PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: August 6, 2026

Essence AI LLC ("Essence," "we," "us," "our") operates Aura and the Essence Lifestyle services (the "Services"). This Privacy Policy explains what we collect, how we use it, and your choices. The Services are intended only for U.S. residents who are 18 or older.

2.1 Our core privacy commitments

• We do not store your medical records. If you type in lab values or health notes, or share a photo or video to sharpen your recommendations, that input is processed in the moment and then discarded — we do not retain it after your session generates your results.
• We do not perform facial recognition or identity recognition, and we do not create biometric identifiers. Any image you choose to share is analyzed transiently to inform product suggestions and is not used to identify you, matched against any database, or retained.
• We are not in the business of selling your personal information. We do not sell or "share" (as defined by California law) your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
• We collect the minimum needed to run the Services.

2.2 Information we collect

You provide directly:

• Account: email address; authentication data.
• Intake profile: the goals, preferences, and attributes you enter (e.g., age range, gender, skin/hair type, ethnicity/heritage if you choose to share it, dietary rules such as vegan/halal/kosher, budget, product preferences). You choose what to share.
• Optional in-session inputs: typed-in lab values, health notes, or a photo/video you upload for analysis — processed transiently and not stored (see 2.1).
• Payments: processed by Stripe. We do not collect or store your full card number; we receive limited billing metadata (e.g., subscription status, last-4, billing country) from Stripe.
• Communications: anything you send us (support requests, emails).

Collected automatically (minimal): basic device/log data (IP address, browser type, timestamps) and essential/functional cookies needed to run the site and keep you logged in. We keep third-party analytics and trackers to a minimum and do not use advertising trackers that sell your data.

Sensitive personal information. Some inputs (health notes, lab values, ethnicity, images) are "sensitive personal information" under CCPA/CPRA. We use them only to generate your recommendations, with your consent, and we do not retain the transient inputs described in 2.1.

2.3 How we use information

To create your account and provide recommendations; to process your subscription through Stripe; to respond to support; to secure and improve the Services (using de-identified/aggregated data only); and to comply with law. We do not use your sensitive inputs for advertising, and we do not sell them.

2.4 How we disclose information

• Service providers who help us operate (hosting, Stripe for payments, email, error monitoring), under contracts limiting their use to our instructions.
• AI processing: to generate suggestions, inputs may be sent to our AI/search providers to produce results; we instruct providers not to train on or retain your data where that option is available.
• Legal/safety: if required by law, subpoena, or to protect rights and safety.
• Business transfer: in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, subject to this Policy.
• Retailers/providers: when you click a "buy" or "provider" link you leave our Services and the third party's own privacy policy governs. We are not responsible for third-party sites.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not disclose the transient inputs in 2.1 to anyone.

2.5 Retention & deletion

Account data is kept while your account is active and for a limited period afterward as required for legal, tax, and dispute purposes, then deleted or de-identified. Transient inputs (2.1) are not retained. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time at support@essenceaiarchitects.com.

2.6 Your rights (incl. California CCPA/CPRA)

You may request to know/access, correct, delete, and limit use of sensitive personal information, and to opt out of sale/share (note: we do not sell/share). California residents also have non-discrimination rights and may use an authorized agent. To exercise any right, contact support@essenceaiarchitects.com; we verify requests to protect you. We honor Global Privacy Control signals where required.

2.7 Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the data (encryption in transit, access controls, reputable processors like Stripe). No system is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for unauthorized access beyond our reasonable control.

2.8 Children

The Services are not for anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from minors; if we learn we have, we delete it.

2.9 Changes & contact

We may update this Policy; material changes will be posted with a new "Last Updated" date. Continued use means acceptance. Questions or requests: Essence AI LLC, Los Angeles, CA, support@essenceaiarchitects.com.

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