For Melbourne-based model and diversity advocate Maria Thattil, this spring will have special significance.

Like all her fellow Melbournians, Maria is emerging from the latest lockdown and ready to embrace the warm weather with family and friends. “Now that socialising is back on the table for those who’ve endured restrictions, it’s a great time to review your beauty and skincare routine,” says the Polished Man supporter. 

Here she shares her best beauty tips for spring.

1 Challenge your views of beauty

It starts in the mind with your own perception. My best ever beauty tip is to challenge any conditioned views that beauty requires you fit into a mould and conform with outdated standards that are exclusive. For me, appreciating beauty is synonymous with appreciating differences. And with that mindset, I am primed to see beauty and makeup as something to self-express and spark joy, instead of hide behind.

2 Hydrate your skin

Skincare is arguably more important than the makeup component of beauty. Trust a dermatologist if you have skin conditions that compromise the health of your skin and invest in great skincare. Look your dewy best this season and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. My favourite hydration product is the Olay Luminous Niacinamide Super Serum and I wear it irrespective of whether or not I am wearing makeup because who doesn’t love dewy, supple skin?

3 Wear sunscreen

Wear SPF every day – especially now the sun is shining brightly. Your skin decades into the future will be sending you a futuristic ‘thank-you’!

4 Get your foundation right

Before buying a single makeup product this spring, understand not only what shade is right for you, as well as your skin’s undertone. This is an issue for everyone, but in particular for many people of colour, because they also face a lack of product availability for diverse shades/undertones. This means that we often get stuck buying something that doesn’t look right on our skin. Have you ever worn a foundation that throws off a pink hue or looks a little too yellow?

Find out what your undertone is and then buy accordingly, it’ll change your life! My favourite foundation is the Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation, not only due to its texture and finish, but also because it has the perfect neutral undertone for me.

5 Go for artistic nails

Beauty is always better with a purpose. So, when I’m jumping on a trend – like aesthetic, artistic nails, for example which are really hot right now – I will be getting one blue nail at my next manicure. Calling on people everywhere to paint one blue nail is an annual initiative of organisation The Polished Man, which encourages everyone to take a stand and actively commit to ending violence against children.

The ‘blue nail’ represents the 1 billion children worldwide who have experienced violence in the last year alone. That painted nail is both beautiful and sparks conversation. So as a Polished Man ambassador for 2021, I choose beauty with a purpose – and to stand up for children.