My Beauty Lessons With… Mia Maugé

“The best serum I’ve ever tried is Beauty Pie’s Youthbomb, despite the fact I dislike the ‘youth’ focus in the name, as beauty transcends age. It gives skin a wonderful glow and bounce, and makes you look as if you’ve just been on holiday. I’m also loving new brand Ulé right now and its Avoir It All In & Out Nurturing Phyto Oil. You can use it topically or add a few drops to your food. It’s so pure and natural – two things which really appeal to me – and, so far, I’ve been impressed with how smooth it has kept my skin.”

“I’ve not been actively seeking inspiration, as I feel in a groove with what’s working for me right now. I like to experiment with my own routine based on my intuition. However, I am a huge cheerleader for women who stand in their purpose, like the actress Viola Davis. I also feel inspired by those rocking their sixties – that’s the next chapter for me. Women like @FlyGrannyBk and @FiftyYearsOfAWoman are so important to me because they own who they are, which I think is beautiful.”

“My earliest beauty memory was when I was at primary school. I was forbidden from touching my mother’s make-up – she kept it hidden in our bathroom cabinet. I remember I couldn’t resist using her lipstick when nobody was looking. The colour was called ‘Mocha’, I believe from a ‘70s brand called Miners. I used to sneakily use it in front of the bathroom mirror. Even when I wiped it off, my mum always found out because the mirror it was under had a slide up mechanism. I’ve never been good at deceitful deeds!”

“When I was in my 20s, I didn’t wear SPF. In fact, I cooked myself in baby oil when the sun came out and, now, as a result I have dark spots on my cheeks to prove it. Though I don’t dislike them, I don’t want any more of them, so I wear SPF daily – it’s a non-negotiable rule. I also wear a serum daily and like to invest in ones that reflect the light and give skin a natural glow.”

“I recently worked with an American brand called Buttah. I love how they have blended natural African butters to make them absorb more easily into the face and body. There is also a UK brand called Studio10 which I love. They have created a make-up range specifically for mature skin. Studio10 was founded on the basis of ‘stamping out ageism and outdated stereotypes placed on women as we age’. That is something I can really get on board with. They use lovely pro-ageing language in their marketing which is so refreshing.”

“I love to support and buy from small businesses. You’ll often find me shopping at the Black Culture Market in Brixton and the Bohemia Place Market in Hackney where there are some amazing natural skincare brands. It’s a great place to discover some under-the-radar brands, too.”