“We want to be a real solution for the types of skin that are often
STEPHANIE DIPISA (Eta Omicron-Virginia Tech) FOUNDER AND CEO, SOLARA SUNCARE
Stephanie DiPisa (Eta Omicron-Virginia Tech) can confirm that necessity is, indeed, the mother of invention. While on vacation with her young children, she faced frustration — every sunscreen she tried left them with skin reactions. Traditional chemical formulas were too harsh, and the few mineral options on the market were thick, chalky and impossible to convince kids to wear. Stephanie knew she wasn’t alone: more than 70% of Americans, like her and her children, identify as having sensitive skin. Out of that need, this mom made it her mission to create mineral SPF products that put skincare first: gentle, effective and enjoyable to use. In 2019, Stephanie launched exactly what she had been searching for years earlier: Solara Suncare. Many entrepreneurs hire branding agencies to develop their look, feel and product names, but not Stephanie. Since her kids inspired this family-owned business, she felt it was only right to have them name it. “We brainstormed words that made us think of the sun and sunshine, which is where Solara came from,” Stephanie shares. “It’s a word we created ourselves, and I think it’s just as perfect as it is personal.” Solara Suncare is truly one of a kind, and Stephanie, an empathetic and purpose-driven leader, has made it her life’s mission to keep it that way. For her, creating a mineral sunscreen wasn’t enough. “We had to take it a step further and credential and test every single step of the way,” she explains. “We want to be a real solution for the types of skin that are often forgotten, like sensitive, mature, post-procedural and more.” That dedication guides everything she and her team do, earning Solara the EWG VERIFIED™ seal and a reputation for care, safety and integrity. What began as one sporty vacation SPF has grown into two thoughtful collections of face and body sunscreens: Luxe, offering high-powered, skincare-level protection, and Go! Essentials, an accessible line with every product under $25. True to Stephanie’s innovative spirit, Solara was the first to introduce adaptogenic defense into its formulas, creating sunscreens that leave no cast, feel light on the skin and double as skincare you’ll actually want to wear every day. Since its inception, Solara has seen steady growth. Today, Stephanie and her team proudly partner with retailers including Bluemercury, Neiman Marcus, Whole Foods, Target and top spas around the world. From celebrities and their estheticians to award-winning dermatologists and everyday customers, people can’t get enough of the brand’s gentle and effective formulas.
forgotten.” —STEPHANIE DIPISA
Despite success, Stephanie fondly remembers the early days — the excitement of receiving her very first order (from an Alpha Phi sister!), packing boxes in her basement after putting her kids to bed and facing challenges that once felt insurmountable. Looking back, she credits those moments for shaping her into the thoughtful and resilient business leader she is today. “In those tough moments, I always come back to why I started Solara: to create safer options for people with sensitive skin,” she says. “On the hardest days, I keep a folder of emails from people who have been truly touched by our brand. Reading those messages fuels me because it reminds me that we’re making products that solve a real need for someone who really needs them.” Never underestimate what a mom can and will do for her children — Stephanie quite literally launched a business for hers. Before Solara, she was a full-time stay-at-home mom (the hardest job on the planet), while also balancing global marketing consulting projects on the side. That consulting experience gave her a front-row seat to the power of clear storytelling and purposeful positioning, skills she draws on daily as a business owner every day. Motherhood gave her everything else, especially mastering the gift of multitasking. “I think moms have an incredible ability to multitask, which I think is a superpower for an entrepreneur,” Stephanie says. When she isn’t perfecting the best suncare on the market or watching her kids grow into their own unique adult selves, this entrepreneur can be found carving out quiet time to recharge by reading a book, catching the latest Bravo show or enjoying a martini with her husband and closest friends. And when travel is possible, Stephanie, like a true Pisces Sun, is always game to explore somewhere new for a chance to reflect, recharge and discover her innermost self. “I have some really exciting trips in the works,” she shares. “A change of scenery is always what the doctor ordered for creativity, inspiration and reconnecting with myself.”
Learn more at solarasuncare.com.
13
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software