Christie Brinkley, 69, Swears by This $11 Drugstore Beauty Product

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Christie Brinkley, 69, knows age is just a number — but she still thinks "people need to talk about it." The supermodel spoke to Woman's Day about her thoughts on going "gray or not gray," teaching her daughters "to love and take good care of their bodies, but not to obsess over them," and her favorite drugstore beauty product. ( "It's the cheapest thing on the shelf!")

Brinkley partnered with Pet Life Unlimited for an event at Animal Haven in NYC to pamper senior dogs and help increase their chances of adoption, as older pups account for less than 25% of all dog adoptions.

Breaking stigmas around aging is something Brinkley is passionate about when it comes to humans as well, of course. "Because I 'm getting up there," she says with a laugh. "No, seriously, I think that ageism is one of the last frontiers in America yet to be broken. And I know it's a hard sell."

"There's a prevailing attitude that comes along with each number. Women start to feel like they need to make their lives smaller because of the number — and it's the opposite," says Brinkley, who turns 70 in February. "You've got to grab it all. You've got to bucket list and you've got to live."

Brinkley points to Martha Stewart's recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover as a great example. "Look how fabulous she looks. I don't think people are going to think of 80 the same way anymore. They're going to say, 'I 'm going to take care of myself because then I can look like Martha Stewart.' I think it's inspiring, and why not inspire people to be good to themselves, to eat right, exercise, have a longer health span and be independent longer?"

A former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover star herself, she says "it would be nice to have the magazines more populated with older women — not just the occasional [cover]. I think women my age want to see more of what looks great. I think there's a lot missing in that area for women my age, and I 'm actually working on a project that I think will address some of that," she teases.

Brinkley sparked a conversation online in March, when she posted photos on Instagram showing off gray hair, with the question, 'to keep or not to keep?' in the caption. She also wrote, 'the verdict is still out!' We had to ask if anything's changed since then as far as her thoughts on going gray.

"I think when I get enough of the pale gray, then I'll be happy to do that," she says. "But right now [there] is not enough of that." The signature blonde is what "works best for me," she adds. "Some people look fabulous in gray and it would be a crime for them not to keep it. And I actually thought that day at the beach that my hair looked pretty cool, but it didn't last." Her advice? "I think instead of focusing on gray or not gray, it's best to focus on what's best for you."

When asked about lessons she feels it's important to share with her two daughters, the mom of three says, "I think I've tried to tell them to love their bodies and take good care of their bodies, but not to obsess over them. And get out and make it about how can you make the world a better place, and how can you do a better job? I don't think that too much focus on all of that is a good thing. I like to streamline it and get out the door and dive into life."

On the subject of streamlining things, Brinkley shares one of her beauty staples, which she calls "a great product."

"I love the drugstore Andrea Eye Q eye makeup remover pads — they're the cheapest thing on the shelf," she says. "It doesn't sting."

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