That headline is totally bias in journalism, but to be fair, you are reading The Beauty Brief and not the AP. The point is: we’re thrilled to be sharing this brand with you and will also be providing some insight on our personal experience after trying out the Pure & Coco range.
We met Pure & Coco founder Rene’ Bartosh a while back as female entrepreneurs in the beauty space tend to do. These women (ourselves included) are master connectors and fosterers of relationships.
And not to keep going with the me, me, me vibes, but after relocating to Seattle, my hair and skin changed. Drastically. I suddenly had one elbow that became a total fixation for me and remained as such until we connected with Bartosh to collaborate on this and I got my hands (and elbow) on her products.
Because why just the one?
It checks out though. Geographically. The Pure & Coco founder is a Washingtonian as well and her formulas cater to different needs than I'd previously experienced as a lifelong Midwesterner. These products are rich, multi-beneficial, and a minimalist's (or maximalist with a bananas schedule) dream.
Retailing at $87.00 for the duo on the brand site, we had the opportunity to try out:
And in one fell swoop, the problem elbow was forgotten.
But these skincare goodies did not just serve that. They made the delay in spring and summer body care a distant memory of the past. I may be shockingly pale, but I am glowing.
(Moisturized. Unbothered. In my lane.)
There’s a common misconception that any effective exfoliator is going to be super drying and harsh on the skin, potentially leading to more trouble than it’s worth, especially when testing something new. But Bartosh founded Pure & Coco to cater specifically to dry and eczema-prone skin and knowing that, we put our faith in the duo.
We weren’t disappointed.
When testing things out, we opted for a straightforward use approach: all over body exfoliator during an everything shower followed by the all over moisturizer. But the exfoliator moisturized successfully on its own. The moisturizer, while absolutely not a vanity product, was deeply hydrating and nourishing icing on the body care cake.
Bartosh knows her audience (which might be a lot of us).
She describes Pure & Coco as “an effective skincare line designed to save women time, money, and effort to deliver results so she will feel confident and beautiful in her skin.”
Bartosh adds that she “exclusively [uses] natural and organic ingredients in both products, which are formulated to work together to create smooth, hydrated, and rejuvenated skin year-round; no more dreading the fall and winter months because that's when dry, eczema skin typically acts out. It’s life-changing in the best way.”
While this range is definitely minimalist when it comes to the products you’ll need in your routine to get the results the founder is talking about here, the actual range of use and function of the pair is maximalist in itself.
“What I think most brands get wrong is having spokespersons or people in the skincare industry making general, sweeping statements [regarding] skin condition[s] [and] what will work and won't, especially if they don't personally have these skin conditions. You can get incredible results using clean, natural ingredients if you're consistent, and it doesn't have to be 5,000,000 different products in your routine either,” the Pure & Coco founder explains.
The 5-in-1 Moisturizing Exfoliator can be used to solve weird elbow vibes, but also as a daily (yes, daily) exfoliator, a moisturizer, a face wash, makeup remover, and a shaving oil. It’s important to note that if you’re sensitive to essential oils, the ingredient deck may not be for you. But I’ve found that while my face is more finicky, the skin on my body is fully welcoming.
Exfoliator Key Ingredients:
Pure Cane Sugar
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Jojoba Oil
Pure & Coco’s 6-in-1 Face & Body Crème can serve as a daytime moisturizer, nighttime moisturizer, eye cream, neck cream, chest and décolletage moisturizer, and hand cream.
Face & Body Crème Key Ingredients:
Mango Butter
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Vitamin E Oil
When it comes to the development process, all of the Pure & Coco products are created in such a way that they will actually absorb into the skin instead of just sitting on it topically (then never absorb and get rinsed away) or even more frustrating, leave skin feeling overly greasy and oily.
We asked Bartosh more about her typical customer:
“She's a woman in her 40's+ who has tried ‘everything under the sun and nothing works’ (that's a direct quote I've heard over and over again, over the last 10 years) for her dry, eczema-prone skin. I used to be in that same boat, which is why I started this skincare line.”
On her own experience with problematic skin, Rene’ shared with us about her extensive and expensive rituals of the past.
“I used to wear lotion and gloves to bed for the eczema on my hands every night. It was embarrassing and frustrating and I hated when people would look at my hands. I teach women how they too can transform their skin.”
She explains how important exfoliating dry, eczema-prone skin is, but that it’s also crucial this isn’t done with just any exfoliator – and yes, Bartosh has heard endless horror stories, including the side effects of being put on steroid creams, from her audience.
While many indie brands we encounter tend to be jumping ten steps beyond their own communities, what we love about Pure & Coco is the intentional focus the brand continues to place on catering to its local market.
“I've been attending a Saturday Market in Seabrook, WA for the last 10 years and every time someone new comes along and tries the skincare samples, they walk away rubbing their hands constantly - in awe! Over 60% of my customers are repeat customers from this market or were told about Pure & Coco from someone who attended,” the founder tells us.
Community is integral to the brand’s decade-long success.
“It’s incredible [and] so encouraging, and not just to me, but to each other! They share personal examples of how they use the products, and how it's helped their skin or a loved ones,” Bartosh explains.
It’s important to note that Rene’ is not only the founder, but very much front and center serving as the face of Pure & Coco. While this is a strategy frequently implemented by founders, Bartosh shows up with a level of authenticity and genuine compassion that makes what she does feel even more special.
“It makes me and what I'm teaching others more relatable. I'll share a quick example of my story and what I went through and then they're repeating it to others, but watching the light bulb moments of hope in their faces is priceless. Hope that there is finally relief right in front of them, and they can't wait to try it. It helps because I can relate to them – that I'm not a paid spokesperson or an influencer, just a woman who has always had a passion for natural remedies for home and personal care,” the founder shares.
Prior to our collaboration on this feature, we’ve talked about a lot of challenges as entrepreneurs in beauty with Rene’ personally. She’s been on a journey with her own brand’s social media, something all of us, even as marketers, are constantly frustrated yet motivated by as well.
“If I'm not learning, tweaking, and adjusting my marketing efforts, the business won't grow and reach new people is what I've discovered,” Bartosh says.
Adding “I'm an underdog so it's easier for my brand to try new marketing techniques because Pure & Coco isn't a huge brand with huge expectations, shareholders to please, or none of that. It is crucial to hone in on who your ideal person is (we're not selling to everyone, and that's a good thing!) and focusing all your marketing on that one person. It will attract more of the people you want to work with. Don't overthink it.”
Rather than calling herself a one-woman show, she prefers the term “one-woman circus.” Pure & Coco’s founder still wears all of the hats and while her husband is her co-founder, the brand remains Rene’-centric.
It was not a surprise for us to learn that she comes from a family of entrepreneurs either. Bartosh tried a lot of things before going all in with her brand, but during each chapter, skincare stayed at the forefront of her mind.
Her co-founder is a USMC Veteran and holds a degree in environmental studies. He was the original inspiration for Rene’ to make the switch to non-toxic beauty products while the couple were in college and helped to plant the seeds for what was to come.
“My brain took that idea of natural products and ran with that concept for my skin. I made a similar version of the Moisturizing Exfoliator, tried it on myself, and couldn't believe how soft my skin was. So I tried it on my hands and after about a month of daily use, a co-worker of mine noticed my skin was looking better and she complimented me,” the founder explains.
“That positive comment sparked an idea, so I made more and brought samples to work to have my co-workers give me honest feedback. The results were that they were hooked and wanted more! I started selling it in mason jars and stepped into the pop-up world sharing samples and getting real-time feedback which was incredible,” she adds of Pure & Coco’s origins.
We hope her journey sparks some inspiration for our fellow founders and readers today.
Pure & Coco is a woman and veteran-owned small business based in Montesano, Washington. All products are made in small batches right here in the USA. You can learn more about the brand and purchase the products at pureandcoco.com.
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