Let's Try This: Why I'm Here on Substack

Where beauty wisdom meets random facts—from colour theory to why we get brain freeze (and yes, I know both).

After 25 years in the beauty world,

I've realized something - this journey has never really been only about makeup. It's been about us connection. It's been about that moment when a woman looks in the mirror and thinks "damn, I look good!" It's been about cutting through the nonsense of 27-step routines and helping you figure out which of the 500 new products this month actually deserve your hard-earned cash. Through One Fine Beauty and Grey Seal Beauty, I've built my little corner of the beauty universe where real-life solutions reign supreme - especially for us fabulous women over 40 who deserve way more than being told to "gracefully fade into the background." (like, WHATEVER!)

So why am I here on Substack?

Because, honestly? I'm tired of doing the social media dance. Don't get me wrong - it's been amazing, but good grief… it's exhausting. The algorithms that decide my content isn't "engaging enough" unless I'm dancing or pointing at text bubbles. The constant chase of trends that disappear faster than my coffee gets cold in the morning (I mean, I drink it pretty fast, but you get the idea). The way meaningful conversations get buried under whatever viral nonsense is happening that day. I want a space where we can take a breath, where I can talk directly to you without worrying about whether the Meta gods will bless my video with views.

This newsletter is my chance to be completely myself - no filters (except on special occasions), no scripts, and absolutely zero apologies for being wildly passionate about beauty that works for our actual lives. I'll be spilling the tea from my decades in the industry, telling you what actually deserves space in your makeup bag, and giving you the honest, expert advice you won't find from that 22-year-old influencer who's never used anything but a cream blush.

But here's what I'm really excited about - building a community with you! A place where we can laugh about those "anti-aging" marketing terms (seriously, what does "youth activating" even mean?), share our confidence wins, debunk beauty myths, and talk about products that actually deliver on their promises. I want to share what I've learned, hear your questions, swap stories, and create something that lasts longer than whatever filter is trending this week. The older I get, the more apparent it is that aging is, in fact, quite the privilege. Can we please change the term from ‘aging gracefully’ to ‘aging gratefully’?!

So if you're here - welcome - I'm thrilled you found me! Let's make this a space where beauty feels simple, doable, and—most importantly—fun as hell.

If that sounds like your kind of vibe, stick around. Trust me, we're just getting started 🤩

With gratitude,

Shannon

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