COME BE NOSY IN MY BATHROOM

Serums, oils, skincare and more skincare.

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m 25 and a 2001 girlie, or because I had a mom who never really let me get into skincare or makeup, but I honestly never understood the whole “skincare” obsession.

And I know that sounds crazy because I’m literally writing a beauty article right now.

But hear me out.

Yes, I was in high school during 2016. I was 15 years old, walking into math class in full fucking glam. Eyeliner to the gods, eyeshadow all over my eyes and purple matte lipstick with aggressively overlined lips.

I was doing the absolute most.

But clean girl skincare?

Never.

I don't remember having a 10 step routine. I wasn't thinking about my skin barrier. I definitely wasn't analysing ingredients or deciding which serum belonged before or after my moisturiser.

I was putting on makeup to look older, not skincare to look younger.

And now, at 25, I find myself looking around at this whole skincare world and wondering...

Is skincare just something that becomes a bigger deal once you hit your mid twenties?

Or has it become a universal trend?

Because sometimes I genuinely wonder how much of skincare is about taking care of yourself and how much of it is about being afraid of getting older.

And maybe that sounds dramatic.

But look at the language we constantly see.

Youthful.

Anti-aging.

Rejuvenate.

Turn back the clock.

Prevent wrinkles.

Take years off.

And I get it. I really do.

I like looking good. I like taking care of myself. I like feeling put together.

But there is something about the constant idea of improving yourself that gets me in my feelings.

The idea that there is always something else to fix.

Something else to prevent.

Something else to buy before your skin changes.

Something else that could make you look a little more like the “best version” of yourself.

And at what point does the best version of yourself just become... you?

THE SKINCARE WORLD IS INTERESTING

As I’ve started working with more beauty and skincare brands, I’ve noticed that I don’t always connect with the product itself.

Sometimes I love the packaging but don't care about the product.

Sometimes I love the product but don't connect with the branding.

And sometimes I don't connect with the brand at all.

Because for me, a brand is so much more than what comes inside the bottle.

It’s the interaction.

It’s the people behind it.

It’s how the brand makes you feel.

It’s whether you feel welcomed into it or like you have to fit a certain aesthetic before you can even understand what they're selling.

That whole idea of “matching the vibe” is something I find so interesting.

Especially when the product is literally made for anyone to buy.

And I think that’s why certain smaller brands catch my attention.

There’s usually a person behind them.

A story.

A reason they started.

Something that feels a little more personal.

Which brings me to Bareology Beauty.

SO... LET'S TALK ABOUT BAREOLOGY.

When I first came across Bareology, I’m not going to lie, I expected it to be another skincare brand that looked beautiful online and gave me the same experience I’ve had with a hundred other products.

Pretty bottle.

Pretty scent.

Pretty wording.

Same idea.

Same promise.

But what initially caught my attention was the woman behind the brand.

There was something about seeing the actual person behind the product that made me want to learn more.

And then I started looking into the brand itself.

Bareology Beauty is a small business based in Lloydminster, Alberta, and the brand focuses on natural hair and skincare products that are made in small batches and hand poured.

That already felt a little different to me.

And then I actually received the product.

THE PRODUCT

The product I tried was their Rejuvenate Face Oil.

And technically, yes, it’s an oil.

But I think that’s part of what I liked about it.

It wasn't trying to convince me that I needed some complicated 14 step routine.

The face oil is built around jojoba, argan, rosehip, castor and evening primrose oils, and then you can choose between three different scent directions: Balance, Glow and Grounded.

And this is where I think Bareology gets interesting.

The scents aren't all just variations of “clean girl.”

Balance is more floral and herbal, with lavender and frankincense.

Glow has a brighter citrus feel with bergamot and sweet orange.

And Grounded is warmer, with sandalwood, vetiver, lavender and frankincense.

Even just looking at those options made me feel like there was more personality behind the product.

It wasn't just:

“Use this to look younger.”

It felt more like:

“What kind of feeling do you want your skincare to give you?”

And I like that.

WHAT I ACTUALLY THOUGHT

I don't keep everything I'm sent just to make content about it.

And I definitely don't want this blog to become a place where every product I receive magically becomes my “new favourite.”

Because honestly?

That's not real.

Some products I receive are fine.

Some I love.

Some I try once and never touch again.

Bareology genuinely surprised me.

I loved the feeling of the brand. I loved that it felt personal. I loved that the product itself wasn't trying too hard to convince me that I needed it.

And I really liked the simplicity of the face oil.

You apply it directly to clean skin and massage it in with your fingertips. The brand says it can be used before or after your favourite moisturiser, and some people even use it in place of moisturiser.

For someone who came into the skincare world late, that is something I appreciate.

I don't need to feel like I'm studying for an exam every time I wash my face.

I want something that feels good.

I want something I actually enjoy reaching for.

And I want to feel like I'm taking care of my skin without feeling like my skin is another thing I need to constantly be fixing.

MY BAREOLOGY REVIEW

So, would I actually buy Bareology myself?

Yes.

And honestly, that's probably the biggest compliment I can give a brand I was sent.

Not because I think everyone needs this exact product.

Not because I think an oil is going to magically change your skin.

And definitely not because I think you need another skincare product just because TikTok told you that you do.

I liked Bareology because it felt like a brand with a personality.

The product felt simple.

The scent options made it feel personal.

The ingredients are straightforward.

And the whole experience felt more like a little ritual than another product screaming at me that I need to look younger.

I also really love that the brand is small batch and hand poured. There’s something about knowing there are actual people behind a product that makes me connect with it differently.

And maybe that is what I've been looking for in skincare this whole time.

Not another product that promises to make me look like someone else.

Just something that makes taking care of myself feel good.

So...

be nosy in my bathroom with me.

Because apparently the 2016 girl who walked into math class wearing purple lipstick has finally discovered skincare.

And honestly?

She's doing okay.

⁂