Bernadette Sukkar is easily one of Australia’s busiest Pilates instructors. On top of managing and teaching at her North Bondi, Sydney studio, Body By Berner, she hosts brand events and retreats, travels around Australia on brand trips and regularly posts on her studio’s and personal Instagram pages, which combined have over 151,000 followers.
So, what does someone who wears so many different hats and has to be ready for so many scenarios keep in their handbag? Sukkar recently sat down with PS Australia to share its contents.
From the perfume she wore on her wedding day, to her favourite sweet treat and the one-stop-shop beauty product she uses to look put-together, here’s what she unpacked from her bag — the just-launched Gym Bag in Triomphe from Celine’s new Pilates collection (“I thought ‘When could I ever get the chance to write off Celine as a tax deduction?'”).
Booty Band
“I’m that person who just always has a booty band in her bag,” she says. “You never know when you want to burn on the go and this makes any workout that much harder.”
Octobuddy
Next is a plastic suction sticker that can attach your phone to any vertical surface it can grip onto, like a mirror, window or tiled wall. “This is the best invention ever,” says Sukkar. “This is how all of the Body By Berner viral content is made. Stick it on the back of your phone and then stick it on your mirror.”
Love Loco chocolate
Also in Sukkar’s bag was a Byron-made, plant-based Love Loco chocolate in flavour peanut butter and caramel. “If you don’t know Love Loco, you’re missing out, but you’re also saving $6 on a chocolate,” she says. “This is my treat at the end of the day, or if I’m feeling like I just need a little pick-me-up. I try to limit myself to two or three a week.”
Existence by The House of Amouage
Sukkar still wears the same fragrance daily she wore on her wedding day: Existence by The House of Amouage. The eau de parfum has notes of white musk, frankincense and lily of the valley. Every time Sukkar wears it, she gets compliments — and it takes her back to her special day.
Jailed deodorant
With Sukkar teaching sometimes six classes a day, it’s understandable she always has deodorant with her. Her anti-perspirant of choice? Tronks Natural Deodorant. “It’s got a steel top, a ball that rolls around, and it just feels really good on your underarms,” she says.
Celine Ankle Weights
In addition to the booty band, Sukkar also carries ankle weights in her bag — also from Celine’s new Pilates collection. “You can put them on your ankles when you walk around in the day and get a little bit of an extra burn,” she says. “I might look like that crazy person, but at least I’m matching my gym bag.”
Ultra Violette Clean Screen
In the lead up to her wedding, Sukkar says she became obsessive about face sunscreen, lathering it a couple times a day. She uses Ultra Violette Clean Screen SPF30. “It sits really well under makeup, and it doesn’t have that disgusting sunscreen smell,” she says. “It helps me look fresh and hydrated.”
Reforme Beauty Power Lip
With Sukkar waking up most mornings at 5am, she doesn’t have time for a full makeup routine. Instead, she grabs one-stop-shop Power Lip Sculpting Wand by Reforme Beauty.
Created by fellow Aussies Casey James and Carla McGraw, the contour stick can be used all over the face. “Your lips, your eyes, your eyeliner — you are ready to go if you have this pen,” she says. “It’s got this epic buffer, so you can work the product around.”
Lanolips Lip Ointment
To complete Sukkar’s minimal makeup routine, she uses “classic favourite” Lanolips Lip Ointment in Fruities Strawberry on her lips. “You can also dab a little bit and put it on your eyelids and your cheekbones, and it kind of highlights as well,” she says.
Body By Berner Peppermint Oil
Whenever Sukkar’s feeling stressed, she dabs the Body By Berner Peppermint Oil she keeps in her bag on the inside of her wrists and takes deep breaths. “Pro tip: if you are hungover, this just clears out everything,” she says.
Crystal
Another item that helps ease Sukkar’s stress? A heart-shaped crystal that she had blessed on a trip to India earlier this year. “As a hocus pocus girlie, I obviously carry a crystal around with me,” she says. “It goes everywhere with me and gives me protection against bad energy.”
Charlotte Tilbury Tanning Drops
Finally, Sukkar carries Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Island Tanning Drops in her bag. “Everyone knows I’m fake tan obsessed, but I don’t fake tan my face — I use tan drops,” she says. “It’s how I stay glowing.”
About The Author
