Since it’s my job to be constantly trying out all of the latest products in the cosmetic and beauty industry as a way to test and share the results with the readers on my blog, it’s only natural that I keep up-to-date with the current trends in the beauty industry alongside the latest fashion trends.

Just like the average consumer, I once assumed that all beauty products were safe for my skin since they are available at my local department or drugstore. I assumed that if a product was available to purchase, it must have gone through rigorous testing and was safe to use on a daily basis. I did not question the cosmetic industry whatsoever and assumed that everything I was using was helping my skin, not making it worse or penetrating my body with toxic chemicals.

It wasn’t until I started to develop a rash on my face that I began to question the long list of ingredients on all of my beauty products. I was so happy when I discovered The Green Kiss because they helped me make the switch to the safe side with all of my cosmetics.

I started out by making a #maketheswitch appointment with Carly at The Green Kiss. I brought all of my current beauty and skincare products with me so she could help me learn about what ingredients to avoid and what chemicals in my current skincare routine could be causing my skin problems.

After evaluating my skincare routine, Carly suggested natural and clean skincare alternatives that I could use instead. All of these suggested cosmetics were applied followed by a complete makeup application suitable to wear on a daily basis. Many people may think that natural cosmetics aren’t as effective but after trying them out for myself, I’m very impressed with the overall quality and wear of the skincare and makeup offered at The Green Kiss.

For me, this whole process has been an eye-opener and has allowed me to make more informed decisions when I shop for beauty and skincare products. Switching to natural skincare isn’t something that happens overnight and can done slowly by simply replacing your old beauty products with natural ones when they run out. If you find the whole process overwhelming and find making decisions on what beauty products to use, The Green Kiss is a great way to make sure you are leaving with safe and effective products.

I have begun doing more research into the cosmetic industry by reading a few books and checking out several websites. Here is my list of helpful resources: thegreenkiss.com, EWG.org/skindeep, davidsuzuki.org. Apps: Think Dirty – thinkdirtyapp.com. Books: There’s Lead In Your Lipstick By Gillian Deacon; Not Just a Pretty Face By Stacy Malkan and No More Dirty Looks By Siobhan O-Connor.

If you are a local designer or artisan and would like to be considered for a feature in a future issue of Monday Magazine, please email me at laurajaneatellier@gmail.com