Meet Kristen Johnson | Owner of Kiss of Silk

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristen Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I started Kiss of Silk, it was originally “Kall Me Beautiful”. I know it sounds funny, hahaha! I was 17 when I first made that name up. I started Kiss of Silk because of my own skin. I would get really bad acne, then have dark acne scars that would not go away no matter what I used. I started researching & crafting my own skincare from simple, but effective ingredients like shea butter, olive oil, & sugar …ingredients we had in the house. After crafting & using my first scrub & facial butter, I KNEW that I wanted to start a plantbased skincare business. I wanted others to feel & see their skin heal, just as I had done for myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Kiss of Silk is my art. I suppose you can consider the formulations & raw ingredients my paint brush, the process of crafting & infusing as the canvas, with the finished project as the healing properties & confidence you get from the use of Kiss of Silk products. I’ve got to where I am today by learning, researching, reflecting, revising, being humble, open to constructive criticism & improving constantly. Whatever job I had at the moment, I made sure I used majority of my paycheck to fund my business & the rest on bills. I’ve never worked for any job more than I’ve needed because if I put more time in for a job, I would have less time to keep growing my business. Along this journey, I’ve learned to make sure I care for my mental health & how to step out of my comfort zone constantly. As an introvert, it’s difficult, but I had to learn how to become comfortable outside my usual comfort zone. I want the world to know that nothing about running a business &/or following your dreams is easy, but when you enjoy what you do, you’ll put in all the extra hard work. Kiss of Silk & I, though still young, will continue to grow & educate supporters/anyone that wants to learn the importance of botanicals & skin care.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hahaha! I’m still trying to discover more of Indianapolis too! So far, I enjoy visiting Teas Me Cafe , A Tea Shop owned by Tamika Catchings. I love going when I want to sit & relax, have business meetings, or want to work while enjoying some tea. Everyone has always been friendly & loving! Tamika is super awesome! If you’re looking for some self love & meditation, I would recommend visiting Amethyst Meditation Studio. Camalla the owner is so grounded, loving, & gives you such a sense of calming comfort while she guides you in Sound Meditation. If you’re looking to get a good workout in, Omni Fitness owned by Ryan Coleman is the go to place that will have you feeling refreshed! I’m in love with sushi & would recommend Blue Sushi Sake Grill. They have a huge selection of sushi & vegan sushi options. Parlor Public House is an ambient place to also relax & study. If you enjoy going on Nature Walks, I would recommend “100 acres at Newfields”, especially during the warmer months!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout myself & the children, teens & adults that want to start a business too. I took a HUGE risk & am still risking it everyday to run & keep my business going. I attended & dropped out of Tuskegee University & a local Indiana Community College to follow my goals & dreams. I didn’t know if I would be successful, but I did know what my goals were. To those children, teens & adults that don’t know what to do, are afraid of the unknown &/or were always told they would need to live life a certain way to be happy & successful…I understand you & I am rooting for YOU!
I want to also shoutout my parents, siblings, grandparents, my Auntie & Uncle, my partner & closest childhood friend. They’ve continuously cheered me on & have believed in me every step of the way.

Website: Www.kissofsilk.com

Instagram: Www.instagram.com/kos.silk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KissofSilk?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Other: • Linktree: https://linktr.ee/KissofSilk • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kissofsilk?_t=8XxU3XduAyg&_r=1