If you’re one of Sally Obermeder’s 112,000 Instagram followers, you’ll know she’s one busy woman.
As a TV presenter, author, wellness entrepreneur and mum, Obermeder has a lot on her plate. However she’s rarely seen without a smile on her face, and her bubbly persona and bright complexion have us wanting to know her secret.
Seven years since she was cleared of cancer — she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer in 2011 — we caught up with Obermeder to discuss her approach to ageing, the importance of self-care and her biggest beauty learnings (and to steal her skincare tips).
NTL: Take us through your beauty routine:
Sally Obermeder: My morning routine starts with a cleanse, followed by moisturising and then makeup. If I have the girls with me, it’s all about being simple and fresh. If I have to go out to an event I like to take my time with a stronger style, like a bold or smoky eye.
At night I intentionally take a little longer, as it’s part of my wind-down routine. I take off my makeup with micellar water, then cleanse with a cleansing oil. Then I use a serum, followed by Clinique’s Smart Clinical MD Age Transformer Duo, which feels luxe and is so hydrating for my skin.
What are your feelings towards ageing?
Getting old is not a given, it’s a gift if you get there!
What types of anti-ageing products do you swear by?
I believe in a two-part approach. Looking after my skin from the inside (skin-enhancing foods and juices) and the outside (powerful skincare products). It works hand-in-hand and I see great results.
For my skin, I swear by products that do what they promise. They need to work and be effective. Clinique’s Smart Clinical MD Age Transformer Duo makes a difference to the way my skin looks and feels. I love it. It’s dermatologist-developed and uses two restructuring moisturisers to help reshape your face profile. It also addresses lines, wrinkles, dullness and uneven skin tone. Multi-tasking products are important to me — I like to keep things streamlined, fast and effective.
For the inside, I swear by my brand SWIISH WELLNESS GLOW’s Collagen Powder and use it every day in juices and smoothies.
What’s the smartest decision you’ve ever made about your skin?
I’ve got this amazing brush cleaning palette. It slides onto your hand and you scrub the brushes against the plastic bristles. It is so important to clean your make up brushes regularly.
When you see all the muck that comes off, you realise how spending five minutes cleaning them makes all the difference to your skin.
Plastic surgery: A do or a don’t?
Whatever you do to make yourself feel comfortable in your own skin — it’s totally up to you.
Any beauty regrets?
Over-plucking! The ’90s were not kind to my eyebrows.
Also not using a collagen supplement at a younger age. At 21, collagen production in the body starts to diminish, then at 30 years old a woman only has about 50 per cent of the collagen she had when she was 18.
How do you hope to position beauty to your daughters as they grow older?
Now that I have the girls, especially Annabelle (she’s eight), I talk to them about beauty and how we’re not defined by what others think, or what we look like, but by how we treat others — each other, their friends, being inclusive with all the kids at school, not letting anyone sit alone in the playground.
That builds a beautiful woman — a woman who is strong, kind and resolute. Teaching our kids that their worth isn’t determined by others is so important. It’s a different world now, and it’s not the one that I grew up in.
How did your battle with breast cancer change your outlook on life and health?
After all of the chemo, radiation and multiple surgeries, my body was exhausted. My hair had fallen out, my nails had fallen off, my skin was pale and gaunt and I had absolutely zero energy.
I needed to do something to bring my body back to good health so I started drinking green smoothies every day. Green smoothies gave me my glow back, as well as my hair and nails. I lost the weight I put on during chemo, improved my digestion and they gave me a tonne of energy.
I became a lot more conscious about clean eating for all my meals, and making sure I chose lean, whole foods as often as possible.
When do you feel your most beautiful?
With fresh brows and lashes! Even if I am doing nothing else, I will always do my brows and lashes.
I love a nice full lash, so will either have a false lash or top my natural lashes up with a thickening and lengthy mascara.
How do you practice mindfulness?
Taking just 10 minutes out of my day or week for some mindfulness aka ‘me-time’ is something that is really important to me. In this world where everything is go-go-go it’s easy to forget how lucky we are.
One of my favourite quotes is “when you start getting unhappy, get grateful”. Simple.
How important is self-care to you?
Self-care is super important, but I find I do battle with myself to have those moments of me-time.
Taking that time for yourself is more important than laundry and cleaning out the toy box — even if it’s just sitting in the sun and having a coffee for 10 minutes. I think a lot of women struggle with taking time to look after themselves.
What’s your workout of choice at the moment?
I’m doing regular heavy weight training so I can be as strong and fit as possible.
What’s your go-to outfit?
Love a dress! Dresses are the epitome of effortless dressing. No thinking required and it’s fast!
Brought to you by Clinique
