We were lucky to catch up with Kimberly Repp recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kimberly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story that illustrates an important or relevant lesson you learned in school

There was a time in my life when I believed beauty was protection.

I was a junior in high school: a cheerleader, captain of the squad, surrounded by large groups of friends and dating the star football player. From the outside looking in, it probably appeared as though I had everything a teenage girl could want. I relished walking the hallways between classes, wrapped in laughter and school spirit, especially on game days, The loud reaching “Hellos” and inquires as to what the plans would be later, the illusion of invincibility and popularity.

But even then, I remember noticing the quiet things. The kids sitting alone, the people others ignored.
 The way some girls in my circle would look through certain classmates as if they were invisible. I never understood how anyone could make another person feel so small.

And then one day, without warning, I understood completely.

My skin began to change!

At first it was subtle, a breakout here and there, the kind everyone says is “normal.” But little by little, my reflection became something I no longer wanted to face. My acne worsened as my confidence disappeared. I started watching people’s eyes linger too long on my face while I spoke. I could feel them looking past my words and directly at my skin. Makeup became armor that never quite covered the wound beneath it. Then, the comments started, seemingly insignificant comments.
 The kind that cut like knives on the inside but seem to hold no weight to others on the outside. But I remembered every one of them. And slowly, the world I once moved through so easily began to feel unbearably heavy. The louder my insecurity became internally, the more isolated I felt externally. I eventually left cheerleading, something I loved, because I could no longer carry the criticism that came with constantly being seen.

What hurt the most wasn’t just my skin. It was realizing how quickly acceptance can disappear when you no longer fit the image people are comfortable with. For the first time in my life, I felt what it must be like to be on the outside looking in. I thought about the people who had always been overlooked, judged, or quietly tormented by those considered “popular.” My heart broke open with a kind of understanding I never could have learned any other way. My insides ached while my outside screamed for help.

Eventually, I did heal my skin. It took about a year, which now feels like a blink in the timeline of life. But rebuilding my self-worth? 
That took much longer. Because what I discovered during that season was this:

Healing the surface is not the same as healing the person beneath it.

I realized that if I could help transform my skin, I could also transform the landscape within myself. That confidence, peace, and self-worth were deeply intertwined with how safe we feel in our own bodies. That our nervous systems carry stories. That stress, shame, fear, insecurity, and silence live inside us longer than most people realize. And it was there, in the middle of that pain, that the seed of my purpose, was planted.

What once made me feel broken became the very thing that taught me compassion, purpose, and connection. And now my mission is simple: To help people reconnect to themselves.
 To calm and regulate their bodies.
 To create moments of peace in a world that often feels too loud.
 To remind others that healing is not vanity, it is remembrance. A remembering of who we were before the world convinced us we were not enough. And if through my work I can help even one person feel a little more whole, a little more peaceful, a little more at home within themselves, then every painful lesson was worth it.

Kimberly, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My journey into skincare and wellness began long before I became an esthetician. As a teenager, I struggled deeply with cystic acne and the emotional toll that came with it. At a time in life when confidence felt tied to appearance, I experienced firsthand how profoundly skin can affect self-worth, nervous system regulation, and the way we move through the world. That experience shaped not only my career, but my life’s purpose.

I graduated from UCSD in 1998 with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and immediately went into esthetic school because I knew I wanted to combine science with a more human, heart-centered approach to healing. Shortly after, I founded Outersoul Wellness, a holistic skincare practice rooted in the belief that true healing happens from the inside out. For over 25 years, I have worked as a holistic esthetician helping clients restore not only their skin, but their confidence, peace, and connection to themselves. My work focuses on customized treatments that support the skin while also calming and restoring the nervous system. I believe skincare is more than vanity; it’s ritual, restoration, and a form of self-care that reconnects people back to themselves.

In 2020, I expanded that philosophy into Outersoul Essentials, my handcrafted product line featuring small-batch soaps, candles, skincare, body care, and intentional self-care products. Every product is handmade by me using high-quality ingredients, thoughtful formulations, and a deep respect for both science and soul. My background in biochemistry allows me to formulate with intention, while my artistic side brings creativity, beauty, and sensory experience into everything I create.

What sets my work apart is the balance between efficacy and emotion. I want people to feel something when they use my products or walk into my treatment space. I want them to feel grounded, cared for, safe, and restored. Whether it’s a facial treatment, a handmade soap, or a candle lit at the end of a long day, my goal is always the same: to create meaningful experiences that nourish both skin and spirit.

As a single mother, entrepreneur, and creator, one of the things I am most proud of is building a business rooted in compassion, authenticity, creativity, and connection. Outersoul was born from my own experiences with insecurity and healing, and today it has become a space where others can feel seen, supported, and empowered in their own journeys.

At the core of everything I do is a simple mission: helping people glow from the inside out, one beautiful soul at a time.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has honestly been building genuine relationships and creating an experience that makes people feel cared for beyond the service itself. In an industry that can sometimes feel transactional, I’ve always focused on connection, trust, and consistency.

Word of mouth has been the biggest driver of my growth over the last 20+ years. People remember how you make them feel, and when clients feel genuinely cared for, they naturally share that experience with friends, family, and their community.

Another important part of my growth has been staying true to who I am rather than chasing trends. Whether through my skincare practice or Outersoul Essentials, I focus on quality, intention, education, and creating products and treatments that align with my values. I believe people connect more deeply to brands and businesses that feel personal, honest, and rooted in purpose.

Community involvement has also played a huge role. Participating in local events, collaborating with other small businesses, and building relationships within my community has allowed my business to grow organically in a way that feels meaningful and sustainable.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

I currently sell primarily through my WooCommerce website, but wholesale has become an incredibly important part of my business growth through platforms like Faire and through direct relationships with local boutiques and shops.

I think wholesale is wildly underrated and often misunderstood, especially by small makers and handmade brands. Many people view wholesale as simply selling products at a lower margin, but in reality, it can create consistency, visibility, stability, and long-term growth in ways that direct-to-consumer sales alone sometimes cannot.

For me, wholesale has helped get my products “into the wild” and into the hands of customers who may have never discovered my brand otherwise. A thoughtfully curated boutique can introduce your products to an entirely new audience while also building credibility and trust through community-based shopping experiences.

One of the biggest advantages of wholesale is repeatability and scale. While markets and online sales can fluctuate seasonally, wholesale relationships often create recurring orders and a more predictable rhythm for production and income. It also allows me to focus on what I love most, creating, while partnering with businesses that already have established customer bases.

I also believe wholesale creates collaboration rather than competition among small businesses. There is something incredibly meaningful about supporting local shops while they simultaneously support your brand. Those relationships have opened doors to events, partnerships, community connections, and opportunities I never anticipated.

Of course, there are challenges as well. Wholesale requires strong pricing structures, consistency, organization, and the ability to produce products at a larger volume while still maintaining quality and integrity. But when done intentionally, it can become one of the most sustainable and impactful parts of a handmade business.

Direct ecommerce gives me the ability to share my full story and connect personally with customers, while wholesale allows the brand to grow beyond my immediate reach. For me, the combination of both has created the healthiest balance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.outersoulessentials.com
• Instagram: @outersoulessentials
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outersoulessentials
• Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/home/L5JdXbrjyfyPq8yN47NLCw