My journey that eventually led me to my awesome vegan life began about 15 years ago when I learned that most (possibly all) of the cosmetics and personal care products I used were tested on animals. And not just any animals…bunny rabbits. I had not grown up with pets but had always dreamed of having a bunny rabbit to hug him and pet him and squeeze him and name him George! Those of you that are too young to have seen Bugs Bunny in the 70s, here is what I’m talking about! So when I got my first apartment, I got a bunny and I named him George. I loved George! And years later as I was learning about this tragic thing called animal testing, I had to look my bun-buns Cadbury & Chloe in the eye after I found out what I had been supporting with my purchases. Transitioning to cruelty-free products became my life’s mission. And through that time of change I learned of the appalling treatment of farmed animals and raccoon dogs and my animal loving, plant based life began!

I love attending events like Berkeley Vegan Earth Day to discover new, vegan, cruelty-free products. At this event, I was introduced to the Clean Living Collection for the first time. Ariel handcrafts her products here in the Bay Area using ingredients that are 100% organic, non-GMO and free of synthetic fragrances. All oils are raw, unrefined and cold pressed so they offer the most benefit to our skin and bodies. Less than a year ago I started using EarthPaste and really love the product. It is made of Redmond clay, salt & essential oils. So I was definitely ready to try Ariel’s 3 clay tooth powder. I went with the Sweet Citrus with sweet orange & grapefruit essential oils based purely on how good it smelled. The powder is made up of two clays – bentonite and French green which work to remineralize my teeth. My powder also contains turmeric and activated charcoal which have done an amazing job of brightening & whitening. And the cinnamon & cloves not only taste great but help keep my mouth clean & healthy. By the second time I used the tooth powder, I was hooked! Every time I brush, my mouth and teeth feel detoxed and clean. The first time I used it, it looked like I was spitting mud into the bathroom sink but don’t worry…your teeth will look and feel so good you won’t even care!

Loving the tooth powder as much as I did, I wanted to learn more about Ariel’s products. So I reached out to her to find out more about Clean Living Collection. Like many of us, she began to realize how toxic conventional body care products are. She set about researching ingredients and realized that if she wanted it done right, she would have to do it herself. The first two products she created were tooth powder and deodorant since those were items she used every day. Folks started asking her how they could purchase her products but it was when her dentist asked to buy her tooth powder that she decided it was time to turn this passion into a business! In fact it is going so well, that in just two years, she has now committed full time to the Clean Living Collection. Ariel generously sent me several more of her vegan-friendly products to try out and here is what I experienced!

The Organic Deodorant Spray, is a new favorite in our household. While I have sensitive skin on my face and neck, my husband Steve’s sensitive spot is his armpits. So when the box came in the mail I knew he was going to be the perfect person to try this out on. Witch hazel has been used for hundreds of years because of how beneficial it is to our skin. And the colloidal silver is perfect at eliminating body odor. We both love the refreshing aroma that comes from the sandalwood, neroli & Turkish rose otto essential oils. After using it every day for over a week, Steve’s pits are healthy and rash-free! And it has kept me odor-free through my Pilates, power Yoga and BodyCombat classes! Impressive!

I have used several different facial serums off and on over the last decade or so as I began to see signs of aging. The Hemp &
Green Tea rejuvenating facial serum is definitely a keeper. Daily, I add about 5 drops of serum to my face and neck after cleansing. I let it soak in for about five minutes, apply my raspberry seed oil sunscreen, moisturize next and I’m prepped for make-up. What I’ve noticed the most about this serum is how soft my skin felt right away. Applying it once a day, my skin is already looking smoother & more youthful. I’m excited to see what the long-term improvements will be.

There are so many things to love about the Flowers & Mud Mask. It is loaded with clays that detoxify by attracting and drawing heavy metals out of my body. The high amount of silica in the Moroccan clay is already smoothing out my wrinkles and my skin. I immediately noticed a reduction in my pore size after just one use. The increased circulation was obvious right away too. It made my skin glow by wiping away the dead skin cells which helps with cell turnover. My skin tends toward dry so I use the mask just once a week and moisturize after. It is also supposed to improve dark under eye circles by increasing the blood flow. I’m looking forward to seeing some improvements after dealing with the circles for over a decade.

I admit that when I learned Ariel’s products are organic, non-GMO, raw, free of toxic fragrances and made right here in the Bay Area, I was immediately impressed. But now that I’ve had the opportunity to use them, I’m really blown away by the improvements to my skin in such a short amount of time. Besides vegan doughnuts, there isn’t much I love more than finding vegan, handcrafted, holistic skincare that is inspired by nature. Her products can be purchased at Clean Living Collection and you may run into her at vegan events throughout the Bay Area and around the country (and even in the U.K.). Knowing that what we put on our skin is as important as the food we put into our bodies makes me very happy to have found her products! So go holistic and as always…eat, drink and be vegan!