Beauty Shelf: Millie Savage’s Skincare Essentials, Including the Sunscreen She Swears By for No-Makeup Days

“You can’t be too precious,” says Millie Savage of her beauty routine. It’s a philosophy shaped by the jewellery designer’s farmhouse life, on the edge of Victoria’s Great Otway National Park. When she’s not outside with her goats, alpacas, dogs and horses, she’s in the bath – a custom lilac-coloured clawfoot tub, set against green onyx floor tiles.

“I love to bathe – I have one inside and one outside,” Savage says. “It’s where I switch off, read my book and wind down after a long day.”

The bath, like her skincare routine, is a daily ritual. She’s candid about the effort her skincare requires, beyond serums and creams. “There’s this idea that great skin should be effortless, but that’s not the reality for everyone and it certainly wasn’t for me.”

Here, she opens her mirrored bathroom cabinet to share the products in her everyday rotation, including her (accidental) favourite fragrance, the face wash she’d instantly replace and a “glowy” sunscreen she throws on with no make-up.

What are the non-negotiables in your daily skincare routine?

In the morning, I use two Toskani serums: the Radiance Ultimate mesoserum with tranexamic acid and the Glacier Pro Age Advanced. Then I use the world’s best moisturiser, which I’ll never switch from: Tatcha’s Dewy Skin cream.

The one product you’d replace immediately if it ran out?

Tatcha’s Rice face wash. It’s super gentle and I come back to it every time. Also, Airyday’s Golden Glow sunscreen. You can put that on with no make-up and race out the door.

What’s your approach to beauty and skincare?

A bit of everything. I enjoy face masks in the bath, putting on serums and moisturisers, and I eat  healthy. I think it’s important to be honest about it. My skin doesn’t look like this because of serums and creams; it’s most likely the Oratane tablet I take after applying skincare. I’ve also had lasers and needling to get rid of acne scars and sunspots. There’s this idea that great skin should be effortless, but that’s not the reality for everyone and it certainly wasn’t for me. Sometimes the right solution goes beyond just skincare.

That being said, I do enjoy the ritual of putting them all on. It makes me feel like I’m caring for myself. I went to Korea recently and bought so many face masks – they now have their own drawer.

What fragrance are you wearing at the moment? Is it the same you always wear?

More Sex by Charlotte Tilbury. I picked it up as a joke as I was walking past it at the Mecca Bourke Street store opening when I was a little bit pissed. I sprayed myself and my bestie – obviously to bless us with more sex – and then realised it was my perfect perfume. An instant buy and I’ve been wearing it ever since. A bit leathery, a bit woody, a bit spicy.

The best beauty tip, hack or advice you’ve received?

[Apply] sunscreen on your face and neck. I feel like this is everyone’s [best advice] but it’s true. As soon as I go in the sun, I get pigmentation coming back. I get melasma on my cheeks and above my lip. Tranexamic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C help (thanks Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal elixir) or a script for tretinoin.

What’s the newest purchase on your shelf? The Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal elixir, which I just mentioned. I’ve only used it for a month so far. I like it because it combines all my Toskani serums into one, so I can be a bit lazy.

What makeup products are in your regular rotation?

Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Custard is a go-to. I normally just chuck a bit under the dark circles of my eyes.

What’s your relationship with skincare and make-up like? Are you a beauty obsessive, a minimalist or somewhere in between?

I love wearing make-up. I think it’s fun and I’m happy to sit there for 30 minutes and do it. It’s quite meditative and feels like self-care. That being said, I think I normally look better with less – a bit of blush, a bit of concealer, a bit of bronzer. Sometimes I’ll do a full face, but I don’t own foundation. I like to be able to see the skin underneath and my sunscreen has that glow in it.

As for skincare, I’ll do everything I’ve mentioned above but the same day I’ll be in the paddock with the horses or smearing chicken shit on my face from the garden. You can’t be too precious (as long as you have a hat and sunscreen on). It’s about balance.

 Beauty Shelf is Broadsheet’s new series where we take a look inside the cabinets and top drawers of our favourite creatives and discover their go-to skincare, make-up and other beauty must-haves.

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