We had the good fortune of connecting with Julia Kelley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julia, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
One thing about the skincare industry that most outsiders are likely unaware of is the fact that you don’t need a lot of skincare products to improve your skin and keep it healthy. A lot of our skin health comes from what we eat and what ingredients we put on our face. The three most important products to have to keep your skin healthy are a face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen (that’s all I use!). As long as you know what your skin type is, you should be able to narrow down the right cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen that works for you.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Pumpskin creates clean, organic facial oils to help nourish and protect the skin barrier. My business stands out from other skincare brands by using pumpkin seed oil as our hero ingredient. I started using it after my dermatologist recommended it to clean up my hormonal acne. After using it twice daily for 2 months, it worked! I was shocked and realized this was not a commonly-found skincare ingredient. I am most proud of creating a product that has truly helped people get clear skin and realize the benefits of natural ingredients. It was not easy to get where I am today – I do not come from a business background and did not know anyone firsthand who had started their own business. I reached out to friends, local businesses, and googled resources on starting a business. I overcame the challenges by dividing up big tasks into small tasks and celebrating every tiny win. I have learned that starting a business is not for the weak-minded! It has truly been a journey but one that I can confidently say has changed me for the better.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them all over! My favorite food spots to show them would be Stratford Cafe in Del Mar; Fidel’s Little Mexico in Solana Beach; Pipes Cafe and VGs in Cardiff; Birdseye in Leucadia; Wayfarer in Bird Rock; Alexander’s on 30th in North Park; Born and Raised in Little Italy. As for drinks, I would take them to Monarch in Del Mar; Grass Skirt in Pacific Beach; and Raised by Wolves in La Jolla. I would also love to take them to Powerhouse Park; The Sound; BellyUp; The Zoo; Calumet Park; Balboa Park; Ceramic Cafe; and Petco Park!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people and organizations that I would love to shout out! However, the one thing that consistently inspired me the most was the ‘How I Built This’ podcast with Guy Raz. I had always wondered how people started such successful businesses. By listening to the episodes on this podcast, it made the venture of starting a business seem much less daunting. Hearing the step-by-step process of how a lot of entrepreneurs get started gave me the confidence to do the same.

Website: https://www.thepumpskin.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepumpskin

Other: Tik Tok: @thepumpskin

Image Credits
Product images: Tinka Peterka

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.