For Anna Fahey, beauty is about knowing what works. Whether it's a luxe pick like a serum from Vintner's Daughter or an easy chemist favourite like La Roche-Posay suncreen. And just like she mixes and matches her skincare, she does the same with exercise opting between running for clarity and pilates for building strength.

As a new mum, beauty and wellness has taken on a new meaning. And finding time for your own self care comes with creating new space and different moments to wind down. Here, the co-founder of luxury towelling label BAINA tells us all about the brands she loves and the best advice on wellness she's ever received.

What is your morning beauty routine?

Being a new mum, it’s not possible to take my time in the mornings so I reserve this for the evenings.

But what I do, is multi-task. Once everyone has their breakfast, I will wash my face with Josh Rosebrook Essential Balm Cleanser and wipe off with a BAINA Agnes Face Cloth. Then I apply a face mask, this morning it was LESSE Bioactive Mask. Once breakfast is done, it’s time to run through the shower where the mask is rinsed away. After towelling off, I apply Vintners Daughter Essence to target my postpartum Melasma, followed by Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrate moisturiser. Lastly, before running out the door the La Roche Anthelios Invisible Fluid facial sunscreen.

What is your night beauty routine?

I bathe every night, it’s such a great way to slow down after such a busy day of work and baby. Here I’ll give my face a good clean with LESSE Refining Cleanser, followed by her Ritual Serum. I recently invested in an at-home LED light treatment, so I will carve out half an hour to lay under this. Usually while listening to a BOF podcast and enjoying the time to myself. Then I’ll use the Maryse Treatment Balm on my lips and take a large glass of water to bed.

Describe what you do for a living? What does a typical day look like for you?

As a Director of BAINA, each day is very different. Currently we are prepping for new product releases in 2022 so have been shooting a lot. A day in the office involves a lot of time on Zoom for me. We have staff scattered across New Zealand and Australia, agents in the US and Portugal, so it requires a lot of digital connection. We have a small team of 4 who are in the office daily, which Bailey and I love as we enjoy working collaboratively with our staff. I am responsible for the sales side of the business and I share design with Bailey.

What is the supermarket or chemist beauty products that you use and love?

La Roche Anthelios Invisible Fluid facial sunscreen is $34.00 from Life Pharmacy and a little goes a long way.

What is your main form of beauty body maintenance? What products do you use on your body?

Sans [ceuticals] is heavenly for body care. I love the Activator 7 Body oil. This was a daily exercise when pregnant, rubbing this over my belly meant I was able to dodge stretch marks. We have a lovely relationship with the founder Lucy Vincent, as they work out of the same building as us.

How do you keep fit/ healthy? Does exercise form a large part of your routine?

Exercise is very important to keeping me mentally sharp. Postpartum I have enjoyed Pilates, regaining my core strength. Running gives me wonderful clarity, this I do three times a week.

What procedures or professional treatments do you have as part of your beauty routine?

Before my wedding two years ago I frequented Little Company in Cremorne, Melbourne where I invested in regular LED treatment and my skin was the best it's ever been. The Celluma LED home light was an investment, but at our age (34) investing in my skin feels validated – especially when you know it works for you.

What do you do when your body needs to recover?

I draw long hot baths with magnesium salts, rest from any cardio, and I turn to yin yoga. Yin feels so medicinal to me. It's slow and calming, obviously pending what it is I’m recovering from, I definitely find it helps.

You’re tired or rundown: what is your beauty hack?

An LED session! My skin improves immediately. Or if this is not available, I was given some Go-To Transformazing masks a couple of years ago and was converted. These give your skin such a glow. I always have one in the cupboard for any event where I may need to wear make-up and look as though I don’t have a baby!

What is the one non-negotiable in your beauty routine?

A clean face cloth. They just make such a difference to the cleansing process, furthering the removal of daily grime or product build up. Both Bailey and I are face cloth devotees – BAINA Agnes Face Cloth is the cloth of choice, obviously.

Do you have a beauty icon? Who are they and why?

Neade Deters of LESSE, we have connected with her digitally on a few occasions and her skin is amazing. Her all-natural products get results.

What is the best advice on beauty and health you’ve received?

Limited screen time before bed. This is so so hard to do, but instead I listen to podcasts, read books, or chat about life with my husband.

What is the one product you can’t live without?

This is tough, as sunscreen is very important to me. But I think if you told me I couldn’t use a lip balm before bed, I think I might panic.

What's next for you?

We are excited to design new styles, forging on ahead, designing to aesthetics we are yet to cover. The great thing about BAINA is there is no rule book dictating what we have to design so we have real creative freedom.

We have some exciting collaborations set to launch in 2022, nothing I can disclose right now, but with brands that Bailey and I have a real respect for.