Many SERENE readers are on the verge of becoming fully conscious about their ‘green beauty’ cross-over. What was your transition like, what product was the hardest to give up and what was the final straw for you?

My transition has been gradual and it’s still in progress. The first step is learning about why green beauty is important, then choosing to stay educated and starting to make healthier choices. I help my clients take the transition one step at a time, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. There is a lot to learn about the many ingredients and their possible effects on the body-  it’s an ongoing journey!

I began changing over my personal care products such as skin care, shower gel, hair care and deodorant over 10 years ago, a little while after I went vegan. This was when I became conscious about the harms of chemicals in our food and what we use on our body. Swapping out these products was a pretty easy transition for me, although finding the right shampoo and deodorant proved to be an ongoing quest. There were definitely times when I got frustrated with the naturals and went back to commercial brands for a bit.

Although I knew that makeup contained synthetic chemicals too, I resisted the urge to learn more because I needed my makeup to work for me, both personally and professionally. During my worst  bouts of acne, the healers I was seeing recommended I swap out the makeup I was using for something more natural, but I didn’t feel that was an option for me. The natural makeup on the market at that time just didn’t have enough coverage, staying power or color options for my needs, much less for my professional kit. So, I went on using my fashion industry favorites and drinking my green juice for several more years.

When I decided to become a health coach, I realized I couldn’t coach women on beauty and wellness without addressing the myriad of toxic products we use on our skin daily… including makeup. I began researching more about makeup ingredients and was shocked to learn that the cosmetics industry is completely unregulated and does not require ingredients be tested for safety. This was my final straw- I committed to learning more and going green with my beauty routine!

In my searches, I came across Spirit Beauty Lounge, an online beauty boutique that carries luxurious, natural skincare and makeup in pretty packaging. This got me excited and hopeful that times are indeed changing in the cosmetics world. I began trying the products from the various brands and was pleasantly surprised at what I found- highly pigmented eyeshadows and lipsticks and concealer that really does the job. I was smitten and haven’t looked back since!

The hardest non-green beauty products to give up? For my personal use, I would have to say that mascara has been the hardest thing to swap out. Typically, the natural brands don’t provide enough volume and often leave smudges under the eye. Although the naturals have been making great strides in this category, I still haven’t found one that gives me the total package. For my work as a makeup artist, sometimes I have to use commercial brands when a job requires a color or type of product that is not available in green beauty. For example, I recently had to body paint an actor turquoise blue for his role as Hindu God Krishna. (I look forward to sharing the results of that with you!)

If you’re on the verge of embracing green beauty in your world, congratulations and welcome! I can assure you, it’s very much like the transition from junky, processed foods to nutritious, whole foods. Once you experience the luscious and beautiful results of natural beauty, you won’t want the synthetic stuff! If you need a little help getting over the hump, I would be thrilled to support you. Please drop me a note in the comments below or write to me at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you!