You’re arriving home after purchasing a new new jar of lotion from the nearest chain cosmetics store. The label lists a dozen unfamiliar ingredients in tiny font, and you hope this time it will work, only to be met with disappointment, dryness, or worse, irritation. For many, skincare isn’t just about avoiding adverse reactions; it’s about finding products that meet their specific needs to hydrate, moisturize, nourish, and protect the skin.
That’s why Ella Braide created Avea Glow, a sustainable personal care brand crafting clean, cruelty-free, and ethically sourced formulas with simple, minimal ingredients. Handcrafted in small batches, each product delivers deep, lasting moisture and hydration for all skin types, melting luxuriously into the skin and leaving it soft, radiant, and delicately scented.
“I wanted something that was simple,” Ella said. “I wanted to create a better alternative for other people.”
Founding Avea Glow back in 2024 while simultaneously enrolled in graduate school, Ella dreamed of creating a natural, sustainable, and affordable alternative to standard skincare products to help with different skincare needs like eczema, extreme dryness, and irritation. From using recyclable packaging and printing materials to obtaining the resources for her products from other small businesses, Ella is passionate about fostering a brand that embraces reducing one’s carbon footprint and positively impacting one’s community.
“We wanted to make it [skincare] more accessible to people and more affordable,” Ella said. “Our goal is to make high-quality, clean, and natural skincare products affordable, and we’re doing just that when compared to our competitors.”
A local brand based in Seattle, WA, embracing community impact, Ella said she is thankful for the support she has received from her community. One way of expressing this support is that Ella often donates her business’s products to organizations like the YWCA and other local organizations committed to supporting and providing resources to women in need.
“We’re committed to community impact,” she said. In order to stay committed, however, Ella said all businesses, including hers, need access to funding in order to expand and stay afloat. Funding most of her business through multiple credit cards, Ella emphasized the importance of capital in order for small businesses to succeed.
“Starting a business is a leap of faith, you’re betting on yourself and showing up every day, and that’s the most important investment you can make, ”Ella said.
That bet may soon pay off, as Ella recently received a no-interest loan from Tabor 100’s small business loan program.
“It’s amazing!” Ella exclaimed. “It’s literally everything.”
Needing to spend money to make money, Ella has used the loan thus far to fund the creation of new products, internet marketing, new equipment, and paying off high interest credit card debt. Wanting to eventually expand and grow her team beyond herself, Ella said support from organizations like Tabor is vital in ensuring small business owners can invest in their practice, support their dreams, and give back to the community.
“I would not be able to do what we are doing in our community if we did not have access to funding like this,” she said. “It’s amazing when people can support that dream.”
Driven to have a business that supports their community and addresses real problems for real people, Ella hopes her business model inspires others to start their businesses and pursue their dreams.
“I hope that Avea Glow inspires others to create with purpose,” Ella said. “We’re just getting started, and I’m excited for the ways we’ll continue to grow, innovate, and give back to the community that’s supported us.”
