Today we’d like to introduce you to Brynn Albrecht.
Hi Brynn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m the creator of Lotion Drops and one of the co-owners of Buttermood Soap Studio, which I run with my husband, Taylor, and my mom, Laurel. Buttermood started in 2021, but really, its roots go back years before that. Our family has always struggled with dry skin and eczema. Living in Utah’s high, dry desert and using store bought soaps full of harsh chemicals definitely didn’t help.
When Covid first hit, we found ourselves searching for a positive outlet, something that felt creative, purposeful, and hopefully something that could make a small difference in people’s lives. That’s when my mom dove into cold-process soap making. Once she got the hang of it, she taught her five daughters (I’m the oldest), and that’s how Buttermood’s product line started taking shape.
A little while later, my mom made a body butter that was a huge hit and loved by everyone. That’s what got me thinking more creatively about skincare and sparked an idea. I’d seen lotion bars before, and while I liked the idea, I didn’t love that they weren’t very convenient or designed to be shared. So I thought, what if we made them smaller, so they were more shareable, more hygienic, and just more fun? That’s how Lotion Drops were born!
These days, my husband and I handle the daily operations and focus on developing our Lotion Drops. My mom still makes all of our soaps by hand, and we’ve added bath bombs and shower steamers to our lineup too. What started as a family fix has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of, helping others care for their skin with products that are thoughtful, healthy, and made with love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but it’s been a meaningful one. Like any small business, we’ve faced our share of challenges. In the beginning, there was a big learning curve – everything from formulating products and sourcing quality ingredients to figuring out labeling, packaging, and learning the ropes of running an online shop. We’re a family business, so we’ve had to learn how to divide responsibilities, blend our strengths and viewpoints, and still keep it fun and connected.
One of the trickiest challenges we’ve faced was figuring out how to get our Lotion Drops to melt at body temperature but stay solid at room temperature. Sounds simple, right? Not in the slightest. In the beginning, we had batches that were basically puddles by the time we opened the jar, and others that were so hard you had to warm them between your hands for a long time just to get a little product. Our studio turned into a mini science lab, and our hands and arms were constantly over-moisturized from all the test runs. It took a lot of trial and error, but we finally figured out a formula we love – and that our customers love too. Now they melt like butter when you touch them, but hold their shape beautifully in the jar at room temperature.
We also do a lot of in-person shows like Swiss Days and Pinners Conference, which are so rewarding but definitely demanding. There’s a ton of prep involved – making enough product, packaging extra inventory, designing our booth, coordinating travel – it’s a lot. It can be physically and mentally exhausting, but getting to meet our customers face-to-face and hear how our products have helped their skin makes all the effort worth it.
A favorite (and funniest) show moment of ours was when a fellow vendor, who happened to sell mints, wandered over to “check out the competition.” He spotted our Lotion Drops, thought they were some kind of fancy mint, and before we could stop him… popped one right in his mouth. The look on his face was priceless. He spit it out immediately, and we quickly explained, “They’re lotion. For your skin. Not your teeth.” Luckily, they’re nontoxic and made with natural ingredients, but still, certainly not snackable. We couldn’t stop laughing about it.
One of the biggest ongoing challenges is balancing business growth with the personal side of life. My husband and I welcomed a sweet baby girl at the end of May, and stepping into parenthood while also trying to keep a small business running has been a whole new kind of adventure.
Even through the tough parts, we’ve stayed grounded in our purpose: creating products we truly believe in and building something meaningful together as a family.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Day to day, I’m doing a little bit of everything – developing new products, packing orders, answering customer questions, managing our website, the list goes on. We’re a growing business, so we all pitch in wherever we’re needed. Our focus is handmade bath and body products, but the thing I’m most passionate about is our Lotion Drops. They’ve become our signature product, and they mean a lot to me because the idea started right at home, out of a need we had.
What really makes our work special is how personal it is. Everything we make comes from our own experiences – years of dealing with dry, sensitive skin and wanting to find gentler, more nourishing options. We put so much care into every batch we make, and I think our customers can feel that. I love when someone reaches out to say our products made a difference for their skin or that they gave them as a gift and it really meant something. Those moments remind me why we do this.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think people are starting to see just how important it is to pay attention to what goes on their skin, and that awareness will only increase over the next five to ten years. More and more people are wanting simple, honest skincare made with clean ingredients. That’s why we started Buttermood – to make products that are safe, gentle, and soothing, free from harsh chemicals and preservatives.
I also see a growing interest in products that feel both functional and joyful – things like Lotion Drops, which are easy to use, fun, and thoughtfully designed. Consumers are looking for convenience without sacrificing quality or values, so I think there will be more innovation in how self-care products are packaged, applied, and shared.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://buttermood.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buttermoodsoap
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buttermoodsoap
