I care about the world around me and the humans in it. I strongly believe in human rights and a human's right to housing, medical care, water, and freedom. I am anti-racist, anti-fascist, and I believe immigration is sacred. I support LGBTQIAP+ folks' rights to freedom and to the right to live their lives. I believe we need to work to protect our planet and the beings living on it.
I support disability rights. I worked with brain injury survivors for a long time as a professor and with local non-profits to improve community resources and support. I wish more people knew how many of us are living with disabilities, often invisible ones. Everyone will become disabled at some point in their lives, and improving accessibility and the rights of disabled folks protects and improves lives for everyone.
I use essential oils, plants, and clays, but I also believe in science and the importance of vaccines to protecting our communities. I use plant-based ingredients because I believe in the magic of plants (and no, I don't find that opposed to "believing" in science), and I know that fragrance oils are not great for a lot folks with sensitive skin or those with allergies. I want to know exactly what's in the products I make and use. Plus, many fragrance oils use petroleum based ingredients, which I think we should all be rethinking for the health of our planet. I avoid synthetic dyes for similar reasons. Mica based dyes are another 'natural' alternative for dye, but there are a lot of issues with child labor practices and the mining of mica.
I won't exaggerate what my products will do for your skin or exaggerate the dangers of other products for fear-based marketing. You won't find a MAHA/trad-wife pipeline here.
I strive to live my values within my community and share them with my children and with others. I'm not perfect, but I've spent a long time learning, growing, and working on these things. My goal for my small business is to continue to make monthly donations to causes I care about and grow them, to support other artists and creators, and be useful to my community.
I make monthly donations to several local, national, and global organizations that support causes I care about:
Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC)
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)