Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Rex.
Stacey, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After struggling to find a truly safe and natural solution to soothe my daughter’s eczema, I turned to plants and was blown away by the impact they had on her skin. Not only did they work for my daughter, but I discovered how versatile botanical ingredients were for my whole family’s skin and skincare routines. I was making lavender lotion sticks for her, facial oils for myself and friends, and it was really my friends that pushed me to create my Etsy shop five years ago.
At the time, I was still working in the corporate world and just had a fun hobby and a way to share my passion for plant-based skin care with others. About six months later, our family made the decision that I would leave my corporate job to allow me to focus first on our family and secondly on Pure Stella. This change has allowed me to have a more hands-on part in our children’s lives and in their school but also allowed me to grow my business.
My business has grown through participation in local and regional pop-up events, local stockists, and online sales. In January 2018, I was able to launch my own website with the help of a local web site builder and two local photographers, and no longer be tied to the Etsy platform. This step was both scary and invigorating. It has allowed me more flexibility and is also a better experience for my customers.
I still participate in pop-up events but have decided to do fewer events this year. As a wife and mom with two quickly growing kids, it is hard to miss them and their events every weekend. Now, when I do events, I really look forward to them and actually try to bring the kids along and put them to work. This has really pushed me to focus on growing my online presence and partnering with more retail shops.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with any endeavor, there have definitely been ups and downs. One of the biggest things I struggle with really putting myself out there. I am a bit of an introvert so pop-up events and social media can be a bit overwhelming to me. I truly believe in the power of plants and what they can do for our skin which helps push me to get out there but there are days that it is a major struggle.
I also struggle with the balance of my time. My family comes first, which can make it challenging to get keep up with business demands, get enough sleep, and take care of myself. I try to give myself some grace and realize that it is ok to let my kids keep themselves busy for a bit while I do some serious work or squeeze in a yoga session.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Pure Stella Skin Care story. Tell us more about the business.
Pure Stella is the only handmade botanical skincare that offers versatile plant-based benefits for the whole family who prefer simple-ingredient alternatives to the unsafe and ineffective products that flood today’s market. Each product formulated with a blend of ingredients to offer a multitude of benefits for the skin without having to add any preservatives, fragrances or any of the other junk you will find in most products. For example, our lotion sticks contain beeswax which not only makes them a solid, but it also protects the skin, helps retain moisture and soothe itchiness. Then we had a blend of 6 kinds of botanical butters and oils to provide a variety of nutrients for your skin. The only other ingredient is the essential oils. These little sticks are great for body, hands, and face. They are used as a lotion, makeup primer, to help soothe itchy skin, eczema or other irritations, and can also be used for as a boo boo stick for minor scrapes. Most cosmetic brands will tell you, you need 14 different products but we believe skincare can be simple, safe, and effective.
Our line of products includes lip balm, facial oils, eye serums, clay mask, lotion sticks, sea salt and coffee scrubs, and body oil.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I was lucky enough to meet a man that was willing to support my crazy dreams. Without the support of my partner, Pure Stella would not be here today. I would say that luck has placed me in Charlotte where there is a great group of supportive makers and store owners. There has been some bad luck along the way, like having a whole tub, full of products and gear, stolen at an event, but with the support network I have, it is easy to move past the bad.
Pricing:
- Prices range from $3 for lip balms to $25 for larger body butters or scrubs. Let me know if you need more details.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.purestellaskincare.com
- Phone: 704.904.9429
- Email: stacey@purestellaskincare.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/purestellaskincare
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/purestellaskincarecare
Amy Witt Photography
Amy Witt Photography
Image Credit:
Product photos – Jenny Melick Imagery
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