Q & A with Eleanor Pendleton

There’s no doubt about it, you live one of the busiest lives in beauty, Miss Pendleton! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the amazing Gritty Pretty journey?

My career in beauty writing began in magazines. After finishing high school to study journalism, I completed an internship with Zoë Foster Blake, who at the time was Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan.

After a year of interning, I was offered the role as Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan’s sister titles: Cosmopolitan Hair & Beauty, Cosmopolitan Bride and Cosmopolitan Pregnancy magazines.

I spent a year and half there before taking on the role as Beauty Editor at FAMOUS magazine. I quickly adapted to the fast pace of a weekly magazine, which I enjoyed for a few years. In need for a chance of pace, I moved across to InStyle magazine where I was Beauty Editor for another few years.

Having worked across a range of publications, in June 2013, I decided to embark on a career in freelance writing. Since then, I’ve been published in Harper’s BAZAAR Australia, body+soul, Men’s Health, SMH and The Age (online) as well as Refinery29 and Nourished Journal in the United States.

In between freelance beauty writing, I also edit my own beauty website and online beauty magazine, Gritty Pretty. I’m extremely proud in the way Gritty Pretty has grown so quickly and it’s a digital beauty platform, which I literally put everything into.

And in a schedule that’s so jam packed, what are your top 3 tips for maintaining a happy and healthy existence?

Keep a diary-  It might sound silly but I actually put my exercise into my diary. I schedule all of my Pilates reformer and yoga classes around my meetings and work schedule.

Because I live and breathe by my diary, it prevents me from skipping a class.

Find something you enjoy- I’ve done plenty of exercise I didn’t enjoy like boot camp and running but when I found reformer Pilates and yoga, I was instantly hooked! It never feels like exercise for me and I think that’s the key: finding what works for you.

Being humble-  It might sound simple but I try to make an effort every day to stop, reflect and be grateful. Whether it’s my job, my family, my friends and my partner or even just life, I try to consciously be aware of my blessings.

This helps me breed good energy, which I think is one of the reasons behind my success.

There’s definitely something beautiful about being healthy, isn’t there. What does ‘health & wellbeing’ mean to you?

It’s about balance. In this life, we get one shot before our time is up – that’s it! Nothing more and nothing less. I believe in respecting my body and caring for it so I eat healthily and exercise my body and mind regularly. I also like to treat myself to a glass of wine or a piece of chocolate and I never feel guilty for it.

At the end of the day, being healthy is about having everything in moderation.

Eleanor Pendleton, founder & editor www.grittypretty.com

We think feeling beautiful inside and out definitely contributes to overall wellbeing. Do you have a favourite or a classic beauty tip that you always go back to?

Look after your skin – it’s the body’s largest organ. My skin is what I really spend time nurturing.

Every morning and night, I cleanse with Bioderma Sensibio H20 and apply SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, SK-II Stempower Serum and SK-II Stempower Cream.

When my skin is good, my makeup goes on easier and lasts longer.

What’s the best health advice you’ve ever received? It was from_______

My mum always told me never to go to bed with my makeup on.

What are 3 things you always carry in your handbag?

My diary, my iPhone and Lanolips Fruities in Peach.

If you only had 10 minutes to pack for a holiday in your favourite location, what would you bring, where would it be, and who would you go with?

I would go to Positano, Italy with my partner.

And, I would pack a lot of swimwear, summer dresses, hats, denim shorts, t-shirts, moisturiser, SPF 50 and a coral-coloured cream blush.

As you know, natural health is our passion. What are your favourite 3 pieces of nature you use to keep yourself so gorgeous?

1. 1. I drink a lot of water every day
2. 2. My lunch and dinner always consists of dark green vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccolini or zucchini with some kind of protein
3. 3. I live on the beach so I always make an effort to go for an ocean swim and breathe in ocean air. I believe in “grounding” or “earthing” so I try to get down there as often as I can, especially when I get stressed

What’s in store for Gritty Pretty for 2015? Any big dreams or plans in the pipeline?

Gritty Pretty has just launched the first online beauty magazine in Australia. It’s completely interactive with product animations, videos and shoppable products. I’m extremely proud of it!

I’m off to New York Fashion Week, which is very exciting. And hopefully, Gritty Pretty will be expand and grow into a new office space with a team later this year.

And what about for our readers? What do you wish for them at the beginning of another beautiful year?

Complete and utter love of self.