About Kara

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m passionate about clean beauty and skincare; they also know that when I find a product or ingredient that works, I have to share it. After years of evangelizing, I’ve developed ClnSlate as a curated resource for black and brown women – like me – to discover beauty, skincare, and wellness products that are effective, clean, cruelty free, and fit seamlessly into our routines.

I’m on a constant hunt for brands whose products are:

• Luxurious and effective – I want a product with an elegant formulation that delivers on the results its promises.
• Good for the skin and body – I look for products that actually improve the health, appearance, feeling, and function of my skin and body. I test brands that reject the use of harsh chemicals, focus on plant-derived ingredients, are transparent about their formulations, and are clear about their standards for “clean.” 
• Kind to nature – I patron brands that do not conduct animal testing. Animals should never have to suffer so that I can feel beautiful.
• Enriching to my self care experience – I look for products that are a joy to use, and that I’m excited to incorporate into my daily routine. 
• Inclusive, and made with women of color top of mind – I have dark skin and textured hair – the brands I use deliver products that work for me, rather than create more challenges. And while not all brands I use are owned by founders of color, I’m determined to find and showcase the best brands that are. 
• Cruelty free, and free of irritants, endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens – I avoid products that are tested on animals, and that contain ingredients like phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, fragrances, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), and sulfates.

After you visit ClnSlate, I want you to leave confident about the brands you shop, educated about the ingredients you use, and inspired by the blend of honest reviews and content. I thoroughly enjoy the process of finding and trying products that are healthy and effective; I hope ClnSlate is a helpful resource for your own discovery.

Kara has worked in digital advertising and AdTech for over 15 years, but in 2022, she undertook her first real foray into wellness publishing. Kara launched ClnSlate Wellness to fulfill her passion for helping black and brown women find and fall in love with healthier skincare and beauty options.