Be yourself. Love yourself. Take care of each other.

Hello, world! Shelly here! We went from winter straight into summer here in Virginia! How are you all doing in the recent heat waves? Staying cool, I hope!

I've got a few updates for you:

• New summer skin care launch
• Cat update and why I might be spotty on YouTube for a little bit
• GOOW goes brick-and-mortar!

NEW Summer Skin Care Launch

I've got 3 new products for ☀️ SUMMER ☀️ (and maybe a 4th coming...)

First up - aloe got a glow-up! As someone with fair skin, even though I am diligent about applying sunscreen before heading outdoors, I still manage to get too much sun sometimes - and while I love how soothing aloe feels when my skin is irritated, I just can't stand the sticky goop that is most after-sun products. So, I made my own!

Aloe Relief Gel Lotion

(Does it irk the heck out of me that the center bottle is turned too far to the left? Yes. Am I going to re-shoot the photos? Nope!) 🤣

It's lightweight, fast-absorbing, and has ZERO tacky or sticky feel. I seriously feel like I invented something; why has nobody made a non-sticky aloe lotion??

• 99% natural ingredients (GOOW defines "natural" as being EcoCert or COSMOS compliant, two industry standards for certifying naturally-derived ingredients)
• More than 80% aloe vera juice! The entire water component of this lotion is aloe vera juice!
• Cica (centella asiatica extract) and allantoin for repair and redness reduction
• Fragrance-free so it is suitable for face and body

The bottle is a bigger version of the same bottle I use for the Rejuvenating Serum, so for everyone that has told me you love that pump, here it is in a 2.8oz size! 2 pumps of this lotion covers my entire arm, so a little goes a long way.

Use this lotion for after-sun care, post-shaving to ward off irritation, or any time you want to soothe your skin!

Next up: Firming Eye Gel

This one is a cross between a jelly and a serum consistency so it is super-easily spreadable but also stays put (and again, NOT STICKY! Are you sensing a theme?). If you follow me on Patreon, you may have seen my posts about formulating this and the sticker shock I had on some of the ingredients! But I'm here to formulate products that work. I've wasted enough money over the years trying everything under the sun. I know what many of us in this phase of life need to help our skin (and our souls!) look and feel their best and I'm here to make those things, for myself and for all of us!

Powered by pro-longevity botanicals and microbiome-friendly ferments, this 99% natural formula helps reduce puffiness, fine lines, and signs of fatigue.

Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract—rich in 5-HTP, a natural precursor to serotonin—supports skin vitality and resilience by combating oxidative stress (including from UV-damage) and supporting collagen production while gently firming the eye area. Caffeine energizes and depuffs, while hyaluronic acid quenches thirsty skin. Antioxidant-rich extracts from green tea, prickly pear, and pomegranate defend against environmental stressors.

The tiniest dab of Firming Eye Gel is enough for both under-eyes, so this jar will last a long time! And - I found a new supplier for my jars and I am SO impressed with this one. It's gorgeous and sturdy and I just may switch a few of my other jars over to ones similar to this one. What do you think?

Lastly: Shimmer & C Body Lotion ✨ Limited Edition!

Check out that gold reflect.... yesssssss! So hard to capture on camera but so gorgeous on the skin!

Can't lie - the shimmer idea and scent was inspired by a lotion I saw on Ulta's web site! But you know me and the actives; it's not just the skin on my face that I care about! Grown-up skin has grown-up needs, but we're never too old for some shimmer. ✨

This lightweight moisturizer is infused with skin-loving Vitamin C to brighten, bakuchiol to smooth and firm, and a dash of gold and silver eco-friendly micro-glitter to give you a radiant, lit-from-within sparkle - all in a jumbo 8oz jar so you can glow from head to toe.

Scented like a dreamy vanilla-marshmallow whip, this lotion is like a sweet treat wrapped in a clean, nourishing formula. Crafted for all skin types and perfect for mature skin, Shimmer & C contains 98% natural ECOCert-compliant ingredients and adheres to clean beauty standards set by major retailers (as all of my formulations do).

This one is limited edition (and you all jumped on my soft-launch - I've only got 4 left!) but I can see myself bringing this formula back again for the winter holidays. I don't think I'll keep it year-round (unless you all want me to! Hit me up if you love the shimmer!)

The "maybe one more" product is one of those tough formulations: a clay mask that is NOT drying on dry and dehydrated skin, in a stick format... it's almost ready. I am currently testing what I think will be the final version of the formula. Stay tuned!

Cat Update

My amazing polydactyl 3-legged female orange cat, Daffy, has had a rough couple weeks in and out of the vet and the ER and we're adjusting to a new reality with her diagnosis. I've had to learn some at-home medical procedures and, well, it's hard and I'm crying a lot. But she's a trooper and full of life even when she's down, and I will give her the best life she can possibly have as long as she's comfortable. I've shared details on Patreon but I don't expect to share much elsewhere on social media.

But I did want to let you know at least that much, as I will likely miss videos on YouTube here and there in the coming weeks. I will try to put on a happy face and get something posted for this week, but I'm on the struggle bus (so much that I haven't even opened the Ulta box that came the other day). I just need a little time to wrap my head around everything. Hug your fur babies (and feathered babies and scaled babies and all the non-human companions that we love so much!)

GOOW Goes Brick-and-Mortar!

Let's end on some good news, shall we? I mentioned in one of my vlogs a few weeks ago that I was hoping to get a lease on a commercial property to expand my formulation lab and have a little retail store front. I am happy to announce that I got the lease, starting in August! It's in Elkton, Virginia (the next town over from where I live). It was originally a doctor's office and has been a few things since, but it's a perfect layout for me since it's already divided into a sort of public space and a private space - and it has plenty of sinks which I need!

My current vision of the layout of the space

I'll have more space and capacity to formulate skin care, which is the most pressing need for me right now. Currently, I don't have enough space to store extra jars/bottles and ingredients, so I basically have to order things as I need them. That is tough because it delays restocks and also means I end up paying more for ingredients and packaging because I can't stock up when there are good sales and discounts. It will be nice to be able to spread out and be more organized in my storage, and I'll also be able to film how I make products in much better quality with proper space to mount cameras and lighting.

Plus, eventually I will open up a storefront! I'd hoped to get into this space much sooner (over the summer while I'm off from work), but I go back to work a week after I get access to the space. It needs some work - I will definitely be replacing the floors in the retail area, and possibly the drywall. (It's currently painted bold Mardi Gras colors and appears to have been painted over so many times that another coat of paint is not going to cut it). So I don't expect to open to the public before spring at the earliest, and even then it will be mostly weekends as long as I stay teaching at JMU. But this is the next step of The Dream (i.e. full-time entrepreneurship) and this shop will basically make or break that dream. It's a bit of a wild time to start something like this, with all of the current economic uncertainty around tariffs and sourcing ingredients and supplies, but I figure, if I can survive this economy, I can survive anything - and it's time to find out what my future holds!

I plan to share the whole process of setting up the space and opening the shop, and can't wait to get started. So stay tuned for that over on YouTube!

Find me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goow

Shop my designs & handmade skin care: https://shopgoow.com

That's all for now. Stay well out there (especially if you're getting the heat!) and as always, take care of each other,

💜 Shelly