Owner

I, Allison Ritto Almstedt, started Allison’s Artisan Goods because I wanted my house to smell amazing and my problem skin to feel better. I wanted products I knew were safe to use around my small children, with minimal impact on the environment. I also am passionately nerdy and can’t help but infuse some of that geeky flair into products that hint at my love of sci-fi, fantasy, reading, art, and food.

I founded this small and creative company in my garage and began giving money from every purchase to charities I’m passionate about from day one. Today my website runs with five charities that you can choose at checkout, where 5% of your purchase is donated at no cost to you. These are local and national causes about which I care a great deal: housing and homelessness in Orange County, California, pediatric cancer research, animal rights, and equality for all.

Along the way, I learned to make clean, non-toxic soy candles and hypoallergenic soaps and skincare. I was able to share my almost famous Rad Balm, which is a recipe birthed in my kitchen over a decade ago that I gave away to my family, friends, and yoga students. I’ve always focused on reducing or avoiding single-use plastics, sourcing local whenever possible, and offering handmade products that offer luxurious self-care at a reasonable price.

I want to be a solid small brand with local roots, but amplify the messages of sustainability, veganism and clean living that stands for who I am as a mother, wife, and vegan.

A large inspiration in that vein was my mom, Karen, who was one of the first people I know to start questioning ingredients and manufacturing for safety.

When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, our community was supportive in every way, because she was always generous with her time and passion.