Vert Beauty brings its all-organic approach to cosmetics and body care to Highland

As a cosmetologist and make-up artist for more than a decade, Amanda Hume says she's fielded questions from customers about what, exactly, the products she was using were made of. When she represented large cosmetic companies, a quick glance at the ingredient -- including many chemicals she could not identify -- was enough to inspire her to go out on her own one day, and find a way to bring better self-care options to her clients. And this month, Hume opened Vert Beauty at 3442 West 32nd Avenue, a "Sephora"-style boutique selling organic cosmetics and body-care products. Hume says she spent months researching the best in all-organic cosmetics, hair, face and body products, scents, beauty tools and more, and made personal connections with almost all of the lines she now sells at the shop. Many of the brands she carries aren't sold anywhere else in Colorado; some of the owners of the lines made a point of coming to Denver to train Vert's small staff in advance of the boutique's opening.

A wide variety of products can be found inside Vert's doors, from Coola's organic and mineral sunscreens to Tata Harper's full line of ecologically, sustainably-made skincare. Hume included brands already familiar to many clients looking for organic care -- like the well-known brand Dr.Hauschka, which uses a homeopathic approach to skincare and has been on the market since the late '60s -- but she also wanted to give shelf-space to newer lines like NAYA, a Colorado-based beauty brand that makes all of its products from organic, edible ingredients, including body scrubs and facial toners that are created in handmade batches.

Vert stocks non-toxic nail polishes that follow the 5-free philosophy (meaning they don't contain the dangerous chemicals of toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, formaldehyde Resin and camphor found in other lacquers), including brands like Vapour and Priti. You can also find handmade make-up brushes meant to last a lifetime with proper care. In a world of disposable, inexpensively-produced and poorly constructed products and beauty tools from big-name competitors, Vert's approach is refreshing.

More than just a boutique, Vert also offers many beauty-oriented services. Along with her own skills and experience as a make-up artist, Hume has a staff of experts on hand to do makeovers and in-store consultations that allow customers time to get to know the products. Or, for special occasions, the team does on-location make-up -- think bridal parties, engagement photos and the like.

Vert isn't just about beauty products for women, though: The store also sells several lines of skin and body care for men, as well as products made specifically -- and safely -- for babies. For a full look at all that Vert has to offer, check out the store's website. Or simply stop in: Vert's physical store is just as much about beauty and economic sustainability as the products with which Hume stocks the shelves.

Vert Beauty is located in Highland at 3442 West 32nd Avenue. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 303-623-8378 or visit Vert Beauty online via its website and Facebook page.

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