Our Story
One woman's 18 year battle with her skin, and the soap that changed everything
For as long as she could remember, Kirstin hid behind her skin. Acne had been her shadow, an uninvited companion that followed her for 18 years. She tried everything: new diets, new products, new routines. Nothing worked. And with every failed attempt came the same heavy question: what if this is just who I am?
Then, at 30 years old, came a discovery that changed everything. It wasn’t her body that was broken, it was the products she trusted. Harsh, synthetic ingredients had been fueling her struggle all along. When she cleared them out of her life, her skin followed. Within a month, the shadow was gone. After nearly two decades, she finally felt what freedom tasted like.
But there was a catch. Natural products were rare and far too expensive. So, when a friend casually mentioned making soap in a blender, Kirstin decided to try. One experiment turned into another, and soon, her kitchen was alive with scents of lavender, patchouli, and jasmine. Soap-making became more than a way to save money, it was a way to take back control, to create something honest, something she could trust.
And people noticed. Friends asked. Neighbours came by. Markets became weekends filled with laughter, handmade bars stacked high, and stories exchanged over tables. For four years, Kirstin poured her heart into farmers markets and craft fairs, meeting people face to face and watching her community grow, bar by bar.
"My goal has always been to create something that cares, something that makes daily life a little kinder and gentler,"
Kirstin recalls.
After that first year, it became clear she couldn’t do it alone anymore. She hired a couple of wonderful employees to help with production and opened the door to her very first wholesale accounts, local grocery stores and gift shops that believed in her vision. With every new partnership, Be Clean Naturally grew from a kitchen hobby into something bigger: a movement.
By 2014, her home could no longer contain the dream. Soap cured in every room, tucked into corners and piled on shelves. It was time to open the doors wider. That autumn, Be Clean Naturally found its first home on Cleveland Avenue in downtown Squamish, a little shop filled not just with soap, but with heart.
Today, Be Clean Naturally has grown into a community. A team of kind souls, a cozy boutique where locals come to refill and reconnect, a place where natural care isn’t a luxury but a way of life. The shelves carry more than products, they carry a promise: that what you put on your skin, and bring into your home, should be safe, simple, and full of care.
"We never want anyone to feel pressured to buy more than they truly need," Kirstin says. "Every product is here for you to choose thoughtfully and bring home only what supports your wellbeing and values."
What began with struggle has become something beautiful. And it’s still unfolding, every day with you at the heart of it.
This is our story. Thank you for being part of it.
Kirstin.
What We Make, and Why
It started with something simple: needing a better bar of soap, one that actually worked, without the chemicals, without the price tag, without having to guess what was in it. That's still what we make, right here in Squamish, for our friends and neighbours, for the people we see every week. Made to last, priced so you can actually afford to keep coming back. Sustainable for you, and for everyone after you.
The Bigger Picture
Someday regular, everyday people are going to stop falling for a pretty label and start asking what's actually inside. Greenwashing is going to stop working, because people will finally be able to tell the difference between a company that’s doing it and one that’s just saying it. We're not waiting around for that day. We're already built for it, because this is just how we've always done things.
Meet the Team
Mom (Kirstin's mom Anne)
Since 2010
Anne's been part of the crew since day one, always there at farmers markets and craft fairs. After she retired from running a home daycare, she started coming in more regularly, helping out every week. Her job is honestly hard to describe, she's like a little fairy flitting around in the background on Mondays and Wednesdays, making sure everything's clean and organized. Be Clean wouldn't be the same without her. When she's not at the shop, she's in the garden, at garden club, cooking and baking for her family, making handmade gifts, or off camping and fishing with Kirstin's dad, Chris.
Amanda
Since August 2025
Amanda reminds all of us to laugh every day. She's part of the production and retail teams. During the week you'll find her in the lab making laundry soap and hand soap, among a dozen other things, and on Saturdays she's on the floor helping customers find what they're looking for. Her greeting cards, stickers, and poetry book are also on the shelves at Be Clean.
Crystal
Since January 2025
Hands down the smartest of all of us, Crystal keeps the store running. She looks after customers like they're her own, all while handling Kirstin's endless admin needs and somehow making our social media look good too. She's also an improv performer, so if you're lucky you might catch her on stage sometime. Crystal makes the art and publishes our greeting cards and yearly calendar, both available in the shop.
Diamond
Since August 2025
Diamond is the soap Queen. She is part of the production and retail teams. During the week you can find her at our lab making the prettiest, best smelling bar soaps! She loves to sing to and dance with the soap while she's making it, which we're pretty sure means that you get better soap! And on Saturday afternoons you can find her at the store, so if you have soap questions pop in and ask! You may even find her dancing and singing! Diamond is also a yoga teacher whom you may recognize from Shala Yoga.
Ingrid
Since October 2025
Ingrid is the soap Duchess. She supports Diamond in all aspects of soap making, from cutting, shaving the edges, stamping and stepping in to help make soap when the list gets too long! In between soap tasks you'll find her at the lab making candles, lip balms, body butters and so many other things! Her dedication to the highest quality products is top-notch! When she's not at work you can find her caring deeply for her family, most likely at a BMX track somewhere!
Trena
Since May 2024
Trena keeps it all beautiful! Trena and Crystal are the dynamic duo that keep the store running smoothly and looking great! Trena builds the beautiful window displays so that you can see what's new, what's in season or something fun that we want to show off. She also does the merchandising and keeps you on your toes when you're looking for something in a different spot than when you came in last! She also makes sure all the store plants are feeling loved and hydrated! When Trena's not at work she can often be found around town foraging for lovely plants to eat or decorate with, with her beautiful daughter Emily.
Visit Us
38140 Cleveland Avenue
P.O. Box 76
Squamish, BC
V8B 0A1
Monday to Saturday
10:00am to 5:30pm
Sundays 11:00am to 3:00pm (seasonal)
