About Nicole

About Nicole hmmm, where do I start, well I am lots of things, but first and foremost, I am proud and blessed to be the mum of two amazing, wonderful children, Jaya & Maxi.

I am a cruelty free, natural hair and makeup artist and volunteer as the PR director for the non-profit organization, Choose Cruelty Free.

I am an author, a public speaker, a blogger, a vegan recipe creator and a passionate, but not perfect, eco-warrior.

As a dedicated animal activist, I also volunteer as a foster carer for the RSPCA and run my own boutique dog B&B – Nix Bed & Barkfest.

I have been a vegetarian since I was 27 years old. However, these days I eat predominately a vegan diet, with the exception of the occasional organic egg, or a little bit of organic yellow cheese. Since birth, both my own children have been raised as vegetarians, eating whenever possible, organic, home-made vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Nicole Groch The Cruelty Free Hair & Makeup Artist

For the last 25 years I have freelanced as a professional hair and makeup artist, both here in Australia and internationally and I have been lucky enough to work with some truly talented and creative artists. Here is a link to my portfolio, showcasing all my cruelty-free hair & makeup work .

For over 15 years, ever since I became involved with Choose Cruelty Free, I have been committed to using only accredited by Choose Cruelty Free cosmetics and hair products in my work – see cruelty-free product list.

I can’t bare to think of animals being exploited, tested on, or abused in any way and when it comes to the cosmetic industry, animals are suffering purely for human vanity.

I believe that educating consumers about the horrors of cosmetic testing on animals, is the key to changing and abolishing these inhumane practices. History has proved that the combined voice of a community can be loud enough to make change happen!

Through Choose Cruelty Free, I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to combine my hair and makeup skills and PR work and make a small difference by creating various, cruelty-free beauty editorials and cruelty-free beauty campaigns, which also includes the infamous series of anti-fur campaigns “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” .

Why I Embraced Toxic Free Living

Just before I had my own children, I also did a bit of freelance PR and marketing for a well-known, natural, baby skin care company Aromababy.

It was at Aromababy that I received a thorough education about how many toxic chemicals end up in what is meant to be ‘safe’ baby skincare and bath products. It was alarming!

I was surprised and very concerned that our government was doing so little to regulate the use of such toxic chemicals.

Being the kind of person who always needs to know details and facts, I started investigating. I contacted various government bodies and was shocked and also completely appalled to discover that – if a product doesn’t fall under the category of being a ‘food’, or ‘medical’ product, or it doesn’t cause ‘immediate’, or ‘obvious’ harm to our health, then it is able to be sold to the unaware consumer!

A Mum With A Mission

By the time my first child arrived in 2007, my natural maternal need to protect her combined with all the information I had accumulated working for both Choose Cruelty Free and Aromababy. I therefore wanted to do everything within my power to ensure that the products I used on her and the toys and equipment I bought for her, were safe both for her and wherever possible, where also cruelty-free and safe for the environment too.

I took it upon myself to research into each and every product before I purchased it. I was completely astounded to find that there were just so many products out there on the shelves, that were marketed for babies, toddlers and children that were anything but safe, never mind being Eco-friendly!

By the time my second child was born in 2010, I had accumulated a staggering amount of information on toxic ingredients, products and other dangers such as VOC’s, (Volatile Organic Compounds) and radiation exposure. I had also accumulated an equal amount of information on finding, using and applying, safer and healthier alternatives and I wanted to share my knowledge and be able to help other new parents protect their own children too. In March 2011 LivingSafe was launched!

Since then I have expanded my research into many other areas of holistic, healthier living. I now research and write articles that cover all facets of living a healthier, safer, more natural and cruelty-free lifestyle.

Helping Other Vegans With Food Intolerances

Being severely fructose and lactose intolerant myself and wanting to be able to eat a healthier, more vegan based, wholefood diet, I spent a lot of time researching into nutrition and developing my own organic, low FODMAP, fructose free, vegan and vegetarian recipes, which I share also through LivingSafe here in my Organic Food section.

Converting To Natural Safer Cosmetics

Another positive, is since starting LivingSafe and learning as much as I now have about hazardous ingredients, and how they impact not only on our health, but also on the environment, I now choose to use on my own clients, not only accredited cruelty free cosmetics, but also the safest, purest and most natural brands that I can find.

Educating & Helping Others

I love nothing more than sharing my knowledge and teaching others how to adopt a healthier, cruelty-free and more natural lifestyle.

I often write for other sites and have been featured on;

As one of the directors of Choose Cruelty Free, I have had the privilege of being the voice for animals and speaking at both public events and on television.

It is my hope that you will find my articles informative, enlightening and inspiring and that you will be able to use them as a guide to keep yourself, your family and your pets safe and to help you make more informed, safer, healthier, greener and more humane choices.

If You Would Like To Book Nicole

Nicole is available to speak at events and functions on a broad range of topics from her blog.

Nicole gives a great presentation on “Turning Your Home into a Toxic Free Zone”, and loves to come out to schools and childcare centers to speak to parents on raising children in a more natural, safer and toxic free home.

If you are interested in booking Nicole for the following:

to research and write an article
to do a cruelty-free, natural mineral makeup/hairstyling tutorial
to speak at your school, childcare center or event

Please contact her directly at nicole@livingsafe.com.au m: 0403 571 721