The beauty routine of silver-haired influencer, Tennille Murphy

A decade ago, Tennille Murphy, a Los Angeles-based interior designer and Instagram star, made a major shift towards eating a plant-based diet while eliminating refined sugars, processed food and alcohol. Over time, she realised her skincare routine no longer aligned with her new lifestyle.

“I was putting so much care and attention into the ingredients I was putting inside my body while completely ignoring the ingredients I layered onto my skin – the largest organ of my body!” Murphy explains.

It was this realisation that led her to seek out beauty products made with thoughtful ingredients – and, at the same time, document her journey via her blog and Instagram account – which garnered the attention of legions of likeminded individuals across the globe.

We spoke to Murphy, now in her early forties, about making thoughtful beauty choices, embracing her silver hair and the non-negotiable beauty items she packs to keep her skin radiant while in the air.

“When it comes to beauty and fashion, I’m all about enhancing my natural features. I wear clothing that is effortlessly chic while being mindful of styles that flatter my figure. Essentially, I wear what makes me feel beautiful.

“The same principles apply to beauty. I prefer natural makeup with a ‘less is more’ approach. I don’t try to cover up my skin, but rather enhance my skin and complexion. I love that Rose Inc products are multitaskers with skin-loving ingredients. The Skin Enhance Luminous Tinted Serum blurs your complexion without covering it up. The effect is beautiful, luminous skin. I like to use the Softlight Luminous Hydrating Concealer in two shades [‘LX150’ and ‘LX140’] on targeted areas. I’ve been using ILIA’s Limitless Lash Mascara for years. It ticks all the boxes for me. It coats well yet doesn’t transfer or flake. I love that it washes off gently.”

“My hair began turning white when I was 23, so just over 20 years ago. Early on, I was embarrassed and even tried at-home dyes to ‘spot treat’ the white hair sprouting in the front. That wasn’t very effective, and I quickly learnt that dingy white hair was not a great look. I also began to get worried that the harsh dyes were ruining my curls. After a few attempts, I ultimately ditched my efforts and simply let the white hair do its thing. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

While I do not use any special products to maintain my white colour, I do use very specific nourishing and hydrating products for my curls. I use hair masks and treatments roughly once a week. Oh, and very important – I don’t use heat styling. Heat is the absolute worst for white hair because it can cause your beautiful white hair to yellow.”

“You don’t have to make the switch overnight - think about your next purchase. For most of us, it’s not realistic (or budget-friendly) to throw out everything you own all at once. Instead, when you’re needing to make your next purchase opt for a sustainable option. In general, it’s a good practice to only try one new skincare product at a time, so that works perfectly.”

“I have made it my mission to start reading for fun. I just read It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, [which] was very entertaining! [I’m] definitely reading everything she has written. I just finished binge-watching Stranger Things and now I’m streaming Silent Witness on BritBox (season 25 just dropped and I’m hyped!). I love listening to Something Was Wrong, Crime Junkie and Two Hot Takes podcasts when I’m in the car with my daughters. And I’m currently eating a raw kale and spinach salad with orzo pasta!”