A real-life couple shares how they became internet sensations…and their secret for being “Vegas-ready” every day.
Over the past few months I’ve shared some self-improvement experiences I’ve found in Las Vegas. Spa treatments, a weight loss center, a custom straight-razor shave and more. Then I was lucky enough to make the acquaintance of a charming couple who share their awesome knowledge and advice on skin care. And no matter what your age or gender, you can always learn from people in the know.
Greg Woerdeman may not be a household name, but you’ve probably heard about this overnight sensation. The handsome blue-collar hunk rose to fame in the most inauspicious of ways. Stepping in front of news cameras this January to alert drivers about impending weather and road conditions, the District Operations Supervisor for Tennessee Department of Transportation set the airwaves on fire. In no time at all, #TDOTHottie was born!
What happened next is the kind of story you read about in magazines….the new viral sensation was doing talk shows, personal appearances, photo shoots and romance novel covers. A bit of a private person up to this point, Woerdeman had no previous social media accounts or activity. Luckily for him, lady love Torrey Peak stepped up to guide and promote her beau’s new-found fame.
Torrey (far left) at the 2013 NPC Flex Lewis Classic…
Torrey is no stranger to the spotlight. A Certified Surgical Assistant and gifted photographer with her own successful business, the Emporia, Kansas native was once a competitor in the NPC Flex Lewis Classic. If you’ve watched that sport, you know how important it is to be meticulously groomed and looking your best every hour of the day.
Recently the professional photographer found herself on the other side of the lens when Torrey joined Greg for a series of Furious Fotog photo shoots together. They’re featured in a stunning collection of romance novel covers that bring their healthy lifestyle and passion for each other into focus. So now more than ever, the handsome couple is working their hardest to look their best in the safest possible way…today and for the future.
Greg joked during an on-camera interview that his secret to looking hot is a cup of coffee, eating “somewhat okay” and going to the gym a lot. Of course we’re only as good as the things that we put into and on our bodies, which is why Torrey got involved with a line of carefully-created body and skin-care products named BEAUTYCOUNTER.
Influenced by her work in the medical field and frustrated that the FDA considers thousands of chemicals to be safe when they’re actually harmful, Torrey did research to find a smarter choice in skin care. “I believe that a lot of diseases like MS are misdiagnosed. It has to do with toxicity in the body. It’s so frustrating to me. We have one body, and everything we pile onto it is unbalancing our system and derailing it. What you wear on your body is literally affecting the next generation”.
Torrey used the ingredients in conventional chemical sunscreens as an example of this gene-altering situation. “Parabens (compounds used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) mimic hormones in your body. They disrupt your endocrine system and cause things like erectile dysfunction. The increase in sunscreen usage has actually led to a rise in melanoma. It’s just crazy”.
That’s why Torrey and Greg have entrusted their health and appearance to BEAUTYCOUNTER, a line of skin care, make-up, bath/body and sunscreens created by a company with a social mission:
One by one, we are leading a movement to a future where all beauty is clean beauty. We are powered by people, and our collective mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Formulate, advocate, & educate—that’s our motto for creating products that truly perform while holding ourselves to unparalleled standards of safety. Why? It’s really this simple: beauty should be good for you.
Since our first product launched in 2013, we’ve created our own high standards in pursuit of clean beauty. Over 1,500 questionable ingredients are never used in our formulations. We advocate for stricter guidelines and regulations to shift the personal-care industry away from using harmful and questionable ingredients.
We’re proud to be a part of a global movement of brands using business as a force for positive change. We support nonprofits we feel aligned with, and invest in new forms of giving by partnering with leading scientists to find safer ingredients that will create the better products of tomorrow. We work to minimize the environmental impacts of our products, packaging and footprint through our sustainable ingredient sourcing and our recyclable product packaging.
Having been on my own journey of self-improvement, I was intrigued by this approach to personal care. So I got with Torrey and she provided a series of questions to determine my skin type, unique problems and long-term concerns. Then she sent samples of the products designed to safely address those needs.
Being the macho guy that I am (lol) , I leaned heavily towards COUNTERMAN, the guy’s line of BEAUTYCOUNTER products. Having just recently gained a new appreciation for the art of shaving (read about that here) I wanted to try COUNTERMAN’s take on concentrated shave creams. A fragrance-free blend of shea butter, aloe and a unique Sequoia Stem Cell Complex, Smoothing Shave Cream leaves my face feeling soft, smooth and wonderfully hydrated.
Another new favorite in my daily routine is COUNTERMAN Energizing Charcoal Body Wash. I’ve been attracted to the detoxifying properties of activated charcoal and keep a bottle of capsules on hand for if/when I overindulge in Vegas nightlife. My personal care regime has also grown to include charcoal toothpaste, body lotion and wash.
Of course, products that boast one beneficial ingredient like activated charcoal can also contain a myriad of harmful ones. Torrey looked into my choices, pointed out the harmful chemicals they contain and made it clear that spending more than for typical Bath and Bodyworks-type brands is worth it when crucial benefits matter.
Living in a desert climate with mature skin has its own challenges, so Torrey recommended that I try the Rejuvenating Regime, a collection of cleanser, toner, radiance serum and day cream. Used together, this line firms and nourishes my face while fighting the effects of time and environment. To amplify the benefits, I added Resurfacing Overnight Peel, a twice-weekly treatment that reduces pores, lines and dark spots to make my rugged mug glow like a young guy’s once again. It may never make me look like #TDOTHottie, but perhaps a little less like Charlie Brown’s grandfather.
Now that Torrey and Greg are enjoying their newfound popularity, they’ve decided to share the benefits of COUNTERMAN and BEAUTYCOUNTER products by officially endorsing and being consultants for them. I’m pleased to be one of their customers and you can, too.
Don’t wait until an anniversary, family gathering or trip to Vegas motivates you to jump start your personal-care regime. Make COUNTERMAN and BEAUTYCOUNTER a part of your daily life and enjoy looking and feeling your healthy best right now. Follow this link to take the survey. Then contact Torrey Peak by clicking here to get started.
VEGAS UNFILTERED BLOG by Sam Novak 