You’ve been told to “fix” your skin. We’re here to help you listen to it.

Meet our founder

Introduction to Stephanie by Finley Theodore Lee

I’m Finley. Stephanie’s service dog — though I prefer “companion,” because what we have is mutual. I’m here for the quiet stuff: eye contact when the room’s too loud. Guarding the door when the world’s too open. Sitting close when silence needs company.

I met Stephanie right as she left a life that looked perfect and we moved from D.C. to NYC. We went through grief. Through therapy. Through everything she couldn’t yet name.

selfmade didn’t start in a lab. It started on our walks in Brooklyn, where she was learning how to care for herself again. The answers weren’t just in a serum — they were in daily rituals that turned care into connection. That’s what we build now: tools for resilience, delivered through skincare.

She feels everything — fully, deeply.

Some call that intense. I call it her superpower.

She’s tenacious. Playful. Disarming in her honesty.

She moves from purpose — from service, from believing in people (especially when they don’t believe in themselves).

She meets the world as she is — sharp, soft, and never halfway. That’s not just how she survives. It’s how she creates something true.

Built together. Felt by all of us.

These are some of the humans Stephanie invited in early — not to watch, but to help build.
Our Junior Advisory Board shapes every formula, tool, and conversation, so selfmade reflects all our emotional needs, not just trends.

  • "I found a space where my voice matters. We are helping build this."

    – Caroline Z.

  • "I wasn’t just heard — I was trusted to lead."

    – Bria C.

  • "Our thoughts and opinions have been incorporated into all projects"

    – Selena B.

  • "I joined when I wasn’t feeling my best. This space helped me rethink beauty and self-worth."

    – Hala A.

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They Don’t Wear Lab Coats, But I Trust Them

We build with experts in science, therapy, and care you can actually feel.

  • Byron Young, MD

    Dr. Byron’s the kind of person who shows up for the people most systems forget.

    He works with youth in foster care. Helps companies like Netflix and Sony tell stories that actually support emotional wellbeing.

    Around here, he makes sure what we build supports real mental health — not just what’s trending.

  • Jeshana Avent-Johnson, Psy.D

    Dr. Jeshana knows how to hold a lot — grief, truth, tension, tenderness.

    She’s a psychologist who specializes in trauma and intimacy, and hosts live therapy sessions on the radio to help normalize mental health in BIPOC communities.

    She brings that same presence here — helping us build care that feels safe enough to be real.

  • Robyn Melissa-Watkins

    Robyn knows what works — and what matters.

    She’s been a clean beauty pioneer for over 20 years, now leading global innovation at CÉCRED.

    With her on our side, every formula holds high standards, deep care, and zero compromises.

  • Cezary Skobowait, DVM, PhD, DSc

    Cezary’s not just a scientist — he’s a bridge.

    Between skin and brain. Between research and real life.

    With over 15 years in dermatology and neuroscience, he helps us understand how stress shows up on the skin — and how to respond with care that’s smart, safe, and real.

  • Natalie Lupiani

    Natalie doesn’t just talk about change — she lives it.

    She’s a research strategist and an Air Force veteran who’s spent over 15 years advocating for mental health, young people, and workplace culture.

    Around here, she helps us make sure our care reaches the people who need it most.

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