Welcome to Take Note – a weekly rolodex of all the best in skin, wellness, and makeup from industry insiders. Each week, we’ll profile one woman who’s privvy to beauty, covering everything from recommendations to routines. Today, we’re talking to Bec Jefferd, beauty industry stalwart and co-founder of Ultra Violette, the Australian SPF brand that’s actually that’s nice to use, looks good in your bathroom and prevents all kinds of sun damage.

Bec has a career spanning years in the beauty industry, including a stint at Mecca Cosmetica where she met co-founder Ava Matthews. The two bonded over beauty and SPF, and as the saying goes, the rest was history! Now, the pair are at the helm of the country’s go-to sunscreen brand (that you can shop here, via Adore Beauty or through Sephora).

Bec has two boys at home, so favours an approach to beauty that’s quick but effective – think in-shower skin treatments, high tech hair tools and no-fuss makeup products (spoiler: Bec and Ava are working on the first makeup/SPF Ultra Violette hybrid product).

Read the complete interview with Bec below.

Ultra Violette Co-Founders Ava Matthews (left) and Bec Jefferd (right). Image supplied.

SKIN

GRAZIA: What does your morning skincare routine look like? 

Bec: I’m pretty low-fi so a good contrast to Ava! I have two boys to get out the door before getting into work so my morning consists of in-shower skin care. I use Kate Sommerville ExfoliKate once a week or Go-To Properly Clean foaming cleanser. When I get out of the shower I use Rationale Immunologist Serum, then Ultra Violette – either Queen Screen or Supreme Screen. I switch between the two depending on my skin – Queen Screen gives a touch more luminosity.

GRAZIA: And evening?

Bec: Before bed I use Bioderma Micellar Water and Pai Rosehip Cleansing Oil as a (sort of) double cleanse. I love the Sunday Riley Power Couple, Luna Night Oil and Good Genes, for a bit of exfoliation and retinol to send me off to sleep.

GRAZIA: If you were heading to a deserted island, what three products would make the cut?

Bec: I need a good tinted moisturiser in my life (we’re currently working on one for Ultra Violette) but for now I’m going to pretend we have one that’s a mix between Queen Screen and Kosas Tinted Face Oil (plus I would use Queen Screen all over my body for complete protection from the elements). I would grab my Lancôme mascara, and normally I’d say blush, but I think I would rather a juicy lip balm so I’ll pack Sheen Screen in Peach. I could use it for moisturising cuticles and as a liquid blush if I needed.

GRAZIA: Favourite SPF formula?

Bec: Ultra Violette Queen Screen or Supreme Screen. Both are SPF 50+ with loads of skincare benefits.

GRAZIA: Best treatment out there?

Bec: None really, I don’t have the time!

GRAZIA: Skincare cheap thrill?

Bec: I’ll count Bioderma Micellar Water as my cheap thrill! A 500ml bottle lasts me around four months… so about 25 cents a day!

GRAZIA: And splurge?

Bec: Rationale! Every product is a delight to use and you really feel like it works. The Immunologist Serum is a necessity as opposed to a luxury (for me)! The DNA Night Cream is pretty special as well.

GRAZIA: What’s your go-to method for treating a pimple, fast?

Bec: I like to cleanse my way through it! I’ll deploy the full arsenal: micellar, foaming cleanser and oil cleanser.

MAKEUP

GRAZIA: Who is your makeup muse?

Bec: My muse is more a gorgeous friend of mine (she’s a makeup artist) and always looks really put together.  We can get lost in a conversation about new products… she is probably the biggest influence on new makeup I incorporate into my routine.

GRAZIA: What’s your go-to makeup look?

Bec: Having worked at Mecca for five years, I’m influenced by some of the brilliant girls there – they taught me a lot! I love the coverage and feel of Kosas Tinted Face Oil. I always use NARS Bronzer in Laguna and Blush in Orgasm, plus Lancôme Hypnose mascara. If I’m heading out I add a NARS Eyeshadow Duo (currently I’m using Kalahari) and on the odd occasion liquid eyeliner by Stila in black. Good to go!

GRAZIA: Holy grail foundation?

Bec: Kosas Tinted Face Oil.

GRAZIA: And most used lip colour?

Bec: NARS Brigitte, I have it in the lipstick and lip gloss. It’s universally flattering.

GRAZIA: Best ever mascara?

Bec: Always Lancôme Hypnose in Black.

GRAZIA: How do you shape and fill your brows?

Bec: I have really fine brows that are quite mousy blonde, so I use Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil and Hourglass Brow Gel in Ash.

GRAZIA: Signature fragrance?

Bec: By signature I’m counting something I’ve bought twice as I like to mix things up, but I recently got a second bottle of Maison Francis Kurkdjan in Amyris. My husband also bought me Byredo Flowerhead for Christmas and it’s my current favourite!

GRAZIA: What does your vacation makeup kit look like?

Bec: Vacation means spending time with my kids! We love going to the beach so it’s basically just a dialled up version of my SPF!

GRAZIA: Makeup trend you’ll never try?

Bec: I’m not a contouring girl!

GRAZIA: Quirkiest makeup trick you can share?

Bec: Not really quirky but I’m over 40 so I wouldn’t dare wear a bold lip without a matching lip pencil underneath. It keeps everything in place.

HAIR

GRAZIA: Favourite shampoo and conditioner duo?

Bec: I’m a Pantene girl. It leaves my hair feeling great and holds my colour as well as being easy to shop for.

GRAZIA: Can’t live without styling product?

Bec: I really like Klorane Dry shampoo. It extends a blow wave, helps lighten my roots (I’m not a natural blonde!) and gives good texture for an up-do.

GRAZIA: Hair tool you love?

Bec: I’ve just invested in a Dyson Airwrap and am in the process of watching tutorials by Jen Atkin and figuring out how to use it. So far I really like how it dries and styles in one, but I’ll be honest.. it’s taking me a while to nail it. Maybe iso is my time to do this and emerge an expert!

GRAZIA: Celebrity dream hair? 

Bec: If I could wake up with Elle Ferguson’s hair I would be pretty happy!

WELLNESS

GRAZIA: In a sentence, what’s your approach to wellness?

Bec: Wellness to me is about exercise that makes you sweat, and food that nourishes you. It’s actually as simple as that. But I also think everything in moderation, including moderation. I do need a blow-out every now and again (with great people and plenty of French Champagne) to fill my mental wellbeing cup.

GRAZIA: What’s your philosophy when it comes to food?

Bec: As the head of grocery procurement in my household I’m responsible for what everyone eats during the week from my husband to my boys. I need quick family meals that keep my boys growing but not my husband and I, ha ha! It’s a real challenge and something I spend a lot of time on. I just hope to get it right the majority of the time!

GRAZIA: What does your typical day on a plate look like?

Bec: For breakfast I like a piece of fruit, some nuts and an almond chai latte. Lunch on a good day is a bowl of brown rice, some veggies and maybe a tin of tuna. On a bad day it’s a sausage sandwich after an under-10s footy match, or a bacon and egg roll after cricket. For afternoon tea I might have some crackers and humous or a bliss ball. Dinner is usually with the family and I try to mix things up a bit having a vegetarian meal once or twice a week, otherwise it’s pasta, Mexican or some kind of poke bowl which I try to adapt for my husband and I. I’ve also been living for some dark chocolate on the couch with my husband while we watch a Netflix series. It started out as two squares but in isolation it’s been a lot more!

GRAZIA: In what ways do you love to move your body?

Bec: I’ve just discovered Body Fit Training which is a form of circuit training. I did an eight week challenge with them that really got me in the habit of going to the gym regularly. Now that we are in isolation I’m trying to keep up sessions online, P.E. classes with my kids or going for a bike ride while the weather is nice. I do love how exercise makes me feel, so am trying to find a way to do any movement every day.

GRAZIA: What would your final meal be?

Bec: Some kind of pasta ragu with a killer bottle of red and the Bombe Alaska from The Stokehouse (in Melbourne) for dessert.

GRAZIA: What tricks do you put in place to ensure you get a good night’s sleep?

Bec: I find a good book helps me wind down so I try to get into bed slightly early and read for about 30 minutes. I also heard a good Chinese medicine practice that if you lie on your back with your feet up the wall for about three minutes, it helps calm you down. I combine these things most nights!

SHOP Bec’s Edit:

Ultra Violette Queen Screen, $47. SHOP NOW

Kosas Tinted Face OIl, $67. SHOP NOW

Lancôme Hypnose Mascara, $56. SHOP NOW