Jasmine Lindsay, Jasmine & Will

“After almost 10 years in finance, designing sleepwear didn’t come naturally…

… to me but I had a vision and saw a market opportunity. So, I put my head down, educated myself on design, let myself make mistakes, opened myself to feedback and eventually I found my stride.  It hasn’t been easy but I wouldn’t change any part of the journey! When you’re surrounded by positive attitudes, you don’t question following your heart and then backing it with commitment and tenacity to create a career you love. That’s exactly what I did with my finance career and now with Jasmine & Will.

Beauty wasn’t a huge focus growing up in a country town.

I didn’t have much by way of cosmetic stores, and the lack of social media. But beauty to me was very much about classic natural beauty.  I wasn’t subjected to YouTube contouring tutorials and an Instagram feed of heavily airbrushed images. Although, when I was probably about 15, my best friend was staying over and she pulled out her Clinique 3 step skincare regime with the cleansing bar, toner and moisturiser – I think we spent half a day applying it!

In the ’90s, Cindy Crawford and Elle Macpherson were my idols.

They were fit and healthy with bouncy hair, big smiles and sun-kissed skin. That to me is true beauty. I’m glad social media wasn’t prevalent as I went through those impressionable teen years. I was fortunate to be surrounded with positive body images and role models. Mum has always had a pretty simple approach to beauty – perhaps that’s where I get it. Growing up, I loved sitting in the bathroom watching her do hair and make-up for a night out – that whiff of Schwarzkopf hairspray swirling around the bathroom is a potent and happy memory. I was always in awe of how glamorous she looked.

I keep things pretty simple.

I spent years wearing corporate suits so transitioning to a more casual office look has been fun.  I’ve focused on building a wardrobe of classic pieces and well cut basics that you can mix and match. As for colour, I stick with neutrals, navy and black – I like to be dressed and out the door quickly in the mornings so a minimalist approach is also really efficient. When it comes to beauty products, once I find something that works for me I stick to it. I don’t like clutter so I try to keep my bathroom cabinet streamlined.  I use the same handful of products each day and keep my daily make-up in a small pouch, which is easy to throw in my handbag if I know I’ll need a retouch for an event or night out.

I’ve become more routine with age.

In my 20s I took good skin for granted (sunbathing without sunscreen – guilty!) and then the 30s hit and the sun damage started to appear and I made looking after my skin more of a priority.  I was introduced to Rationale by a friend who loved the results she achieved with their skincare.  It’s a different approach to skincare – they do a DNA skin test to help understand why your skin presents certain obstacles and then they prescribe a suitable skincare regime. Once I found products that worked for me it was easy to adopt a routine and make it a daily habit.  I now enjoy looking after my skin and taking those 5 minutes every morning and night to keep my skin in check.

When I started wearing makeup it was the Lancome Juicy Tube lipgloss and the ‘new’ GHD (revolutionary!)

My day and night looks aren’t dissimilar.  To transition to the night I switch out my light coverage Cle de Peau Radiant Fluid foundation to something with more coverage like the NARS Sheer Glow.  I also smoke up my eye with dark browns and charcoals with eyeshadows by Surratt. For both day and night I love Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronzerand Diorshow mascara.  If I really want to amp it up at night I love adding lashes – my favourites are from Mecca. I like warm earthy colours and a sunkissed glow.  I wish I could wear a bold lip or more colour but it just doesn’t suit me. I’ve also been seeing Bianca at Eyebrows by Bin Double Bay since I moved to Sydney. She is absolutely fantastic.

Beyond looking after yourself, I don’t have a strong view on how women choose to age.

I’ve started to be more diligent with sun cream and a daily skincare regime but I don’t overthink it. For me, I don’t plan on going down the path of anything invasive, but that’s not to say I won’t one day. How you choose to age is such an individual choice and every woman should be allowed to feel her best without judgement.

My hair can be unruly and dry…

… from so many years of highlighting and styling tools. If I have a free night at home I’ll use the Loreal Pro Fibertreatment for a quick pick-me-up. I also love their in salon treatment followed by a glossy blowdry. For hair colour I visit Bixie Colour in Carringbah and for a blowdry I mix it up, but I love The Blowdry Bar in Double Bay and Blow Bar Co in Waverley.

I feel most beautiful when I’m barefoot and beachside – saltwater is good for the soul.

I really do believe a strong body supports the mind.  I feel at my most capable when I am fit and taking care of myself. I love circuit classes and reformer pilates during the week and a long walk with girlfriends on the weekend. My work days can be pretty unpredictable so I take my gym clothes to work. Then I use the Mindbody app to book a class that fits with my schedule and mood that day. Exercise is my me time. When I’m feeling overwhelmed a pilates class calms my mind and gets the endorphins flowing. If I’m feeling upbeat I’ll head to a circuit class to close out my day feeling strong for the next. If I really want some downtime nothing beats a book on the beach.

For the most part I try to eat pretty clean…

…especially on weekdays when it’s less social. Breakfast is usually porridge or eggs, fruit and nuts for snacks and protein with veggies for lunch and dinner. When it comes to holidays and socialising there’s no strict rules – I let my hair down and enjoy myself. I take an Omega 3 and Multi vitamin daily.

Story by Rikki Hodge-Smith; Interview by Sigourney Cantelo; Photography by Myles Pritchard; Hair and Makeup Caitie Kenzie