Pia Loyola is an actress, mother and now beauty brand founder. Her days are busy and all totally different - so staying on top of her own self care is always a balancing act.
Here, she shares details of her new line beauty line macabalm, her favourite French pharmacy picks and her love of dry brushing.
What is your morning beauty routine?
I like to rotate my products and try new things, at the moment I'm washing my face with Liberty Belle - Braveheart. It's so good for a really deep clean. I either use Liberty Belle Eyedo eye cream or macabalm under my eyes. I moisturise with the La Mer Soft Cream. I always apply macabalm to my lips and pat it along my cheekbones for a dewy natural daytime look.
I include a lot of essential oils in my daily skin routine. I create my own aromatherapy blends with lavender and Frankincense that I like to mist all over my face, body and hair. There's always sage or Palo Santo burning. I really like fragrances and mists - they help to elevate my mood and affect my thinking in a positive way.
I don't wear a lot of makeup. I do curl my eyelashes and I use Mac Eyeliner in coffee most days. I might dust over some bronzer and that's it... I'm ready.
What is your night beauty routine?
At night, I remove my makeup with Bioderma Micellar Water and cleanse with Liberty Belle - Braveheart. I usually add a serum to my night beauty routine and moisturise with La Mar and macabalm - anywhere that feels like it needs some extra hydration, I rub some macabalm onto the spot. I love to have a good-old-fashioned bubble bath in the evening with a glass of red wine, apply a face mask or a hair mask and burn my favourite Byredo or Le Labo candles.
Describe what you do for a living? What does a typical day look like for you?
I'm a mum, actress and business founder! Every day is different for me and with two boys, there's always a lot going on!
Starting my day with a barista-style coffee that I make for myself on my La Marzocco cafe style machine is a must!
A typical day for me involves a lot of meetings, calls and emails with my macabalm suppliers and agencies.
I've been working on the development of macabalm for close to four years and for the past 12 months it's been my total focus. I've been involved in everything from selecting the macadamia farm that we source from, the production and packaging process, design & creative and the communications plans for the brand
I do like to have some routine and definitely make time for pilates or a workout in the morning. I stretch throughout the day and try to get outside for a swim in the ocean or a coastal walk - it makes a big difference to how I feel and function. I'm obsessed with my infrared sauna followed by a pool plunge, so that's a daily priority.
Before the coronavirus pandemic I travelled a lot between Sydney and Melbourne and also internationally. It feels strange to have been grounded for so long but I'm happy to be safe with my boys and to have had the time to throw myself completely into launching macabalm.
What is the supermarket/ drug store/ chemist beauty product(s) that you use and love?
Bioderma Micellar Water and Maybelline mascara are a must for me.
What is your main form of beauty body maintenance? What products do you use on your body?
I like to dry brush. I try to do that every other day if I am not in a mad rush and totally forget…
How do you keep fit/ healthy? Does exercise form a large part of your routine?
Feeling healthy and strong is very important to me. I have two teenage boys that I need to keep up with! I try mix up my exercise to keep it interesting but Pilates is always a constant. I have a trainer at ACERO that gets me to do a lot of crazy things. Living in Bondi, I swim in the ocean and do the Bondi to Bronte walk as often as I can.
What procedures or professional treatments do you have as part of your beauty routine?
When I'm in Melbourne I go to the Liberty Belle Skincare Clinic for a derma sweep (micro dermabrasion facial) and in Sydney I go to Vaia for a more holistic approach. Kirsten Fisher for my eyebrows and Jocelyn Petroni for my nails.
What do you do when your body needs to recover?
Sleep! I've always been a good sleeper and for me, nothing compares to getting good rest.
You’re tired or rundown: what is your beauty hack?
My infrared sauna - it's amazing for feeling energised. I have a sauna - plunge pool - sauna routine for about an hour. I feel incredible afterwards and my skin glows.
What is the one non-negotiable in your beauty routine?
There are three; macabalm, Bioderma Micellar Water and Mac eyeliner in coffee.
Do you have a beauty icon? Who are they and why?
I don’t have an ‘icon’ but I do love to see women feeling happy and confident in their own skin.
What is the best advice on beauty you’ve received?
Drink lots of water. When you think you've had enough, have more.
What is the best advice on health you’ve received?
It was when I had the boys and it was SLEEP WHEN THE BABY SLEEPS!
What is the one product you can’t live without?
Macabalm!
