Beauty

We love makeup, fashion and skincare as much as the next woman. But we also recognize that inner beauty—the strength and grace we display—never ages.

The Things We do for Beauty

  About this photo: “My boyfriend at the time (now my husband) was set to graduate from boot camp in two weeks. I wanted to absolutely dazzle him when he saw me after two months away from each other. So for the first time ever, I decided to add a little color to my hair—nothing drastic, but some highlights and a nice trim. My salon appointment ended up being a little over three hours, but during the middle of it, I remember looking into the mirror and laughing at how ridiculous I looked: the oversized cape and my hair stacked in little rods of tinfoil. The things we do for beauty!” —Tess Lopez, editorial assistant for Grit and Grace Life   A […]

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5 Ways I Learned to Love My Middle-Aged Body

5 Ways I Learned to Love My Middle-Aged Body

The other day, as I was participating in my daily scroll on social media, a Facebook memory popped up on my feed. It was a heartwarming throwback of me and my youngest when she was just a baby. I looked tired, yes, but also had that new-mom glow as I held my daughter in her “Baby’s First Christmas” outfit. She was three months old and this was, sadly, quite a few years ago. I remember that picture well. We were at my in-laws’ house after church, and it was the first time I had gotten “dressed up” since giving birth. And I remember being wildly insecure about my new, mom-of-three body. I felt frumpy, overweight, and gross. I didn’t want to go,

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A Letter to My Daughter on Body Image: May You Love All of You

(Listen to the audio version of this article here.) Dear Daughter, We are together more than ever these days. I watch as you wake each morning, walk into your closet, and choose an outfit that doesn’t go together. You pull up your leggings without noticing the skin that spills over the tight waistband. You run a brush through your hair and carefully choose a headband or opt for a braid. I passively wonder if you wish for hair opposite of your own in texture and color. But there is no sighing or visible expression of disappointment as you comb through the tangles and frizz. Instead, you smile and make silly faces at your reflection in the mirror. Virtual school ends, and you’re

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Inner beauty

A Woman’s Inner Strength and Beauty

At Grit and Grace Life, we talk about all aspects of a woman’s life, down to the little pleasures like makeup and fashion. But we also like to focus on a woman’s inner beauty—the strength she exudes during a difficult phase of life, like loss and divorce. Or the patience she exemplifies while raising children and focusing on her career. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying makeup and fashion, beauty is also found in the intangible. Witnessing a woman walk through life with strength and confidence is something that can’t be bought!

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Beauty Treatments of the Past That Will Make You Laugh and Cringe

Beauty Treatments of the Past That Will Make You Laugh and Cringe

Have you ever wondered who determined that we ladies should take small metal tongs and pull hairs out of our face, one at a time, to achieve perfectly arched eyebrows? Or who was the masochistic individual who believed the removal of hair under the arms and on each leg was a great idea for our gender? What did they have on hand to accomplish this new task? A very dull blade, or were they kind enough to provide a sharp knife? We all know that Gillette’s Venus four-blade with lotion was far from being invented that year. I imagine a smoke-filled lounge with men enjoying their cigars and glasses of bourbon as they determine beauty treatments of the past that might make

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6 Beauty Hacks That Will Cut Time in Your Morning Routine

Many of us are guilty of hitting the snooze button on our alarms and sleeping in until the very last minute. If I don’t absolutely have to get up and start moving, then I’m not getting out of bed. But enjoying those extra minutes of beauty sleep means sacrificing some getting-ready time. To maximize that beauty sleep and still look amazing and feel stress-free in the morning, try these simple beauty hacks. Here are six hacks to help cut down time in your morning routine:  1. Plan ahead The quickest way to cut back on a huge chunk of time is to plan your outfit the night before. This saves you the stress of scrambling to find an outfit and settling on

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How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes in 5 Easy Steps

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes in 5 Easy Steps

It’s inevitable: the bristles crowning our makeup brushes, once sleek and shiny like the mane of a show horse, are now dull and clumpy. The residue of our cosmetic labor—sparkly shadow, heavy foundation, and powdery blush—has caked into stiff clumps. We shouldn’t wait until our brushes get to this sorry stage to clean them. Ideally, makeup brushes and sponges should be cleaned at least once a week. Without frequent cleaning, bacteria may accumulate on the brushes, and can often lead to breakouts. So by all means, avoid a potential zit-uation (sorry, couldn’t let that opportunity slip), and bathe those brushes! It’s always a wise idea to use lukewarm water and gentle cleanser when cleaning your brushes to maintain the integrity of the

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Girl, It's Perfectly OK

Girl, It’s Perfectly OK to Just Be You!

Each of us goes about life in our own, unique way. Though you may feel like some of your quirks are a bit ridiculous, we want you to know that there’s nothing to be embarrassed about; we all have them! While so many avenues tell us what we should like and how we should act, we are here to say something different: celebration is always better than comparison. So, ladies, it is perfectly okay if… You just had to get ice cream on your lunch break; you’re an adult, so it’s allowed. You make a detour and park at the garden center because…succulents. It’s your third caramel macchiato this week—it means you’re meeting up with a friend for a heartfelt chat. (Read this first, by the way!)

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5 Helpful Tips for Loving Your Body the Way It Is

5 Helpful Tips for Loving Your Body the Way It Is

My body shaming started in fifth grade shortly after a classmate made up a “clever” little saying about my breasts. She recruited a group of boys who all chanted for days: “Rachel’s so flat a pancake would be jealous. Flatty cakes, flatty cakes!” Good one, sister. I was 11 years old… of course I was flat. As junior high came into full swing—and then high school—I noticed when friends blossomed as my own adolescent development seemed to lag behind my peers. When I finally started my period at the age of 15, I felt defective for showing up to the puberty party late. Over the years, I’ve abused, neglected, badmouthed, overworked, and shamed my body. Some of my shaming was induced by

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Simple-Skin-Care-All-Natural-Recipes-for-Bright-Healthy-Skin

Simple Skin Care: All-Natural Recipes for Bright Healthy Skin

With wrinkles, bumps, and dry patches, I am always searching for magic potions to erase these unwelcome, overstaying visitors without breaking my budget or reverting to picking and prodding with my fingertips (so guilty). Like most people, I want to be nice to my face, and all of the products I tested included so many unpronounceable ingredients… Trying to figure out what they were and if they were ok for my skin felt daunting. Plus, when I did find a high-quality natural brand, the price tags sent me back to the easy swipe of a makeup wipe. After all, what I really want in my skin care routine is effective simplicity. My current skin care routine consists of a couple of my

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The-Greatest-Beauty-Product-You’ve-Never-Heard-Of,-on-the-Cheap

The Greatest Beauty Product You’ve Never Heard Of, on the Cheap

If you’re anything like me, you love the power of makeup! Whether your beauty routine is a simple moisturizer and sunscreen duo or you love to go “full glam” on the regular, spending time taking care of the skin you’re in and having a bit of fun while doing it can be a relaxing and fascinating process. A quick YouTube search on “The Power of Makeup” will yield thousands of video tutorials of the step-by-step process each vlogger uses to enhance or even transform their appearance. Take a look in the video notes and you will find a complete list of the products used to accomplish the look—and wow, that list can be extensive and expensive! It wouldn’t be surprising if you

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What Makeup Brushes Do I Really Need?

What Makeup Brushes Do I Really Need?

I got into makeup sometime in college. Before that, I shudder to see the pictures. And then, maybe worse, was my first year or two experimenting with it…but, I digress. These days I would count makeup as a hobby. Learning about it, teaching others about it, sharing my favorite hacks and products, and strongly advocating the frequent-wearing of false eyelashes (seriously, just do it!). One thing that really upped my makeup game was when I began using makeup brushes…not just relying on the applicators that came with the products I bought from the drugstore (no shame in that, by the way!). If you want to start getting a little more serious about your makeup, I suggest you get a few staple brushes

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8 Ways to Create the Perfect Spa in Your Home!

Growing up, my mother would host little spa nights for me and my friends (that and tea parties were definitely her forte!). It wasn’t until my honeymoon, when I planned a day at a silent spa (yes, I said “silent”…I can hear all the introverts rejoicing!) for my husband, that I fell in love with all things spa. Real talk, though: spas are expensive, and it’s super fun to enjoy a spa with girlfriends in the comfort of your own home. Side note—remember snacks, snacks, snacks! Cucumbers are fun to put on your eyes, but they’re also fun in your water or a refreshing iced tea. Here are a few tips for creating a fun, perfect spa in your home: 1. Atmosphere If the

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Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge is a Must Have!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge is a Must Have!

Today I’m looking at Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. These are amazing in about 1,000 different ways! This is a drugstore brand of the “beauty blender.” They can be used to apply make-up either dry or damp. I use these mainly for foundation, concealer, and setting powders. I bought mine on Amazon for $6.99, but you can find them at Target and Walmart too. The great thing about this particular sponge is the different edges it has to blend—creating a smooth, professional finish. It has a point that can get into smaller areas around the eye. The pointed side is also great for covering a small break out. The flat side of the sponge can be used to tap on foundation and powders, but it can also be used for contouring. These

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3 Big Do’s and Don’ts of Skin Care You Need to Start Now

3 Big Do’s and Don’ts of Skin Care You Need to Start Now

In the last six years of being a licensed Esthetician (which, just to clarify is not to be confused with a statistician or Obstetrician…yup, that’s happened), I have heard some pretty interesting skin care routine stories from clients. I’ve heard everything from clients washing their face with acetone, to using hand sanitizer on their face throughout the day, because they were convinced it would help with their acne (to which I then considered referring them to me for counseling services). All that to say, I thought it might be helpful to share 3 brief do’s and don’ts as it relates to the world of skin care, and some best and not-so-best practices. 1. DO: Always wash your face at night. If you were going

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Four-Every-Day-Nude-Lipsticks-for-On-The-Go-Women

Four Every Day Nude Lipsticks for On-The-Go Women

Have you ever searched for that perfect nude lipstick? One that stands out from your skin tone just enough to be noticeable and flattering, but also isn’t too bold or dressy for everyday wear? Well, I have not only one, but four nude lip color suggestions for you! Allow me to introduce to you Lip Rouge Lipstick by the brand Doll 10. This creamy lipstick formula is intentionally crafted for busy girls who just don’t have the 5 extra minutes to perfect their lipstick. In fact, only one or two swipes of these intensely pigmented lipsticks will achieve a luscious look. The Lip Rouge Lipstick formula includes anti-aging properties and moisturizes the lips throughout the day. If these lipsticks don’t sound amazing already,

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The-Best-Foundation-Out-of-364-Formulas

The Best Foundation (Out of 364 Formulas!)

For the most part, I’d consider myself a girly-girl. I like to dress up, wear makeup, paint my nails, etc. However, spending a lot of time and money on makeup has just never been my thing. I usually find something from the drugstore or Ulta that is reasonably priced and stick with it. In college, I had a roommate who adored makeup. Amber loved to go to Sephora and get samples, have them color-match her, and so on and so forth. One time she made me go with her and get color swatched by one of their professionals in black…I was slightly shocked by what a difference it made. For the first time in my life, I spent more than $12 on foundation

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