The K-Beauty products Shanina Shaik uses everyday

Tim Tams may hold the title for ‘most craving-worthy Aussie export’ but global supermodel Shanina Shaik has got to be the chicest.

Yes, she does have the bone structure of an actual goddess, and a seemingly eternal glow, but she’s still real about the fact that her skin journey hasn’t always been easy. The best bit about Shaik’s honesty? She doesn’t hold the solutions she’s found along the way too close to her chest.

So when Shaik returned home to Australia to walk the Gala Runway presented by David Jones (as a special guest of the brand), we simply had to beg her to spill all of her best-kept beauty secrets.

She loves luxury and budget-friendly beauty products

No, despite what you may think, Shaik’s skin type isn’t solely 'beautiful'.

"I had acne and oily skin during my younger years but over time, I have learnt a lot about my skin type and the importance of balance which has really helped," she tells BEAUTYcrew.

"I believe a lot of that has come from focusing on beauty from within and making sleep, water, and multivitamins a priority. Finding a great cleanser which works for my skin, creating balance and removing all impurities has really changed the way my skin looks," she explains. "Given my skin type, perfecting that balance has been so important to prevent breakouts."

But hey, if you’re still in the midst of finding said balance with breakouts or any other skin issue, Shaik wants you to keep in mind that comparison is a curse, especially when it comes to Hollywood.

"I think it’s important to remember that when models are on photoshoots, there are professional hair and makeup artists on set who spend hours creating a look with additional touch ups throughout the day," she explains as a gentle reminder to go easy on yourself in the journey to 'good' skin.

Shaik certainly believes in putting your money where your epidermis is, though.

"I think investing in high quality skin care product is so important," she admits. "I did recently splurge on the La Mer The Moisturising Soft Cream ($625 from MECCA) which I really love."

However, even supermodels enjoy a steal.

"[You] can’t go wrong with some pawpaw cream — always an essential,” Shaik spills, and we would tend to agree that homegrown Aussie cult-favourite, Lucas' Papaw Ointment ($7.99 from Chemist Warehouse), is indeed all too worthy of 'old faithful' status.

She's a big fan of Korean skin care

A quick scroll through any one of Shaik's social media channels also reveals her clear affinity for affordable Korean skin care. 

"I recently travelled to Seoul and stocked up on so many K-Beauty products," she explained in a recent TikTok, sharing a few favourites that have seriously transformed the model's skin.

She uses FULLY Green Tomato Clay Pack Cleanser ($20.70 from YesStyle) as a cleanser and a mask: "What makes this product stand out is the green tomato extract. It boosts skin elasticity and minimises pores, [and I] can see results instantly".

And just like the rest of the Internet, she's a big fan of the viral products from Beauty Of Joseon. 

"I always love a glow, [and] the Glow Replenishing Rice Milk from Beauty Of Joseon ($38 from Chemist Warehouse) creates that dewy, bouncy skin that I love so much," she explained in the video. "You want that glass skin? Please use this product: The Glow Serum from Beauty Of Joseon ($29.99 from Chemist Warehouse). It creates that glass skin look that we all love."

She's also jumped on the Korean toning pad trend, saying she uses the Dermatory Retinal Lifting Pads ($36.63 from YesStyle) for an intensive lifting effect that tightens her skin, and Goodal's award-winning Green Tangerine Vita C Toner Pad ($32 from W Cosmetics) to eliminate blemishes, and improve skin tone and texture.

Her skin care routine is an act of self-care

Bargain balm buys aren’t the only affordable beauty helpers Shaik relies on, either; in fact her favourite ‘weird’ trick is actually totally free. Well, totally free if you have a set of cutlery and a working fridge on your side.

"It may be old school, but I still love the cold spoons under my eyes to help with puffiness," Shaik tells us. Ever seen her eyes look puffy? Exactly. It works.

Skin care and self-care are actually one in the same for her, and her skin care slash self-care routine also extends to her body.

"My perfect self-care day is getting up, cleansing my face and putting on facial sunscreen before going to a Pilates workout. [After that, it’d be] coming home to a face mask and moisturiser." she shares. "I love an extremely rich body moisturiser, which I'll use daily, and sometimes twice a day — especially when I am travelling and I want to stay hydrated."

Shaik doesn’t rule out a treatment from time to time, though, admitting she's tried some Russian bath saunas in the past, which were incredibly hot.

"I did feel great afterwards," she explains. "They are supposed to be great for your overall health."

Her makeup routine is minimal

Shaik keeps things pretty low-key on a daily basis, opting for a glowy, golden aesthetic.

"My everyday makeup look is very minimalistic with dewy, bronzed skin being a must" she tells BEAUTYcrew.

"I usually use the Giorgio Armani [Luminous Silk] Foundation ($120 from David Jones) for a glowy base, Tom Ford [Soleil Glow] Bronzer ($120 from David Jones), and a Dior Beauty lip to pull it altogether," she explains.

If she’s after something a little flashier, however, a cat eye is another of Shaik's go-tos. Luckily, she learnt her liner technique from the absolute best.

"One of the best beauty tips I received was actually from one of my favourite makeup artists, Pat McGrath, on set," she explains. "She taught me how important it is to find the right liner for your eye shape so you can master the cat eye look."

"For me, I must use a thin liner and one of the best is from Chanel Beauty," she continues. "It’s taken some time, however I believe I have finally nailed a cat eye thanks to Pat."

We'd agree there. It's hard to beat the Chanel Intense Longwear Eyeliner Pen ($65 from David Jones).

She sticks to haircare products that improve the overall health of her hair

As for her haircare routine, Shaik tends to keep it simple by sticking to one brand (with a name you'll definitely recognise).

"Augustinus Bader have a great range of haircare, which I have been really loving at the moment," she tells BEAUTYcrew. "With the travelling that comes with modelling and lots of hot tools, I look for products which will keep my hair hydrated and super shiny."

Augustinus Bader The Shampoo ($100 from Augustinus Bader) and Augustinus Bader The Conditioner ($100 from Augustinus Bader) are both infused with the brand's signature TFC8® complex, but we recommend getting your hands on the Augustinus Bader The Hair Oil ($90 from Augustinus Bader), if you want to achieve Shaik-style gloss levels of your own.

Main image credit: @shaninamshaik

Want more celeb skin care secrets? This is every single step in Hailey Bieber's lengthy skin care routine.