Creative director and entrepreneur Yasmin Suteja takes a decidedly holistic approach to beauty – one where good skin begins in the gut and a little ritual goes a long way. Her routine moves between barrier-first skincare, morning Gua Sha and buccal massage, to underpainting tricks gleaned from TikTok and a nightly potion of magnesium and Slippery Elm. There’s room for indulgence, too: a Tokyo-exclusive fragrance, a very good lip liner and Alicia Keys played at full volume. For Suteja, beauty is ultimately about big smiles, laughter and the kind of glow that comes from feeling entirely yourself.

Whose approach to beauty do you admire?

Laura May, the creative director and founder of Nagnata. She has taught me so much about a natural and holistic approach to health and beauty.

What's the most valuable piece of wellness advice you've received?

You glow from the inside out. Good skin starts with the gut.

How do you define beauty?

Beauty is an energy. I’m being so for real… the most attractive people have the biggest smiles and fill the room with laughter. They have a genuine open energy. Beauty radiates from a place of radical self-love and acceptance.

Do you remember the first beauty product you were devoted to?

Dr Hauschka Soothing Cleansing Milk. My naturopath introduced me to this brand for a natural alternative that won’t damage skin barrier. All of my skincare now is focused on maintaining healthy skin barrier.

What beauty habit have you abandoned with age?

I also stopped waxing my eyebrows and I always get complimented on their shape now. I started waxing them in high school. Then I tried threading, which I preferred and didn’t leave me with those little bumps (folliculitis). Now I just leave them as is and use tweezers to tidy them up.

Is there anything about your appearance you've learned to appreciate later in life?

My nose. I used to hate my nose. I wanted my nose to look like the Cindy Lou Who from Whoville. But now I love my face and how unique it is.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

Remove and clean my mouth guard (I grind my teeth and have cracked two, leading to lots of annoying and expensive dental work). Followed by Gua Sha. It’s surprising how much tension we hold in our jaw and how that affects the face. April Brodie taught me this. She does the most amazing buccal facial massage. Highly recommend booking this in before any shoot or important event.

And the last thing you do before bed?

My friend was staying over and she laughed when she saw me make my nighttime potion. It’s magnesium powder and Slippery Elm for good sleep and digestion.

Can you tell me your top five beauty products, and why you love them?

Kérastase’s Chronologiste Shampoo and Intense Régénérant Hair Mask – these are so good when my hair is feeling dry and a bit lacklustre. It just feels softer, shinier and healthier afterwards. The IMBIBE Perfecting Powder and Collagen Jelly combo – this has absolutely improved the brightness and overall glow of my skin. And the sans [ceuticals] Activator 7 Body Oil. I put it all over my body after morning shower. It’s comes in a concentrated, solid form and rolls on like butter.

What is the strangest thing you’ve done in the name of wellness?

Put porridge on my face in the hope of curing cystic acne .

Who or what was your earliest beauty influence?

Pocahontas.

Do you have a signature scent?

Le Labo’s Tokyo City Exclusive, Gaiac 10. I love that you can only get it in Tokyo, except during the month of September when it’s released worldwide. Very exclusive, very international, doll.

What have you borrowed from someone else's beauty or wellness routine and kept?

I’ve learned a lot about makeup from TikTok. I learnt about underpainting and that’s one of my favourite techniques for the more sheer, skin-like application.

What makes you feel most glamorous?

Lip liner. My absolute favourite is Copini Beauty Power Play in <i>Biscuit</i>.

When you’re getting ready for a night out, what’s on your soundtrack?

Girlfriend by Alicia Keys. I sing it at the top of my lungs, and it transports me back to being a teenager getting ready for a party.