• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Gray is Gorgeous

Natural approaches to aging beautifully

  • CLEAN BEAUTY
    • Clean Makeup
      • NON-TOXIC TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY
    • Non-Toxic Skincare
  • HAIR
  • LIFESTYLE
    • FOOD
      • CUSTOMIZED MEAL PLANS
    • HEALTHY AGING
      • SELF CARE
    • RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
    • WORK FROM HOME
  • FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY

My Faves!

 

Everything I am loving now arranged by category.

Gray is Gorgeous is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

NON-TOXIC, HIGH PERFORMING SKINCARE

ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ARE CRUELTY-FREE AND MADE WITH SAFE, NON-TOXIC INGREDIENTS         CLICK HERE to read all about my new skincare regimen, Countertime, “an innovative new collection that visibly firms skin and reverses signs of aging. Some call it “anti-aging”–we call it “getting better with age.”
        CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE SECRET BEHIND MY GLOW        
        CLICK HERE TO SHOP MINERAL BASED REEF AND HUMAN SAFE SUNSCREEN        
        CLICK HERE TO SHOP MY AMAZON SHOP FOR SAFER SELF-CARE PRODUCTS         Primally Pure

 

 

 

LOVE GOODLY Non-toxic, cruelty-free beauty boxes currently donating to Koalas in care.

 

 

CLEANER, SAFER MAKEUP

ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ARE CRUELTY-FREE AND MADE WITH SAFE, NON-TOXIC INGREDIENTS         BROWS are EVERYTHING.  I use the medium pencil and light gel!
        FLAWLESS IN FIVE –  SIX PRODUCTS, FIVE MINUTES  You can watch my IGTV video here.
 
        CLICK HERE TO SHOP MY FOUNDATION. I WEAR LINEN IN THE WINTER AND SAND IN THE SUMMER        

HAIR

GRAY AND CURLY HAIR PRODUCTS AND TIPS: ALL PRODUCTS ARE CRUELTY-FREE AND MADE WITH SAFER INGREDIENTS Going gray I AM CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH EVOLVH HAIR PRODUCTS. SHOP HERE
 
  CLICK HERE TO SHOP MY OPENLY GRAY AMAZON SHOP FOR MY FAVE GRAY HAIR PRODUCTS   Once per month I use this rinse for my curls. It makes them so happy!

 

 

NON-TOXIC HOME

PRODUCTS TO HELP LIMIT YOUR EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS ANF HELP THE ENVIRONMENT
        CLICK HERE TO SHOP MY GROWING NON_TOXIC HOME SHOP ON AMAZON      
        CLICK HERE FOR ORGANIC BEDDING FROM NEST BEDDING      

 

This baby is my new best friend, Cosmo (we named him). I enjoy watching him clean while I sip my coffee with my feet up. LOL. Seriously though- the. best. purchase. I don’t have to move my couch, chairs, or ottoman because he goes under with ease. You can read more HERE  

STYLE

MY FAVES AND PROMO CODES!

        CLICK HERE TO SAVE $20 ON MY FAVORITE SHOES OF ALL TIME! Adorable, super comfy, made from recycled bottles, and machine washable. AMAZING.       Pura Vida Bracelets  CLICK HERE TO GET RAKUTEN AND SAVE MONEY AT YOUR FAVORITE RETAILERS!    
        CLICK HERE TO TRY WARBY PARKER GLASSES FOR FREE        

FOOD and WINE

 
how to save money time, and live shopping online.
        CLICK HERE TO SHOP MY AMAZON PANTRY         BUTCHER BOX– get 8 free steaks. SUN BOX save $35       featured Photo by Matt Hoffman on Unsplash        

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

I believe one should never underestimate the power of a good cup of coffee or the perfect glass of wine and that non-toxic living is the key to aging healthfully and beautifully. Read More…

Let’s Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM

I love a #silversisters challenge, so thank you @t I love a #silversisters challenge, so thank you @thefiftyist for suggesting #silversistersineyeliner 
Here’s my contribution. 

I love liquid liner (I have a lovely non-toxic version I am happy to share) but don’t use it often because although it doesn’t take me long to apply, it takes a while to use because if I don’t wait for it to dry completely it will end up all over my upper lids. . . Just one of the joys of hooded lids. 😂

Speaking of hooded lids, The reason I don’t have any eyeshadow tutorials (yet) is because I just haven’t even come close to mastering eyeshadow for hooded lids. 

You know I’m not afraid of posting super amateur makeup tutorials. I will never claim to be a makeup artist, but my attempts would put me on the “what not to do if you have hooded lids” list. 🤣

I am watching tutorials and taking notes though, so hopefully I’ll up my game soon. 🤣 

Feel free to play along. I love seeing all of your beautiful faces in my feed. 

#hoodedeyestruggle #hoodedeyes #silversisters2021
How exfoliation and facial oils can improve your S How exfoliation and facial oils can improve your Skin. 

The secret to glowing, dewy skin? 

Proper exfoliation, hydration, and facial oil. Yes- even for oily skin. 

Our skin NEEDS lipids. Even those with oily skin need lipids.

Our skin naturally produces oil (sebum), but as we age or have inflammation, our oil and collagen production can decrease . 

This causes dry skin symptoms. Lack of oil in the skin can lead to dry patches/flaky skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and breakouts (yes, acne from being too dry). 

The right oils also help to tackle specific skin concerns (reduce your own oil production, fight breakouts, plump from lost hydration, brighten, and reduce redness or irritation). They really do work with every skin type!

But you must exfoliate properly to maximize the benefits of your skincare. 

It is really important no matter your skin type! 

If your makeup cakes, flakes, or doesn’t sit well and/or if you have dry, combo, or oily skin, if you have milia, rosacea… you need to exfoliate. It removes the dead skin cells that clog pores, improves circulation, encourages cell turnover & better absorption of skincare.

Help those new cells forming when you sleep and remove the dry, dead skin with either a physical (our Clear Pore Cleanser uses jojoba beads are most like our own sebum and very gentle) and/or chemical (like fruit acids in Overnight Resurfacing Peel) to help gently slough. Both can be used together, depending on your skin. 

In a four step regimen, exfoliation can either be part of the cleansing step (step 1) if using and exfoliating wash, or the treat step (step 3) if using a peel or mask. 

The oils are part of step 4 (protect). They can be added to moisturizer or used over it. 

We have three oils, 1 brightening, 2 plumping, and 3 balancing.  I mix the number three oil into my daytime and nighttime moisturizer. It helps balance and calm my skin. 

And don’t forget your body skin! Your body lotion will absorb much better if you’ve exfoliated prior to application. Make sure you are using a non-toxic lotion. Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs what we put on it. 

I’ll share more about exfoliators and  oils in my stories today.
Why you need a 4 step regimen. 1️⃣ Cleanse 2 Why you need a 4 step regimen. 

1️⃣ Cleanse
2️⃣ Prep (tone)
3️⃣ Treat
4️⃣ Protect

1️⃣ CLEANSE: Step one is obvious. You need to cleanse your skin, right? 

I’ll talk about the importance of exfoliation more later and how to do it gently, but many swear by double cleansing to get the benefits  of cleansing and exfoliation all at once. 

To double wash, wash with a lipid cleanser to hydrate first and remove makeup (like with our Countertime Cleansing Oil) then clear out the pores with the exfoliating wash. Not everyone needs to do this (I don't), but it could be a game changer for you if you have oilier skin! 

2️⃣ PREP: Toning the skin is critical for the pH of the skin’s acid mantle. But, it is the most commonly skipped step. 

I always thought toning was optional but It is so, so important!

This prep step balances acidity which allows our skin flora to thrive, sweeps impurities away, helps better absorb our skincare, and can help even out skin tone, reduce pore size, etc.😱

Think about it this way: Your skin is like a sponge. Cream on a brittle dry sponge won't absorb. But if you wet the sponge, the cream will sink in. Similarly, large pores are commonly a dry skin issue, like dry earth with cracks. Reducing moisture exacerbates it, but proper levels let good in and keep bad out, with no cracks or divots.

3️⃣TREAT: treat your skin’s special needs (anti-aging serum for example) or The Overnight Resurfacing peel for gentle exfoliation. 

4️⃣ PROTECT:  Protect skin with hydrating moisturizer (add SPF is moisturizer doesn’t contain it). We say “protect” because the stratum corneum, the moisture barrier, when intact, properly prevents pathogens from getting in or moisture from getting out. 

And thus concludes my Ted Talk on why skin regimens are 4 steps. ☺️

I just realized my slides are cut off so I will post to my stories. 

As always, I’m here to answer questions and have a Free Sample Survey in my bio that will help me get customized samples into your hands. 

#skincarematters #investinyourskin #skincareisselfcare
🌟It’s Tuesday Tip Day as well and Non-Toxic 🌟It’s Tuesday Tip Day as well and Non-Toxic  Transformation Tuesday. 

TIPS for flawless foundation and concealer application follow.  Save this post to refer back to. 

Here are a few screen shots from today’s #nontoxictransformationtuesday reel. 

I added another side view to show the subtle shimmer from the illuminating cream highlighters.  I love shimmer. I don’t care that it’s on many of those dumb over-40 no-no lists. 

I forgot to take a before picture for my before and after side by side so it looks like a mug shot. 😂 

My face is extra red because I was hot. I had just diffused my hair. I probably should have waited but I had a quite a to-do list to tackle. 😂

Tips for flawless foundation and concealer application:

1️⃣ Make sure your skin is properly exfoliated. 

You can use a gentle exfoliator like our Overnight Resurfacing Peel  or our exfoliating face wash to encourage cell turnover. I do not use the peel or exfoliating wash on my nose or cheeks when my rosacea is flaring- but will still use it on the rest of my face. I wash with a gentle microfiber washcloth daily and am just extra careful when exfoliating sensitive areas. 

2️⃣ Make sure you’re skin is properly hydrated. 

I will talk more about skincare in my stories and posts this week but one way to prep skin for makeup is to: 

Mix a face oil with your daily moisturizer. Even oily skin benefits for the right oil to balance natural oil production. Your skin should feel “juicy” for lack of a better term. 

3️⃣ Apply makeup with a damp beauty blender for a dewy look.

This was a game changer for me. I had always used a brush before the Better Blender came out (you can see this in old videos) but I’ll never go back now. 

Our blender is currently out of stock. 😫

The foundation and concealer are both great for buildable coverage so you can just sit on a tiny bit extra where to need it and dab it it for perfect blending. 
 All BC products are available through the top link in my bio and the products for this look are in a blog post linked to the reel in my makeup highlights. For past looks, click the non-toxic transformation Tuesday link in my bio. 

#tuesdaytip #tuesdaytipday #makeupapplication
Your skin is a canvas. 🎨 If your skin is dry a Your skin is a canvas. 🎨

If your skin is dry and in need of exfoliation and moisture, makeup will not cover this and will actually highlight it by settling into lines, caking, and flaking. 

I honestly thought that because I have dry skin, peeling and flaking were natural, especially with rosacea and rheumatoid arthritis, and just something I’d have to deal with.  My makeup never looked like I wanted it to: dewy and fresh. 

I have clients who assumed that because their skin is oily, they were destined to have their makeup slide off mid day. 

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Addressing the skin’s moisture barrier is the key solution and it is a game-changer. 

This week, in addition to my non-toxic Tuesday transformation makeup post, I’ll be sharing more about skin science and skincare solutions. 

I’d love your help. 

What would you like to know more about? What topics interest you? 

#agingskin #dryskin #skincare #skincarequotes #skincarequote
Since we all love a before and after, here is mine Since we all love a before and after, here is mine from today’s makeup Reel. I really like today’s look. 

I actually made two Reels today, so you will see the headband again tomorrow if you spend some time on the gram. 

Since the storms have let up here in the states (for the most part) I hope you are staying warm and if you are without power, I hope it comes back on soon! Hang in there. 

#tuesdaytransformation #beforeandaftermakeup
Why am I smiling? There are many reasons to smile Why am I smiling? There are many reasons to smile today, but here are my biggies:

1. My daughter is having a good day. This may not seem like much- but she is courageously battling severe anxiety right now and good days have been few and far between lately. 

2. It’s Friday and the sun is shining.

3. I’m meeting a friend out for a margarita later at @chuysrestaurant (outdoor heated patio perfect for social distancing). 

3. I love participating in positive challenges like the #silversisterssmiling challenge from @tangledsilver.

4. Over the next few days I am hosting a love yourself though self care event in my FB a group and on my private Instagram page. It includes a free Gua Sha webinar complete with giveaways tomorrow and you are all invited. 
Check my stories for more info. 

What are you smiling about today? 

#silversisters #grayhairmovement #smileitsfriday #smileitscontagious
© 2021 Gray is Gorgeous