Join Dr. Chrysandra Brunson as she chats with Ann and Jeff Lowe about their adventurous transition from Missouri to Colorado, where a new chapter in skincare innovation began. Ann delves into her past in the pharmaceutical industry, her unexpected career change, and the development of Generation Skincare, a line transforming how people perceive their skin health. As they discuss personal stories and struggles, the Lowes also share valuable lessons on following God’s calling and achieving success without regrets.
Welcome everyone to The Calling’s radio show to all the dreamers. I’m your radio host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson, and it is such an honor to be with all of you today. You know, at The Calling, we have realized that so many people are afraid to go after the dreams that God has put inside each one of our hearts because they are afraid to fail. And that is just plain wrong because if God has given us a dream and we’re not living it out, we are wasting it and we do not want to die with regret. That’s why at The Calling, we love to inspire, empower, and equip people to, after God’s calling on their lives, to reap the best kind of eternal legacy possible to have immediate impact on ourselves and our families. We love to do this through so many different avenues, through custom tools and programs, workshops, seminars. but especially through this radio show where we bring on world-renowned guests where they share how they’re going after God’s calling on their lives and how you can do the same. You guys, today is no exception, having the one and only Ann Mattenly-Lowe. Ann, welcome to the show.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Well, thank you, Dr. Chrysandra. I’m thrilled to be here. Oh,
CHRYSANDRA :
We are so honored to have you. And we also have a very special guest in with us as well. Would you like to introduce him?
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
This is the extraordinary Jeff Lowe, my husband.
CHRYSANDRA :
Jeff, we’re so honored to have you.
JEFF LOWE :
Well, thank you, Chrysandra.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes, yes. We’re so honored. And, you know, it’s just so divine and how we are able to meet and come across each other in the most unlikely of spaces. But to know that we were meant to meet and just have been blown away by you and by you, Jeff. You guys are a power couple and what you’ve been able to grow and build and throughout the years and to develop just a true global entrepreneur. And we can’t wait to hear how this journey has gone for you. Will you just share some of the leadership roles that you have led so far?
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
In my most recent capacity or throughout my lifetime? You can do throughout. Well, after I graduated from college, I ended up working for several Fortune 500 companies, typically in a sales role. So I think having that outgoing personality, you know, influencing people in a good way really pays off. But I’ve always enjoyed science. When I was 17 years old, I won fourth place at the International Science and Engineering Fair. And I ended up getting a scholarship to college, which was fantastic because we didn’t come from a lot of money. And from there, it’s really just been quite the journey. I’m on my second act now, maybe my third act, Chrysandra. Wow. wow yeah so i’m 60 years old and i worked on my looks 30. it’s that skin care so um yeah so i worked in the pharmaceutical industry most of my adult life and i did a lot of different jobs there i was in sales and leadership i ended up being a long-term care regional director and My most recent position before I retired, I was director of policy and advocacy. So we did a lot of mental health work, and that was really important to me. When I grew up, my dad was a World War II vet, and he suffered from PTSD. And I knew from an early age that we didn’t need to be shy about talking about mental health issues. So that’s always been one of my driving forces. right right so um it’s it’s really been this compilation of all the different the science that i love and outgoing you know talking to people and i really love taking care of the skin so this is just it really has been a remarkable second act and i always want to tell women especially and men too that it’s never too late to have a new career and it’s never too late to find love
CHRYSANDRA :
I think we all need to hear that. It’s so powerful. And Anne, tell us about the second act in the company that you now lead.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Yeah, well, it just happened sort of serendipitously, Chrysandra. Jeff and I decided to have a late in life adventure and we moved to Colorado from Missouri. So we packed up a few trailers and we drove across the country and I noticed when I got here that my skin changed really quickly. I started getting sunspots down the right side of my face. So fun fact, if you are mostly drive a car, you’ll get more on your left side. And if you’re a passenger, you get more on your right side. So I started getting them on my right side and I was really worried about it, not just because of vanity, but my older sister, Gail, had had skin cancer on her face and had to have most surgery. So I called my niece, Teresa, Dr. Teresa Mattingly, who’s a dermatologist. And I’m like, Teresa, I got to get rid of these sunspots. And that’s how this started. And then, of course, I told her that this was dryness like I’d never known out here. And my skin started looking dry and crepey and it wasn’t as bouncy as it used to be.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. Right.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Right. And then I was going through menopause at the time. And ladies, let me tell you, menopause is no joke on the skin. So I had kind of the trifecta. And Teresa helped me develop some active ingredients. And I knew how to do it anyway because I had been dabbling in skin care in Missouri. But the same products that work in a humid environment don’t work in Colorado. Because of that, I knew that we had to do something differently. So I’m a science nerd. And between Teresa and I, we figured out how to really develop extremely hydrating products. And initially, they were just for me.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, and I just know that your skin is glowing, and Colorado, being a native, it’s another world out here. It really is.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
So I’ll just tell you three things that really impact our skin in Colorado, if you’re interested. Yes. Okay, so number one.
CHRYSANDRA :
Or just any state that’s dry, which is the majority of America and countries around the world. Okay. I forgot. We have a lot of people, you know, just anywhere.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Okay, so in a climate like here, first of all, things impact our skin from the environment. So the first thing are days of sun. So Colorado has over 300 days of sun.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Over 300. Okay. And I tell everybody, you know, when I go to Florida, I say, you know, Florida’s a sunshine state, but maybe Colorado should be.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Yeah, we got all this sun. And for every 1,000 feet in elevation above sea level, we get another 5% to 10% more UVAB damage. So elevation really makes a huge difference.
CHRYSANDRA :
Mm-hmm.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
And a humid environment, although it’s kind of tough to live in, is actually very good for your skin. So what we do is we put that hydration back into the skin because we use two types of hyaluronic acid in all of our serums. So most companies are using high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which means the molecules are large and they sit on the top of the skin or the outer layer of the skin, which is the epidermis. So it never goes deep down into the dermis. right and so if a company doesn’t tell you what type of hyaluronic acid they’re using assume that that is what it is and there’s nothing wrong with it but you need to make sure that you have got wet skin when you put it on and realize it’s never going to go down to the dermis because the molecules are too big so what we do differently is we also use super low molecular weight hyaluronic acid
CHRYSANDRA :
Thank you for sharing the science behind this.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Yeah, well, that’s the key. I don’t know how it works. So the super low molecular weight has it’s about 80,000 dollars per milliliter. So it’s the tiniest available to buy. And the molecules are so tiny, they go through the epidermis down to the dermis. And then it swells up to a thousand times its weight in water beneath the surface of your skin. So that’s how you get deep hydration that doesn’t just wash off. Simple fact that most companies do not use the super low molecular weight because it costs 200 times more. But we do because you definitely need to get that deep hydration. So, you know, we just use really great, powerful, active ingredients.
CHRYSANDRA :
Oh, this is going to be so good. I mean, I can’t wait for more of the world and to be able to use this. And I’m so grateful that you have been able to allow me to be able to see these products. And you guys are able to see this transformation over time. But this really is true for the science behind why most skin care does not work.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
It really is. And, you know, all higher-lying acids are not created equally. The other thing that Teresa and I decided to do was to incorporate the same active ingredients you’d find at a dermatologist’s office or a medical spa. But the difference is we use cleaner inactive ingredients. So I’m sure, you know, people are really into trying to get clean products these days, and it’s tough to do. Mm-hmm. Right? Mm-hmm. really tough actors are propylene glycol and phenoxyethanol so look on your on your skincare packaging and even in your food and you’re going to notice that propylene glycol is a very popular ingredient do you know what it is Chrysandra i don’t i don’t it is also known as antifreeze no that’s terrible i know i I tell people, those are not things you really want to put on your face. So the purpose of it is it’s a solvent. So it gets ingredients to mix up, and it makes them nice and smooth and creamy and homogenous. And if you don’t use some kind of a solvent, things will just separate and they’ll be more clumpy. But we found a clean solvent that we use, so no antifreeze from Generation Skin Care. Also, a lot of companies use phenoxyethanols, a preservative, and that’s known to be toxic. So we found one that comes from fermented radish root. It’s called lactobacillus ferment. So it’s a clean preservative. So we’re able to incorporate the same active ingredients that are medically recognized along with cleaner inactive ingredients. And people seem to be very happy with that.
CHRYSANDRA :
And I just, I think this is revolutionary for skin care and just for, you know, I think when we look better, we feel better. We do. And it’s just a ripple effect on how we treat people and how we’re able to truly go after what God’s called us to. Exactly. When we are our best versions of ourselves. And we want to know, take us back when you were a little girl and how you can see that God was putting all these seeds in your heart to be this trifecta of a world shaker. And I love that you said different acts because there’s so much more to come. But you have been able to accomplish so much in such a little bit of time. Tell us about your childhood and the seeds of character being developed.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
That’s really kind of you to say, because I feel the same way about you, Chrysandra. Thank you. Well, when I grew up, I mean, most people have a story to tell. And, you know, suffering is a blessing. We talk about it in the Bible a lot. And it teaches us growth and character. And Jesus certainly suffered for us. And, you know, we just have to look at it in the right way. So when I was nine days old, my mom was rushed to the hospital and she ended up in Missouri Baptist Hospital for 31 days. I’m the youngest of four. So my older sisters are 16 and 14 years older than me. And my brother is eight years older than me. And fortunately, I was born in the summertime in July. So my big sisters took care of me when my mom was in the hospital. And they didn’t really know what was wrong with her. But when I was three years old, she was diagnosed with multiple cirrhosis. And that’s how hard it is.
CHRYSANDRA :
And I’m going to pause you right there because our hearts are just wide open. And we want to hear this. We need to take a short break. But we thank everyone for tuning in to All the Dreamers radio show. We have the world-renowned Anne Matley Lowe. And Jeff Lowe, we’ll be right back. Twist and shout with Lee & Co. They are the premier oldies band delivering the rock and roll vibes you’ve been missing. Great songs, great memories. Book them at LeeAndCo.com. Hi guys, this is Chrysandra Brunson, host of To All The Dreamers. I am so happy to introduce personal training, nutritional guidance, and behavioral change coaching. Healthy, happy, and heavenly for your wellness, spirit, soul, and body. Contact Mimi Kroger at healthyhappyandheavenly.com. Continue to grow in the calling God has for you through ORU online.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
You can earn your degree without changing your busy schedule. 100% online and 100% on your time. Learn more today, oru.edu slash calling.
CHRYSANDRA :
At Ignite Brilliance Coaching, you will get 34 years of science teaching, a decade of university-level instruction, and over 10 years of instructional coaching to empower educators with the tools, mindset, and confidence to thrive. Contact Ignite Brilliance Coaching on Facebook. We are back. Thank you for listening to all the dreamers radio show. I’m your host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson, founder of The Calling. And we have the sensational Anne Mattenly Lowe. And Anne, you were just sharing before break that we we hear a lot of. suffering and throughout scripture. And all of us have valleys that we have to walk through. And in your childhood, you were sharing at three years old.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
So when I was three years old, they finally diagnosed my mom with multiple cirrhosis. And this was in the late 60s. And there really wasn’t any treatment for MS back then. So, I think it was really tough. Let’s go talk about my dad now. He was a World War II veteran. He was a tanker in the Army. He came home with three Purple Hearts and four Bronze Stars. And the real wounds were the invisible wounds. So they used to call it battle fatigue. And my mom said he fought battles in his sleep every night. And now we call it PTSD. And it was hard for him because he and my mom were entrepreneurs. And this was before I can remember. But my my big sisters tell me about it. So they own truck stops and Dairy Queens and We lived in the back of a laundromat until I was three because my dad was finally building a nice house for us to move into. So when the news came about my mom’s illness, it was very hard on him because she was his business partner. So he realized that her health was gonna decline and there really wasn’t much treatment for MS at that time. So it was just, I remember asking him when I was probably about six years old, like, why don’t you just take her to a doctor and get her better? He was like, I’m sorry if you call me sugar bear. I’m sorry, sugar bear. There’s nothing that’s going to make your mom better. And I remember just feeling so sad. But the thing that helped me and our whole family is that we’re a very prayerful, faith-based family. So I was brought up Catholic, and Catholics are indeed Christians. And, you know, it was not just about going to church, but we did a novena every Monday night, and we prayed daily vigorously, and they had prayer meetings at our house and Bible study and everything. It was but through the grace of God that I think that it gave my mom and my dad strength. And it taught me at a young age, you pray first and you give back first. And throughout my life, it was interesting when I was in the waiting room, I saw the Bible page open and it was Matthew 19. And it was talking about how it’s easier for, and I’m not going to quote it exactly right because I’m not that good at it.
CHRYSANDRA :
I don’t know if any of us are.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
It’s easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God. And, you know, we didn’t grow up with a lot of money, but I never felt poor, right? Because I was rich in so many other things. And my dad did teach me, you know, not to view money in a way that I think a lot of people have trouble managing their funds. And I never have because I always knew how to work hard, how to save money, how to invest it. He would take me to the savings and loan every Saturday morning. And we would go and whatever money I put in that I saved from my allowance and babysitting money and when I got a job as a bus girl at the intersection restaurant when I was 16, that all went into an account, a savings account, and then he would match it. And that was for my college. Wow, he would match it. Yeah, and it wasn’t that much, but it was the idea. It taught me about compounded interest, how to invest, and how to not be afraid of money. And it’s carried me throughout my life. So always about being strong and confident. I was an overachiever as a kid, even with all of the strife, because my dad did have a lot of problems from the PTSD and a lot of major depression. Not just from that, but from the situation with my mom. And he was, you know, he ended up making a tough decision when I was three. And he sold the businesses, the laundromat and their restaurant, and took a job as a janitor at a post office. Because he wanted to have federal government benefits to be able to take care of her and his family. Because it was really an act of humility and sacrifice to show how much he loved his family.
CHRYSANDRA :
Aww. I think that we can all we just all have tears of of that servant’s heart.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
He was a servant and he would have to go in and out of the VA, the Veterans Administration. And, you know, some people will freak out about this. But when you try all the medication management that you can and when somebody is really, really depressed, there’s this he had electroconvulsive therapy treatment. They call it ECT therapy. And that’s really kind of a last ditch effort. But, you know, I think it did save his life and it allowed him to come back home a few times. But it wasn’t easy growing up because this happened when I was in high school and then I would take care of my mom. And, you know, kids are, you know, they’re tough. I’m not going to say they made fun of me for it. But, you know, I was bullied quite a bit. And I certainly wasn’t like the cutest, most popular girl growing up. And really, though, that… That’s hard not to…
CHRYSANDRA :
It’s hard to believe.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Well, thanks. I wasn’t. And I think that it builds character and it teaches you, you know.
CHRYSANDRA :
But you shined through all of it. Yeah.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Yeah. But but through prayer and working hard and they just really taught me, you know what? When you work hard and put your mind to it, you can do anything. And, you know, I was. I was just an overachiever. Like I said, I won the big International Science and Engineering Fair, fourth place. You know, I won in the speech team. I won state. You know, I got a scholarship to college, and I was athletic and, you know, played volleyball and softball. And so, you know, I had a handful of really nice friends, and that’s really what you need. You don’t need a ton of people in your life. You just need a few good ones.
CHRYSANDRA :
Right. Right? And the Lord. Mm-hmm. Amen to that. And well, we were so excited to see what is all unfolding, even in this current season, what is happening and how have you, I mean, you touched on a little bit of the different giants that you’ve had to overcome and going after your calling, but can you just take us to one scenario in particular, perhaps in your business that you didn’t know, you knew that this was what God called you to, but you didn’t know how you were going to get to the next one.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Well, I’ll tell you, actually, one of the toughest career challenges I had was working for a very large pharmaceutical company. And I had been with them for 19 years. And I was there was a corporate layoff and I got laid off. And it was traumatic because I was always the golden haired child. I received the top ratings every year, like on my, you know, evaluation. So I was feeling pretty good about life. I always got bonuses and stock options. And I’m like, OK. And, you know. It’s interesting how sometimes I don’t know if God wants to teach a humility or that maybe I wouldn’t have left if they hadn’t forced me out the door. But he had a different and a bigger plan for me. And I’m grateful for it. So I had a year off because they paid me severance and all my bonuses and everything and my insurance was covered. And I sort of just took some time to decompress and I did a lot of fun things. Like I thought I’m going to take classes and do some things that are not really fun. But fun classes, you know, not like school classes, because I did a lot of school throughout my life. So I took ballet dancing classes. I took voice lessons just because I thought it’d be fun. And now here I am kind of hoarse today. I’m sorry about that. No. Let’s see, my elder sister Joni and I went skydiving in the Keys. and I redecorated and renovated an entire kitchen and made it a Tuscan theme. I ended up being a consultant. I had people that used to work with me. Dr. Joe Parks is a renowned psychiatrist, and he asked me if I could help develop a program within the Mental Health First Aid USA kit, and I did for employers. And one of my former employees with one of the companies asked me if I could help him develop a training curriculum for a different pharmaceutical company. So before you know it, I had an LLC and I was a consultant.
CHRYSANDRA :
Oh, that is incredible. And I mean, I think such a testimony. I don’t know where time goes. We’re coming up towards the end of our show. And there are a few things, though, that we need to know. We would love to be able to know summary version of you and Jeff’s love story. Then we want to be able to hear wisdom on tips and tools on what you would tell someone if they don’t know how to go after God’s calling on their life.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Jeff and I met much later in life, and I was in my late 40s, and we met on a dating app. And before then, one of the other things I did when I was laid off is I heard a life coach, and he actually, something I share with you, Chrysandra, he told me to make these lists of what I was looking for in a mate. So you put it out there to the Lord.
CHRYSANDRA :
She did tell me this. I told her to do it. And I did it.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
So he’s coming, folks. Yeah. So, obviously, being God-loving and Christian was at the top of my list. And, you know, certain things I put on my list that I had to have and things I didn’t want to have. So, long story short, I had been waiting for Prince Charming to come to me, and I saw this wonderful bio of Jeff, and I reached out to him. So, the rest is history. We actually got married in Colorado.
CHRYSANDRA :
I love that you reached out to him. I did. I’m a wink and a wave.
JEFF LOWE :
That was the best day of my life.
CHRYSANDRA :
Aww. I know. Next time when you come back, we’re going to we need to hear more of this and more of your heart. Yeah. Real quick, a piece of wisdom that you would give someone tuning in and they’re afraid to go after what God’s calling them to. What would be the biggest piece of advice to do that?
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
First of all, pray about it, okay? And I would say a couple of things. If you’re naturally good at something, then it’s probably something you should be doing, okay? Secondly, it could be monetized. Think about that. And then if it’s something that can help others, do it. And if you’re able to give back, do it. I have the Interglow Initiative where we give back 10% of our profits every month to mental health charities that are community-based. Always give back first. And don’t be afraid. Like, just say to yourself, you know, if money wasn’t an object and I could do anything I wanted to do, what would I do? And I think those three things will get you on track, especially if you get the Lord’s blessing.
CHRYSANDRA :
Oh, so good. So good. Okay. Now, Ann, we want to hear all about this incredible skincare company and line.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
So our company is called Generation Skincare because we have our youngest customers are teenagers. My oldest customer is 90 years old. And it doesn’t matter how old you are. The skin is important. And that’s why we have inner glow because your inner glow is as important to me as your outer glow. And that’s our philanthropic arm. Our products are designed to hydrate your skin, to take care of hyperpigmentation, acne, and to give your skin a healthy glow. We have so many women that send emails saying they’re able to go out in public for the first time in years without makeup and they feel good about themselves. I want people to feel good inside and outside, right? So that’s super important. So our serums are our best sellers. We’ve also got products for your eyes and a moisturizer that locks it all in. We have two cutting edge new things. One is called Exaglow. It’s got saffron exosomes in it and it’s a game changer. And we’re going to have a huge launch with that. We are the first company in North America to launch this. We have a men’s skin care line coming called Gents Skin. And we’re partnering with a men’s mental health organization called Heads Up Guys. And they are directly on our bottle of all of our skin care products for the guys. And it’s going to be a simple four-step regimen because we know guys don’t want to spend too much time. And, yeah, because I always say guys have skin, too. Really?
CHRYSANDRA :
We love that so much, Ann. And we’re going to be able to watch something very soon as well.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Yes. I’m going to be featured on an upcoming episode of Women in Power. And you can find it on a new streaming app called Inside Success. And you’ll find it anywhere on your smart TV. It’s free to download.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes, and I’ve been able to get a sneak peek, you guys. You don’t want to miss out. And we’re just marveled by you, Ann, and you, Jeff, as well. Thank you for loving and supporting Ann in such a powerful way to really impact the kingdom as a couple. Everyone, go find Ann, and where can they do that?
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
At generationsskincare.net.
CHRYSANDRA :
And Anne, you are offering a promo code for today’s listeners.
ANN MATTINGLY-LOWE :
Yeah. And it’s also going to benefit The Calling because I just love the great work that you do here at the station, Chrysandra. So enter in code THECALLING10 in caps on checkout. So go to generationskincare.net, enter in the code, and you’ll get 10% off your order. And The Calling will also get 10% as well. And I just want you to know that we are very humbled and I’m very privileged and proud to be here today. Chrysandra, thank you for helping us share my story.
CHRYSANDRA :
Thank you so much, Anne. And we we love and admire you. Challenge everyone. Please go follow and be a part of this incredible movement of skin care. Transform your face. Allow people and yourself mostly to be able to know that you want to shine brightly and be the best version of yourself to change society. change the world and be able to leave that eternal legacy that Jesus has called us to. We challenge you to ask, what would you do if you knew you could not fail? Till next time, dreamer. Keep dreaming big.
