The Legal Director Shares the Products that Keep Her Skin Glowing
IMAGES COURTESY OF @thandimaq
From the super sharp and always fly Maxine Shaw on iconic television show Living Single to our first woman Vice President Kamala Harris, lawyers have always captured our attention and made us wonder how they get it all done while looking so incredible. Thandi Maqubela is one such attorney who effortlessly seems to glide between her work as a Legal Director and commercial lawyer, the glow of new motherhood, and fashion and beauty inspiration with each Instagram post.
Though she hails from South Africa, Maqubela has called London home for the last decade. Her trademark box braids often accent her choice of classically feminine looks from brands like Toteme and Ulla Johnson, though her flawless skin and natural makeup equally take up the spotlight. The lawyer’s personal style and beauty change depending on her environment, as the nature of her work calls for a more formal approach to dressing and makeup. “Classic with a little bit of flair” is how she describes her aesthetic.
“I am a self confessed product junkie and I love all things skin care,” Maqubela exclaims.“
I’m heavily influenced by my mother in this department as I have vivid memories of her creams and lotions which I admired from a very young age.” And her ride-or-die product is without a doubt prescription retinoid, but she has temporarily shelved it as a new mom. “I’ll be slathering it all over my face as soon as I transition from nursing,” she says. “So, to fill this gap I’m currently over indexing on Vitamin C and niacinamide.”
HERE, THANDI MAQUBELA REVEALS HER BEAUTY ROUTINE AND THE SELF-CARE RITUALS THAT KEEP HER GROUNDED AND READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD.
BEFORE MY FEET HIT THE FLOOR
“I’m currently waking up between 5am and 6am which isn’t too bad given how fluid things can be with a small baby. It isn’t too far off from the time I used to keep pre-baby, so there are no complaints here for now.”
MY MORNING ROUTINE
“I really enjoy going through the various steps of my morning beauty routine. It’s a nice way to start the day as I find the routine quite calming. I start with a cleansing balm from Eve Lom which I’ve been using for years because it’s that good. It doesn’t strip the skin yet leaves it feeling clean, which helps to prepare my skin to receive the serums of the day. I follow this up with an antioxidant, Vitamin C product from Neostrata which is great for brightening the skin and protecting against environmental stressors. My skin tends to veer towards the dry side of things, so I use a great hyaluronic serum every day to increase and retain moisture levels. I find this provides the added moisture my skin needs which is even more essential in these dry winter months. I lock this hydration in with a good moisturizer that works to nourish my skin and also acts as a great barrier. I finish off with the holy grail of skin care, SPF, every single day!
BUT FIRST?
“I’m one of those people who cannot survive without coffee: I absolutely love it. So much so that I’ve had to be quite strict about it—allowing myself one or two cups a day when I absolutely need it. I always start the day with plain hot water before reaching for the caffeine: a great piece of advice I received from my nutritionist. For breakfast, I love something easy and quick, so overnight oats work well for me.
I’m currently on maternity leave, so my day starts as soon as the baby gets up. When I’m working, my day starts any time between 8am and 9am, depending on my schedule for the day.
Some of my work is cross-border, so different time zones also play a role in determining what time my day starts. I’m a big fan of scents and I believe they can transform a space and mood. So I rely heavily on aromas—making sure our home is redolent of a calm environment. I’m a big fan of diffusers in each room, using candles to layer scents.”
THE NIGHTTIME ROUTINE
“I typically start to wind down between 7pm and 8pm, after our baby’s bath and bedtime. This is when my husband and I can then start our evening together, to then head to bed at around 930pm.
For my PM beauty routine, I double cleanse to remove pollution and SPF from the day—starting with my cleansing balm first, followed by a gentle cleansing gel for sensitive skin. I’m currently using a bakuchiol and squalane product in the place of my usual retinoid, to be followed by a niacinamide and vitamin B serum which evens out skin tone. I then apply my night moisturizer from Neostrata which is quite thick and provides great nourishment. If I feel my skin needs a bit of extra love I’ll top this up with a good probiotic night Oil. I exfoliate 2 or 3 times a week with a glycolic acid exfoliator and I mask once a week with a mask from Eve Lom. I love taking evening baths where I use bath oils and salts which help to ease the stress of the day and relax my muscles as I’m a keen runner.
I like to joke that my husband gets turndown service before bed as I like to head upstairs an hour or so before bed to dim the lights, remove the cushions, and spritz a bit of calming pillow spray from This Works to aid sleep. I enjoy reading before bed as I find it quite calming and conducive to sleeping. I’m still guilty of having my phone on my nightstand, so my sleep hygiene is not quite perfect yet!”
SHOP THE STORY
