What's In Her Bag? A 53-year-old midwife who uses a $1,653 skincare routine.

Mamamia’s What’s In Her Bag series asks Aussie women to give us a look at their everyday beauty routines. Kind of like a sex diary but with beauty. So… not like a sex diary at all. We discover what women are putting on their faces, how much of their hard-earned cash goes towards beauty, and what works for their busy lives. There’s no right or wrong, just real beauty from real women. This week, a 51-year-old midwife shows us what’s in her bag.

Side note – here are 7 ways to improve your skin while you’re snoozing. Post continues after video.

Name: Cherise.

Age: 53.

Occupation: Nurse/Midwife.

Skin Type: Dry.

Biggest beauty concern: Ageing, dull skin and large pores on my cheeks.

AM skincare routine.

I use Rationale skincare. It’s the best skin routine I’ve used and the most expensive, but it works, so I buy it. When I was younger, skincare didn’t seem to matter so much, but as you age, your skin dulls. Rationale makes my skin look fresh and bright, and I wear less makeup because of it.

First, I use the No 1 Immunologist UltraCreme, then a drop of the No 2 Super Antioxidant Serum and the Antioxidant Lipid Concentrate mixed together with my fingers to apply. Next is the No 3 PhotoDynamic Day Cream SPF15 and the PhotoDynamic Eye Cream SPF15. Then for everyday wear, I apply the Rationale Beautiful Skin Superfluid SPF50 in the shade C2.

I really noticed a difference in my skin after using the Rationale essential six skin products for a few weeks. The C2 superfluid gives sunscreen protection with a hint of colour, but is very light to wear. It’s a barely there makeup look for everyday.

Rationale Immunologist UltraCreme, $175.

Rationale Super Antioxidant Serum, $162.

Rationale Antioxidant Lipid Concentrate, $161.

Rationale PhotoDynamic Day Cream SPF15, $172.

Rationale PhotoDynamic Eye Cream SPF15, $140.

Rationale Beautiful Skin Superfluid SPF50, $88.

PM skincare routine.

At night, it's all Rationale again. I use the Essential Six Night Kit, which includes the ProCeramide Cleanser, Catalyst Serum and DNA Night Cream.

I also use the DNA Eye Cream, and the DNA Serum once a week.

Rationale Essential Six Night Kit, $448.

Rationale DNA Eye Cream, $146.

Rationale DNA Serum, $161.

Everyday makeup routine.

I used to wear foundation everyday before taking my skincare seriously. It's made such a difference and now, I only wear foundation when going out socially. On top of my tinted sunscreen, I use the Rationale Beautiful Cheeks Superfluid SPF50. It's a highly pigmented liquid blush so you only need a touch. I prefer liquid products as my skin has aged and liquids don't cake in my pores or wrinkles.

I use a MAC Veluxe Brow Liner in Strawberry Blonde, it’s a great colour, easy to apply and the brush helps remove product if I have applied a little to much or gone rogue. MAC Prep + Prime Lip keeps my lips soft and helps my MAC lipsticks go on nicely. I apply La Biosthetique Eye Performer in the shade True Dark Chocolate to just under my bottom lash line and the Estée Lauder Sumptuous Mascara in Extreme Black to my lower lashes because it gives volume. I have Russian Volume lash extensions on my upper lashes, so I don't wear mascara on them.

If I'm going out and want fuller cover rather than the Rationale C2 superfluid, I prime with GUERLAIN L'OR - Radiance Concentrate With Pure Gold before using Ellis Fass Skin Veil Foundation. I then contour with Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder in medium and highlight with Revlon Colorstay Endless Glow™ Liquid Highlight. I dab it on with my finger.

To finish the skin, I dab Benefit's The Porefessional balm over areas where I have larger pores to minimise them which it does help a bit. It’s important to dab so it sits in the pore, I found going in a circular action doesn’t have as good a result. I use Lancôme Effacernes Longue Tenue concealer under my eyes now – I never needed to do this in the past to minimise darkness under my eyes. I apply the Too Faced Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer if applying eyeshadow as a base to prevent creasing.

Rationale Beautiful Cheeks Superfluid SPF50, $62.

MAC Veluxe Brow Liner in Strawberry Blonde, $35.

MAC Prep + Prime Lip, $34.

La Biosthetique Eye Performer, $39.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara, $52.

GUERLAIN L'OR - Radiance Concentrate With Pure Gold, $104.

Ellis Fass Skin Veil Foundation, $113.

Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder, $52.

Revlon Colorstay Endless Glow™ Liquid Highlight, $24.95.

Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer, $55.

Lancôme Effacernes Longue Tenue Concealer, $62.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance, $30.

Haircare products and fragrance.

I use La Biosthetique silky spa shampoo cheveux longs and La Biosthetique structure conditioner Doucheur. If I want to give my hair a treatment, I use Keune colour care treatment.

I change my fragrances for the season. The DIPTYQUE Philosykos from Mecca for summer and My Burberry Black for winter.

La Biosthetique Silky Spa Shampoo, $67.

La Biosthetique Structure Conditioner, buy in-salon.

DIPTYQUE Philosykos EDT, $184.

My Burberry Black EDP, $155.

Mamamia's What's In Her Bag series drops every Wednesday. Want to share your beauty routine? Easy, just fill out this quick What's In Her Bag form.

You can perve through more What's In Her Bag stories here:

• What's In Her Bag? An ICU nurse who works 12-hour shifts and uses a $10 Aldi serum.
• What's In Her Bag? A 31-year-old dance teacher who uses a $228 tool for dark under eye circles.

Want to chat more about beauty? We've got a podcast for that. For helpful advice, interviews and great exxy and budget beauty recommendations, get the You Beauty podcast in your ears below.