Stephanie Pfouts is the owner and founder of Sacred Skincare. She opened Sacred in 2015 after years of being a licensed Esthetician and Esthetics educator, and a life-long dream of one day opening her own business. Get to know the woman behind the skincare treatments that you love in the Q+A below!

Q: Stephanie, Tell us about your background.

A: I am originally from a small rural town in Ohio where most of my time was spent outdoors no matter the season. I loved playing in the woods that surrounded our house. As much as I loved growing up in the country, I always dreamed of moving to the city. I try to get home to see my family when I can and love the chance to be in nature. Fun fact: the pressed flowers in the treatment rooms are actually from my summer walks in Ohio–so I brought a part of that to the spa!

I’ve lived in NYC for about 15 years now, and currently reside in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I arrived in the city with my Esthetics license but that was really it… I didn’t know anyone and didn’t have a job. During that time, I became an Esthetics Educator and opened my spa Sacred Skincare–going on 8 years strong baby!

My credentials: Para-Medical Certified, Laser Certified, PCA Certified, Ayurvedic Health Advanced Training, Gua Sha Advanced Training, Acne Certified, Pre/Post Natal Massage, Therapeutic Face and Full-Body Massage Training.

Q: What led to your career in skincare?

A: My love of skincare and beauty started when I was about 8 years old. My Mother and Grandmother would have this elaborate beauty day once a week. It included hair, manicures, facial steaming, and masks… I was enthralled. As soon as I was old enough I applied to work at a makeup counter and became a makeup artist at the age of 18. Many of my clients were experiencing acne or had uneven texture, dryness, redness, and fine lines. I found myself often making skincare recommendations to help improve their skin. I knew if they made some changes in their skincare routine at home they would need less makeup.

At the time, Esthetics was a relatively new career path, but I found an Aveda school and decided to register. That’s when things started shifting for me. I really fell in love with creating a therapeutic facial experience. So many people were stressed and overworked… this was a way for them to destress while also improving their skin. It was so rewarding to help people and see them transform by the end of our session. To me it couldn’t get better, it was the perfect combination.

Q: Why did you open Sacred Skincare?

I always dreamed of owning my own business and I had a few clients who kept nudging me to take the leap. I could see there were things missing from the spas that I had worked for and things I would do differently. So, I made the scary but oh-so-rewarding decision to open my own spa that would feel personal and client-focused. I’m so lucky to have a team of like-minded and passionate people who share the same vision!

*The pressed flowers on the walls at Sacred are from Ohio!*

Q: What makes Sacred Skincare different from other med spas?

In short: we’re personal not transactional. Many other spas have an in-and-out / transactional feel. Sacred is an Esthetician-owned spa where our clients have an experience that is catered to and customized for them. My Estheticians and I form relationships with our clients… we get to know them and their skin, remember what they like and what they need, keep track of their skin’s progress, and coach them along their skincare journey.

Additionally, we believe the best approach to skincare is a holistic one – because you can’t sustainably heal your skin if your internal health is imbalanced. We’ve done a good job at marrying science-backed treatments with holistic approaches, where we are committed to understanding the full picture of what’s going on and incorporating inner well being to help heal our client’s skin from the inside out.

Q: Why is holistic skincare so crucial for healing your skin?

Treating your skin alone will not yield the results you want. Stress, diet, exercise, sleep, and mood all play a part in the appearance of your skin. Having poor internal health is proven to increase inflammation in the body, which is at the core of any skin issue. I also want to note that the idea of incorporating mind and body health into treating your skin isn’t to make your job bigger or your list of things to do longer. It’s just a shift in the way you think, everything is connected, so your choices and habits matter.

*My go-to smoothie: frozen strawberries, spinach, whey protein, almond milk, and flax seeds*

Q: In what ways do YOU tend to your mind and body in order to heal your skin?

My wellness journey has evolved over the years. I have really improved my daily habits to better support my skin and overall health. I work out about 4-5 times a week, drink a power smoothie most mornings, drink lots of water, and have a diet rich in Omega-3’s. I also find that routines work wonderfully for keeping me balanced so I try to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday.

As far as mental health goes, I am fortunate enough to have a therapist and I try to do things that bring me joy like spending at least one day a week with friends and tending to my plant babies. I also try to check in with myself throughout my day: how am I feeling? What are my thought patterns? If I’m stressed, tired, depressed, etc. I listen to my mind and body to see what they need in that moment.

Q: What’s your #1 skincare philosophy?

Consistency is key! Consistently working on your skin and your overall health will make a huge impact on how your skin looks and feels. Start with what you can easily do and gradually try adding in more components. Stick with it and make it a daily practice!

Q: What would you say to someone new to skincare and who has no idea where to begin with products and treatments?

I think it can feel very overwhelming to people. I would first recommend a very simple home care routine of 2-3 products max. Then schedule them for an in-depth consultation so we can create a plan together to achieve their goals. There’s a skincare plan and routine for everybody, and our Estheticians can help you discover it!

*Radio Frequency + OxyGeneo Skin Tightening Facial*

Q: What’s your favorite service you offer at Sacred?

Hmm… this is so hard because I have different favorites depending on what my skin needs. I would say my current favorite is the RF Skin Tightening with OxyGeneo. I’m in my early forties and I’m starting to notice some changes on my neck and the lower half of my face. I love how tight and smooth my skin looks after this treatment.

Q: What’s your home skincare routine?

I keep my routine surprisingly simple…

AM:

Cleanse with the Vivant Mandelic Cleanser (I also use this on any part of my body that has a breakout)
Exfoliate with the Beauty Shamans Shell Scrub
Tone with Vivant Skin Nourishing Toner
Depending on how my skin feels, I may layer an oil from Beauty Shamans (they have Vitamin C in them so it’s a two-in-one product)
Moisturize with the Beauty Shamans Sol Veil SPF (I looove this SPF). I also massage a lotion on to my body to smooth my skin and help stimulate blood flow

PM:

Cleanse with Vivant Green Tea Cleanser (use it on eyes to remove eye makeup as well)
Tone with the Vivant Skin Nourishing Toner
I like to rotate the Vivant Mandelic 8% Serum with Vivant Derm-A-Gel. I use one or the other every night. I Apply it to my face and neck. If my skin is feeling dry I may layer a Beauty Shamans facial oil over it
Sometimes I use the Vivant Mandelic 9% toner on areas of my body that have breakouts, pigmentation, and/or discoloration

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