Just Right For Flight

When it comes to ageing, Jessica Gomes prefers to let nature run its course. "I think it's good to age gracefully. You're telling a story of how you've lived a real life." So it's no surprise that this natural beauty is a minimalist when it comes to her beauty regime. A healthy skin is the foundation of everlasting beauty so her priorities are keeping skin clean and hydrated in a fuss-free manner.

She may be a budding beauty entrepreneur, but Ms Gomes is adamant about getting it right for herself, and her customers. She spent three years on extensive research for Equal Beauty, but in reality, "it took me my whole life to get to this point".

Growing up in Perth, Western Australia, to a Portuguese father and Chinese Singaporean mother had its challenges. Being Eurasian, she struggled to be accepted by her peers when she first embarked on her modelling career. "I wanted to tell my story through skincare and connect with people on my journey and adversities," says the 32-year-old.

Through perseverance, she found success as a model and actress in America and Asia, particularly South Korea, with a role in the 2014 film Transformers: Age of Extinction, and three upcoming Hollywood movies. Not bad for a former Sports Illustrated model who left Perth when she was 17.

She describes Equal Beauty as an Australian luxury travel skincare line featuring Australian ingredients, but powered by Korean and Japanese-inspired technology.

All the products are specifically tailored for in-flight convenience. Cleansing soaps are replaced with cleansing cloths and her Moisture Veil face masks come with hooks so you can have an in-flight moisture-boost facial without worrying that the mask will slip off your face.

Unlike other star-led brands, Ms Gomes is involved in every aspect of the business from research development to the actual testing of the products and the packaging. "I don't think people realise how hands-on I was creating this. It's not something I just put my name to. It's really close to my heart."

For a start, she is keeping it simple with just five products - Cleansing Cloth, Moisture Eye Veil, Moisture Veil, Super Mist and Super Serum (her favourite). They are free of chemicals, paraben, alcohol and fragrance, with a focus on hydration and protection. Leveraging on years of research and her personal experiences as a frequent flier, Ms Gomes is a firm believer that hydration is the key to maintaining good and healthy skin. "It can eventually lead to more even skin tone and help with anti-ageing."

While she's 100 per cent invested in creating her products, she is just as passionate about her brand message, championing equality and inner beauty. Other celebrity beauty entrepreneurs like Miranda Kerr and Gwyneth Paltrow may have set the bar very high in terms of diet and a regimented fitness routine, but not her. In fact, she doesn't believe in working out every day. "You don't have to be perfect. I'm not perfect," she says, professing her love for burgers, pastas and dim sum.

She does, however, believe that it's really important to take care of your gut as what you eat translates into the health of your skin. Which is why she swears by lymphatic drainage and massage - a beauty tip she learnt from her friend and celebrity Sydneysider facialist Fumi Yamamoto. "At the end of the day, it's all about living a well-balanced life."

Equal Beauty is now available at www.equalbeauty.com and will be on sale in Singapore through the Novena Global Healthcare Group later this year.