We recently connected with Stephenie Pittman and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Stephenie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

So my company is SkindulgebySteph. Skindulge means to indulge in your skin. I was literally in the bathroom when I came up with the name and it took me all of maybe five minutes. The meaning represents me wanting people to be able to love the skin that they’re in at its present stage. I say that because growing up I hated my skin. I despised it because of the way my eczema looked. There was times throughout high school where I’d get dressed in the dark just so I wouldn’t have to look at my skin as I got dressed. So my name represents a part of me that represented trauma at the time, but now represents the testimony that I’m using of myself to help others. Of course the by Steph portion represents how all products are created by me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, my name is Stephenie Pittman. I’m 24 years old. I’m a Veteran and now full time business owner of SkindulgebySteph. Daily I struggle with PTSD, insomnia, major depression disorder, asthma, and chronic pain. I’m someone that turned my trauma into a testimony.

My business was inspired first by myself. I was diagnosed with severe eczema at the age of six months and I had severe eczema from my neck down to my feet up until 2018. Growing up I stood in front of and seen many medical professionals that told me I’d never get better. These professionals compared my skin to alligator skin, gave me steroids after steroids, creams after creams. I was in the hospital weekly. Fast forward to 2018 when I learned how to heal myself, I realized that I wanted to help others who are still struggling with eczema.

It wasn’t until 2020 that I started my skincare business for eczema and sensitive skin. It all started with one product: a whipped body butter.

The type of products that I offer are whipped body butters, body oils, foaming scrubs, face and body serums, soaps, milk baths, bubble baths, bath salts, hair oil, clay masks, and more. All of my products are created with sensitive skin and eczema in mind. I also have taken into consideration people that have tree nut allergies and have created products also for them.

The problem that I fix for my customers is creating products that are beneficial for the most common symptoms of eczema which include itchiness, discomfort, dry skin, discoloration, self confidence, rashes, and the overall appearance of eczema. A lot of times when people go to dermatologists they only shove steroid topicals and oral medication in their faces which either doesn’t help or gives temporarily relief. I combat those issues with my products. Itchiness is one of the number one symptoms/effects of eczema. The ingredients of my best seller for eczema: The Turmeric Glo is ideal in combatting itchy skin. Dry skin is another common symptom and main issue when it comes to eczema. I’ve personally picked out each ingredient in my products to ensure that my products are highly moisturizing and deeply penetrate the skin. So much so to last 24+ hours. When it comes to rashes, discoloration and discomfort, my products also nip all of those symptoms in the bud again with the ingredients that I’ve hand selected. Self confidence is something that is fairly overlooked when it comes to eczema until you reach that stage when you start being self aware of your skin/body. Because self confidence is something that I also struggled with when I had severe eczema, on each product label is a set of Words of Affirmations for my customers to recite to themselves everyday. That way they’re restoring that self love back into themselves. Eczema is more so an internal disease, but it mostly reflects on the surface of the skin. The disease can cause you to want to cover your skin, be in extreme discomfort from itching and cuts, leave scarring, and more. My products are created by someone that not only understands but has also been through the same journey of people who have eczema and the symptoms associated with it.

What sets me apart from others is that I’m not just someone who randomly started creating skincare. I have a story behind my business that lies deep. I’m someone who struggled with eczema and still struggles with eczema. I have a strong passion for what I do and I believe that I was chosen to undergo eczema so that I could one day help others.

I’m most proud of the fact that I was able to take my trauma and turn it into a testimony that has helped over 100 people with their eczema that is now nonexistent or minimal.

I want people to know about me that I’m here as an eczema survivor, as someone that understands and has a devotion to helping people with eczema and sensitive skin to love the skin that they’re in; and if they trust me I promise I can help get them to where they want their skin to be. I also want people to know that this is my passion, this is a huge part of what keeps me going everyday.

What I want people to know about my brand is that it was built on love, much research, test and trial, and also extreme intent. It’s a brand for sensitive skin and eczema specifically. You don’t have to worry about fragrances, but in case you do: I have fragrance free options. I want people to know that this is your last stop in looking for that perfect “cream” to heal their skin.

Most importantly, I want people to know, especially those with eczema that: You’re no longer alone. I am here for you and I see you. I’ve been there and I understand. You don’t have to look any further. I want people to know that their skin is beautiful in whatever present way it looks right now as they’re reading this.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I can share many actually. Two weeks ago was one of the worst weeks I had mentally and physically. I was stressed and I had a really terrible eczema flare up, I hadn’t slept in about 36 hours or so and it was just a really terrible night.

I was just extremely exhausted and over it. The flare up left terrible discoloration and discomfort, so much that it hurt to move. But I had someone message me about their child’s flare up the night before and wanted advice as well as recommendations for products, I then had a magazine reach out to me for an interview, and another mother reached out to me in regards of sharing with me their child’s results of their skin is clearing up with my products.
So it was a lot going on, on top of me also preparing for a huge pop up shop I had that same week. Making over 50 body butters, 40 body oils, 40 foaming scrubs, 20 soaps, and the list goes on. I went on to have a pretty successful pop up shop and I ended up calming and healing my flare up with my products.

Basically bouncing back from what was sent to interrupt or disrupt me. I think I’ve pretty much mastered it at this point.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

So I struggle with mental health pretty badly. Last year in October I was at rock bottom. The year before I lost my dad in 2020, and the year before that I deployed to Iraq and lost an uncle, then both of my grandparents all within the same year. I was basically a walking shaken up soda bottle on the inside. I made the decision to check myself into a mental health hospital because I was suicidal and at my wits end. I felt so guilty because I still had orders that hadn’t been fulfilled, I didn’t want customers mad and upset with me. I felt bad because I was leaving those that loved and cared about me also. I was away for a week and a couple of days. It was a totally new experience to me. My phone was taken away. I was really forced to work on me and worry about nothing except me. Something I didn’t do before, but that was the pivot for me, my mental, and my business.

Right now we’re just expected to constantly grind and go, that we’ll miss something if we don’t rest or take breaks. When that’s nothing more than the truth.

That experience caused me to place boundaries, caused me to change my outlook on life, caused me to take my mental health more serious, and made me conduct my business differently.

Contact Info:

• Website: skindulgebystephllc.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkindulgebySteph
• Other: Products are located physically at Wild Flour Bake Shop at 2237 Lowes Drive, Clarksville, TN 37040