1. I love learning how people first became interested in a more natural, holistic lifestyle. What did that journey look like for you?
Growing
up as a teenager in the 80’s my diet involved a lot of diet soda, sugarless gum
and white bread. I did a lot of high intensity aerobic classes and enjoyed
using tanning beds. In university I supplemented my tuition working as
a pastry chef in fine dining restaurants. No surprise I was experiencing a lot
of digestive issues. It wasn’t until I moved to California to do my MFA
that I was exposed to a radically healthy lifestyle which consisted of a lot of
yoga, fresh juice and a macrobiotic diet.
2. What inspired you to start Graydon Clinical Luxury?
After
moving back from California to Toronto I became part of the Downward Dog Yoga
Studio first ever teacher training program in 1999. As a yoga teacher I enjoyed making holistic products to use on my
clients. My first product was a yoga mat spray (which is now my Germs Away Mist). Then I made a luxurious aromatic oil to use in a neck and temple
massage (now my lavender chamomile sandalwood inspired All Over Body Oil). My customers loved my products and with their encouragement
and support I just started making more stuff using the principles of holistic
and ayurvedic health I had learned through my yoga teacher training.
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3. What sets Graydon apart from other natural skincare brands?
We
carefully curate our ingredients – and look for items that come from nutrition
rich plant based sources. For example, the seeds from broccoli and berries
grown in the Fraser Valley are amongst our favourites. We work with a small
cold press manufacturer to produce the oils from these seeds which we use in
our formulations.
We
work a with lab to small batch our products which is a much better choice than
making them on our own. This means we can offer our
customers a clean, safe, consistent product that would be much harder to
produce if we still manufactured in our home office (which is where we started).
4. What does your skincare routine look like?
Besides
using all my products on a regular basis, I love to mash up and slather super
foods all over my face and body. Rolling up my sleeves and getting creative in
the kitchen reminds me of my art making and chef days. Given that I often work
from home, I have been known to answer the door with avocado cacao paste
smeared on my cheeks which has startled delivery people and customers picking
up their orders.
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5. If
you had to pick just one, what's your all-time favorite product or the product
that you're proudest of from the line?
I
love all my products but I can’t live without my Cleanser. I use it all over my
face and body. Its rich creamy (but not oily) texture leaves my skin
feeling super clean, soft and moisturized. I also shave my legs with it.
In
terms of being proud, The Serum is hands down the most nutrient dense power
packed product. Roughly 50 pounds of Canadian grown berries are packaged into
our 1oz glass bottle. The oomph that these berry seed oils gives your skin is
incredibly potent. I blend in a few drops to every product I use just to make
sure my skin gets the nutrition it needs every day.
6. What tips would you offer to someone looking to make the switch from
conventional skincare products?
Make
it easy for yourself by just replacing one item at a time. Don’t feel like you
have to throw all your conventional products out at once. Get used to reading
labels and making good (plant powered) choices for your skin just as you would
with food products you choose to eat.
And
start thinking about your skin as an organ similar to your stomach -- as a
vehicle to bring nourishment into your body. It becomes simple after a while,
to choose between whole foods vs junk/highly process foods… skincare products
that ‘feed’ your body vs ones that are made with synthetic, often toxic (junk)
ingredients.
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7. What can we expect in the future from Graydon Clinical Luxury? Any hints on
upcoming products?
I get asked about a deodorant, scrub and bug
spray all the time. It takes time to find the perfect ingredients, packaging
and above all to do the proper lab development and efficacy testing – but
within the next year we hope to have some new products out, so stay tuned!
Thanks Graydon! I, for one, can't wait to see what's coming next!
Great post! I've been wanting to try Graydon for a while & one day I will. The best advice I did not take myself, "Make it easy for yourself by just replacing one item at a time. Don’t feel like you have to throw all your conventional products out at once."
ReplyDeleteThanks Paula! I definitely recommend checking out the line. I did the same as you...skincare was a little more gradual, but my conventional makeup got thrown out all in one go!
DeleteNice interview! Not sure this line is retailing in Europe yet...but I keep it in mind in case Mr has to travel across the ocean! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Audrey! I'm not sure if there are any European retailers yet, but the line is available internationally through Clementine Fields.
DeleteGreat post, really enjoyed reading this & all about her range! The packaging is lovely too x
ReplyDeleteThe packaging looks fantastic, lovely post! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletehttp://jennoshealth.blogspot.ie/