Local StoriesJune 23, 2026

Community Highlights: Meet Octavia Maxwell of SD Naturals LLC

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Octavia Maxwell.

Hi Octavia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey to becoming the founder of Skin Deep Naturals was not a traditional one. Like many women entrepreneurs, my path was born out of both passion and necessity.

I started Skin Deep Naturals in 2017 with a simple vision: to create natural, effective self-care products that helped people feel confident in their own skin. What began as a small passion project quickly became something much bigger as I realized there was a need for products and wellness education that were both accessible and representative of the communities I served.

At the same time, I was navigating some of the most challenging seasons of my life. As a mother, and later a single mother, I experienced firsthand what it felt like to pour into everyone else while neglecting my own well-being. Building a business while raising children, managing personal hardships, and working through uncertainty required resilience, faith, and determination. There were many moments when giving up would have been easier, but I remained committed to the vision.

Over the years, Skin Deep Naturals has evolved from selling handcrafted products to becoming a platform for education, empowerment, and community impact. Today, we not only manufacture bath, body, skincare, and wellness products, but we also provide wellness workshops, entrepreneurship programs, and self-care experiences for youth, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations throughout the Capital Region and beyond.

One of the things I am most proud of is using my business as a vehicle for change. Through our programming, we help young people build confidence, explore entrepreneurship, and understand the importance of self-care and wellness. Through our products, we help individuals create intentional moments of care for themselves in a world that often asks them to keep pushing without pause.

Along this journey, I have had the honor of becoming a New York State MWBE-certified business owner, serving as an Adult Achiever through the YMCA Black & Latino Achievers program, completing a capstone project focused on health equity, and being recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree. While those accomplishments are meaningful, what matters most to me is knowing that my story can inspire others to keep going, even when the path is difficult.

Today, I stand as a business owner, educator, mentor, and advocate, but at my core, I am still the same woman who started with a dream, a desire to help others, and a belief that self-care has the power to transform lives. My journey is proof that your circumstances do not define your future, and that with perseverance, purpose, and community, it is possible to build something meaningful that impacts far more than yourself.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building Skin Deep Naturals required me to navigate challenges both personally and professionally. Like many entrepreneurs, I started with limited resources, wearing every hat in the business—from product development and manufacturing to marketing, sales, bookkeeping, and customer service. There were many long days and late nights spent building the business while simultaneously balancing a full-time career and raising young children.

One of the greatest challenges was learning how to grow a business while navigating major life transitions. Becoming a single mother forced me to become even more resourceful, disciplined, and intentional with my time and energy. There were seasons when I questioned whether I could continue pursuing my entrepreneurial dreams while carrying the responsibilities of motherhood, but those same challenges ultimately became some of my greatest motivation.

Like many small business owners, I also faced obstacles related to access—access to capital, access to larger markets, and access to opportunities that often seem more readily available to established businesses. There were moments of rejection, financial uncertainty, and setbacks that required me to pivot, adapt, and keep moving forward despite not always knowing what the next step would look like.

Another challenge has been educating consumers and organizations about the value of wellness and self-care, particularly within communities where self-care is often viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity. Part of my work has involved helping people understand that self-care is connected to confidence, mental wellness, and overall quality of life.

Despite these challenges, every obstacle strengthened my resolve. Each setback taught me something valuable about leadership, perseverance, and faith. Looking back, I realize that the struggles were not barriers to success—they were part of the process that shaped me into the entrepreneur, mentor, and community leader I am today.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Skin Deep Naturals is more than a bath and body company—we are a wellness, self-care, and empowerment brand dedicated to helping people feel confident, cared for, and connected to themselves through intentional self-care.

Founded in 2017, Skin Deep Naturals specializes in handcrafted skincare, bath and body products, haircare, wellness gifts, and interactive self-care experiences. Our product line includes whipped body butters, body oils, scrubs, soaps, bath products, candles, and other wellness essentials made with carefully selected ingredients designed to nourish both the body and mind.

What truly sets us apart is that we don’t just sell products—we create experiences and education around self-care. In addition to our retail and wholesale offerings, we provide hands-on workshops, wellness programming, entrepreneurship education, and self-care experiences for schools, libraries, community organizations, corporations, and special events. We believe self-care should be accessible, educational, and empowering, not just something purchased off a shelf.

We are especially known for our ability to combine wellness, creativity, and community engagement. Whether we’re teaching students how to make bath bombs, leading a self-care workshop for women, creating custom corporate gifting experiences, or helping young entrepreneurs develop confidence through hands-on learning, our goal is always the same: to help people invest in themselves.

One of the things I am most proud of is the impact our brand has had beyond product sales. Over the years, Skin Deep Naturals has grown into a platform that allows us to serve hundreds of youth and adults through wellness and entrepreneurship programming while creating products that encourage moments of rest, self-love, and intentional care. Seeing students discover their creativity, women reconnect with themselves, and customers share how our products have become part of their self-care routines is incredibly rewarding.

As a New York State MWBE-certified business, we are also proud to represent what is possible for women-owned and minority-owned businesses. Our brand was built from perseverance, purpose, and a desire to create something meaningful for our community.

If there is one thing I want readers to know, it is that Skin Deep Naturals was never just about skincare. It is about confidence. It is about wellness. It is about creating opportunities for people to care for themselves without guilt and reminding them that self-care is not a luxury—it is an essential part of living a healthy, balanced, and empowered life.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is my children and the young people in the communities I serve.

While I am proud of the awards, business accomplishments, and recognition I’ve received, none of those things compare to the importance of being an example for the next generation. Every challenge I’ve overcome and every milestone I’ve achieved has been motivated by the desire to show my children—and every child watching—that their dreams are possible, regardless of where they start.

I want my children to witness me growing, learning, taking risks, overcoming obstacles, and refusing to give up. More importantly, I want them to understand that success is not about having a perfect life; it’s about perseverance, resilience, faith, and the courage to keep moving forward even when things are difficult. They have seen me navigate setbacks, personal challenges, and uncertainty while continuing to build a business, serve my community, and create opportunities for others.

Through my work with schools, youth organizations, libraries, and community programs, I have the privilege of working with hundreds of young people each year. Many of these students may not always see entrepreneurs, business owners, or community leaders who look like them or share similar life experiences. I take that responsibility seriously. I want every child I encounter to know that their voice matters, their ideas have value, and their circumstances do not determine their future.

As a mother, mentor, and entrepreneur, I believe one of the greatest gifts I can give is hope through example. If my journey encourages my children and the youth in my community to dream bigger, believe in themselves, and never give up on their goals, then that will always be my greatest accomplishment—far greater than any award or business success.

Contact Info:

Event poster for a speaker series on wellness and leadership, featuring four women, date May 16, 2026, at Cohoes, NY.

Display of skincare products with jars and bottles, decorated with flowers and pink accents, in a bright setting.

Four skincare products arranged on a gray surface, including a jar, a bottle, and a dropper, with a plain background.

Text about skincare and facial treatments, with a small circular image of a person receiving skincare treatment, on a white background.

Woman presenting to seated group at a long table in a bright room with white walls and large windows.

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