and a bold lip, but on the total opposite endI’m a superfan of a foundationless soft glam. After my AM skincare routine, this usually begins with the Kosas Revealer Concealer for that eye cream-pigment-crossover, I’ll dot this on dark spots and this acts as my ‘foundation’ and concealer. 

I comb the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel through the brows and buffing a warm, brown eyeshadow into my crease. Finish the eyes with a good coat of Revlon ColorStay Xtensionnaire Mascara or Fenty Beauty Hella Thick Volumising Mascara to awaken the peepers. 

Notice I haven’t set my concealer yet? I've found leaving this step until last is best for longevity and to keep your face mistake proof. To finish what feels like a 50-step everyday routine, I bronze with either a cream bronzer or powder and top with a pop of blush. Anastasia Beverly Hills Off to Costa Rica Face Palette and Fenty Beauty Match Stix are brill for warming up the skin whilst the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blushes and NARS Afterglow Blushes add the most feminine flush. 

All that’s left is to lipstick and set. I’m a sucker for a balm meets neutral pigment hybrid, so Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipsticks are ideal for that. To tie it all together, I set my under eyes with the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder in Honey to brighten and blur.

PM skincare routine.

Not going to lie, there are moments where my ‘lazy levels' determine my PM skincare routine. If we’ve reached sloth mode, I will most likely be splashing warm water on my face followed by a Jurlique facial mist, which alone, isn’t enough for my skin but of said sloth mode. 

Pushing through said laziness is always beneficial for my skin, so the majority of my evenings aim for quite the skin treat. If makeup has been worn, I will use a Garnier Micellar Water or Bioderma Sensibio H2O to remove mascara, then a cleansing balm or oil to remove the initial base of glam. L’Occitane Immortelle Divine Cleansing Balm, Mecca Cosmetica Nourishing Cleansing Oil and Go-To Skincare Fancy Face Cleansing oil are often being repurchased, as they get the job done and efficiency is what our faces deserve. 

Second cleanse is always what I used in the AM. Something that melts away the remaining clumps of mascara, SPF and makeup from the day, usually a gel or foamy consistency. 

Now, this is where skin business gets all riveting and unpredictable. My evening routine is dependent on how my skin is feeling and looking. If there’s congestion, I opt for a BHA treatment post eye cream application. If it’s dull and I haven’t overused actives then an AHA will help refine, exfoliate and offer radiance, cue Sunday Riley Good Genes. If it’s not an exfoliation night and my barrier is strong and healthy, the retinol makes an appearance. 

You can’t go wrong with a gentle, creamy formula when retinol is involved, so I recommend the Kiehl’s Skin Renewing Micro Dose Retinol Serum or the Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR. Gentle, yet powerful bottles of skin-smoothing joy. 

Everything is locked in with either a light, creamy hydrator or a night time specific cream like the Fresh Beauty Black Age Renewal Cream. 

There you have it, that’s every speck of my beauty routine, spilled.

Skin protection starts with Cancer Council. Shop the range at skinhealth.com.au.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Avoid prolonged high-risk sun exposure. Sunscreen is only one component of sun protection. Reapply every two hours and avoid prolonged sun exposure. Wear a hat, protective clothing and sunglasses when exposed to the sun.

Feature Image: Instagram/@ruchipage/Mamamia.

Calling all Australian women! We want to hear from you in this suncare survey. For your time, you’ll go in the running to win one of four $50 gift vouchers!