Cake and Coffee: The Next Generation of Body Care
How this founder is building a brand for glowy, melanated skin
Cake & Coffee brings together brilliant thinkers, leaders, and change-makers from diverse corners of the globe who are actively shaping the future. Dive into a journey of inspiration, invaluable lessons, and transformative “aha” moments as we explore the minds of those making a lasting impact in the world. Think of each newsletter as a cozy cake & coffee break, complete with a recipe to sweeten your day. Grab a slice, pour a cup, and join the conversation!
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Breaking barriers and shattering ceilings, Brittany Bygrave is the visionary founder behind the BUTTER'D Bodycare brand creating non-toxic, eco-friendly products for melanated skin that change the way we live through beauty. Her journey started as a teenager struggling with eczema, acne, and dry skin. She tried countless moisturizers in search of relief. Frustrated by the lack of results, she was inspired to find her own solution. “I started creating all-natural products based on what I liked and needed at the time,” she says.
During the pandemic, Brittany decided to relaunch and redefine her brand. She wanted to reformulate the product to focus on more intentional ingredients and prepare for mass production. She distributed free samples to keep her customers engaged and to gather invaluable feedback which aided in the development of an improved product. She explains, “We launched with the ‘All Fluff Body Cream,’ which is unscented for those with severe eczema. It was our only product at the time. We launched the ‘Hyper Mango Body Cream’ next, by our customer’s requests for those who are experiencing dry skin, but want a product that is scented.”
Like many other entrepreneurs, Brittany’s journey hasn’t been all smooth sailing. One particularly memorable setback was a packaging redesign disaster. The initial use of paper labels proved impractical when exposed to moisture, inspiring a thoughtful reevaluation towards more durable, user-friendly alternatives. "I ordered 2,000 paper labels, and they were eco-friendly but easily damaged and ultimately, useless. We had to learn the hard way, but we were able to do a full redesign and had new and improved labels shipped out a year later," she says with a laugh, clearly relieved. This experience underscores her commitment to excellence, from effective body care products to the quality packaging, ensuring a seamless and satisfying customer experience.
Brittany isn't navigating this journey alone. With her powerhouse team managing operations and marketing, and a family that cheers her on, she navigates the entrepreneurial roller coaster with grace and grit. "My family and team are my pillars of strength. They hold me down.” A supportive mentor from an accelerator program has been her guiding light. "She has been the ultimate connector, supporter, and overall voice to my feelings when it comes to this crazy founder world. I've realized this is what every founder is supposed to have — at least one or two people that have no obligation to us, are resourceful, and want to see us win,” she says gratefully.
BUTTER'D isn’t just a brand, it’s a platform for support, encouragement, and empowerment. “I have two missions; one as a person and another for the brand. I try to connect the two as much as possible. My personal mission is to create something from love and assist other people in feeling loved. Our brand mission is not just about skincare; it’s about celebrating diverse beauty and empowering everyone to feel seen and confident in their skin,” she says.
Looking ahead, Brittany is all about paying it forward. She dreams of nurturing a community where everyone feels heard and valued. Simply responding to Instagram DMs from individuals with skin challenges has helped her build a supportive network, which she is enthusiastically expanding as her business grows.
Brittany's story reminds us that true entrepreneurial success goes beyond the products and profits. It’s about passion, purpose, and the lasting impact a dedicated founder can have in shaping our future. Keep your eyes on BUTTER'D as they continue to redefine body care and sprinkle a little more glow into the world!
Join the conversation in the comments section and let’s unlock the good together.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
This week, I’m bringing you my original blueberry and peach galette recipe. It’s not a cake, but it’s close enough. Imagine a flaky, buttery crust hugging a juicy, fruity cobbler-like filling. If summer had a flavor, it would be this galette and this galette only. If you want to splurge, pair it with ice cream and you’ll be over the moon.
A little backstory: I am the founder of a little bakery called Sweets by Alexandria. I’m a North Carolina native, and my mom hails from South Carolina — aka the unofficial peach capital (sorry, Georgia!). Peaches were a staple in our home, thanks to her. We would detour off the highway when traveling just to grab a bushel from the family-owned Abbott Farms. If you know, you know.
Now, full disclosure: I whipped up this galette in the dead of winter, so I had to use canned peaches (which, I admit, feels like a culinary sin). But trust me, if you can get your hands on some high-quality, fresh peaches, do it. It makes all the difference.
For the galette dough:
213 grams all-purpose flour
142.5 grams cold unsalted butter
4 tablespoons cold water
Cinnamon sugar (as desired)
½ teaspoon salt
For the filling:
790 grams or 3 + 1/2 cups peaches
150 grams or 1 + 1/2 cups blueberries
Cinnamon (as desired)
Instructions:
Add flour and salt to a food processor. Pulse a few times.
Add cold cubes of butter and pulse until the mixture resembles small clumps. Add in cold water, one tablespoon at a time. It‘s done once it forms a ball!
Transfer to a floured surface and form a ball. Refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight. I usually refrigerate overnight.
Depending on the temperature of the room, take it out anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour before you’re ready to roll it out and fill it.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. After rolling the dough out, cover it with cinnamon sugar (as desired). I used a very thin layer of cinnamon sugar since I prefer less sweet baked goods.
Line the peaches evenly on the galette dough.
I cooked the blueberries over medium heat in a saucepan for about 10 mins with cinnamon and a little bit of water. The result is flavorful, juicy pie-like blueberries. Add on top of the peaches.
Once the galette is filled, brush the dough with egg wash and more cinnamon sugar.
Bake for 40-45 minutes and then enjoy!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
CeraVe leans into ‘edutainment’ with new ‘soap opera’ campaign - The brands are giving us drama, yall. Buchanan Spillers told Glossy, “We’re educating consumers about how to take better care of themselves through skin care by telling them the stories and educating them in an entertaining way. This time, we chose a soap opera as the vehicle to tell the story because people love dramatic stories about intertangled relationships.”
Protecting ‘Sephora kids’: How to keep tweens safe from harmful skin care and cosmetic ingredients - Behold! The days of the Sephora Kid are upon us. Dermatologists are sounding the alarms about the potential risks to young, delicate, and developing skin. Let’s just say, I’m glad to be a millennial who grew up not feeling pressured to keep up with the constant demands and standards of the beauty industry. Can kids just be kids?
Bath & Body Works and Crocs Just Released A Gingham Shoe Collection - I can’t say I would have ever predicted a collaboration between Bath & Body Works and Jibbitz, but I’m so here for the risks brands are taking these days!
I need to try Buttr’d for my dry skin. I enjoyed learning more about the CEO and how the brand started in the industry. I don't like pie, but this peach galette looks delicious!
And I just got back from the farmer’s market, but decided to skip the peaches! Rookie mistake lol! I’ll snag some next week so I can try your recipe. I never thought about mixing blueberries and peaches before but it just makes sense now that you mention it!