Honest Skincare for Real Life: Why I’m Inviting You to Break the Beauty Rules
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the flood of skincare advice or stood in the beauty aisle staring at yet another ‘miracle’ product — only to end up with breakouts instead of that promised glass skin — you’re not alone.
The truth? Most of us don’t need more products. We need more honesty. More clarity. More connection with our skin.
And that’s exactly what you’ll find here: honest, science-backed skincare for real life — not perfection.
Just calm, confident skin care you can actually trust.
I’m Rebecca Isabel — skincare specialist, founder of Rebecca Isabel Skincare, and the writer behind the BareFaced Facts (BFF) blog.
But more importantly, I’m a woman who’s walked the same confusing, frustrating road you might be on now — searching for products that truly nourish, care for, and respect our skin.
Just this morning, I caught myself almost buying a toner that promised me that coveted glow — the kind that practically whispers, “miracle in a bottle”. It had all the right-sounding ingredients… until I looked closer. Hidden among the lovely actives? PMMA (a microplastic) and Aluminium Chlorohydrate — two red flags that reminded me just how easy it is to be glamoured by marketing.
It’s moments like that — when the label doesn’t quite match the promise — that remind me why I started BareFaced Facts in the first place. I wanted to create a space where we could peel back the layers of beauty marketing, decode ingredients without fear, and re-learn how to care for our skin in ways that feel honest, intentional, and deeply nourishing.
My Journey: From Frustrated Seeker to Skincare Formulator
When my children were young, I stepped away from the beauty industry. By the time I returned, everything had changed. Social media had transformed skincare into a glossy, fast-moving world of filters, viral trends, and miracle elixirs.
At first, I was intrigued. Like so many others, I was pulled in by the promise of “glass skin,” of youth in a bottle, of glowing results overnight. But the deeper I went, the more disillusioned I became.
Marketing had overtaken meaning. Products were being sold with more story than substance. Advice contradicted itself at every turn. And despite all the knowledge at our fingertips, it felt harder than ever to know what was true.
Tired of the noise — I went back to my roots.
I deepened my studies in natural skincare formulation, blending my background in beauty therapy and aromatherapy with evidence-based science. I started making my own products in my kitchen: first for myself, then for my teenage children, and eventually for friends.
And slowly… something shifted. I stopped trying to fix my skin and started listening to it.
That’s when I noticed seasonal changes, stress triggers, and subtle signs my skin had been showing me for years.
I began to move from strict routines to softer rituals.
From product overload to intentional simplicity.
From disconnection to deep care.
That shift didn’t just transform my skin — it changed everything.
It reshaped how I spoke to clients.
How I taught my children about their skin.
How I saw the beauty industry as a whole.
I realised what was missing from so much of it:
🌿 Honest education.
🌿 Compassionate guidance.
🌿 Products designed to support, not overwhelm.
And most of all? A space where skincare isn’t about flawless faces or fear-based fixes — but about real connection.
A holistic philosophy in honest skincare for real life was born.
A holistic philosophy in honest skincare for real life was born
From that love and passion came Rebecca Isabel Skincare. But I knew from the start — it couldn’t just be another brand making more promises.
I had seen too much.
Learned too much.
And I felt a quiet but unshakeable pull to share it.
Here you will find my BareFaced Facts — the educational heart of the Rebecca Isabel collective. A place for real conversations, honest questions, and skin-deep clarity in a world of surface-level solutions.
Because for me, skincare isn’t just skin-deep.
It’s a quiet act of rebellion —
Against the noise.
Against the pressure.
Against the idea that we need to be “fixed”.
It’s about returning to:
Ourselves.
Our bodies.
The planet.
With care, with curiosity, and with intention.
And the most exciting part?
Our hand-crafted, botanical-forward skincare — blending the best of nature and science — is in its final stages of refinement and will be available very soon.
Why I’m Inviting You to Break the Beauty Rules
In today’s beauty landscape, consumers are often caught between two extremes:
- Mainstream beauty brands offer a plethora of products, often emphasising rapid results and aesthetic perfection. While many of these products are effective, they sometimes contain ingredients that raise environmental and health concerns.
- Clean beauty movements advocate for natural ingredients and transparency. However, they can occasionally veer into fear-based marketing, suggesting that all synthetic ingredients are harmful, which isn’t always supported by science.
But what if there’s a middle path? A route grounded in transparency, education, and sustainability, allowing individuals to make informed choices without fear or overwhelming complexity.
I believe there’s a better way — a way forward where the beauty industry, which produces over 120 billion units of packaging every year, shifts toward sustainability, health, and well-being for both people and planet.
The Environmental Impact of Beauty Products
The beauty industry significantly affects our planet:
- Packaging Waste: Approximately 120 billion units of packaging are produced annually by the global cosmetics industry. Alarmingly, 95% of this packaging is discarded after a single use, contributing to environmental pollution.
- Microplastics: Microplastics are prevalent in many beauty products. These tiny particles often bypass water treatment systems, entering oceans and harming marine life.
- Palm Oil Usage: Around 70% of beauty products contain palm oil, an ingredient linked to deforestation and habitat destruction in tropical regions.
Health Considerations in Skincare
Beyond environmental concerns, certain ingredients in beauty products have raised health questions:
- Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives: Recently studies have found that over half of beauty products used by Black and Latina women contained formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, which are known carcinogens.
- Endocrine Disruptors: Ingredients like parabens and phthalates, commonly found in cosmetics, have been linked to hormonal disruptions and other health issues.
Embracing a Balanced Approach
Let’s face it — the beauty world is loud, messy, and full of mixed messages. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to play by its rules. The truth: It’s not about demonising synthetics or idolising “clean beauty”. It’s about balance, intention, and honesty.
Our Commitment
At Rebecca Isabel Skincare and through the BareFaced Facts blog, our mission is to:
- Educate: Provide clear, science-backed information about skincare ingredients and practices.
- Empower: Encourage individuals to make choices that align with their values, skin needs, and environmental concerns.
- Evolve: Continuously assess and improve our products and practices to ensure they are both effective and sustainable.
Together, we can navigate the complex world of skincare with clarity, compassion, and consciousness.
Why BareFacedFacts?
BareFaced Facts is my open letter to you — to share what I’ve learned, what I’m still learning, and how we can all begin to approach skincare as an act of care, not correction.
This space was born out of curiosity, compassion, and a quiet rebellion against the noise of the beauty industry. It’s where I bring together two decades of experience as a beauty therapist, aromatherapist, and skincare formulator to unpack the myths, decode the labels, and bring a little more honesty into our daily rituals.
Here, I’ll be sharing:
- Science-backed ingredient insights (without the fearmongering)
- DIY skin & hair care recipes you can make in your own kitchen!
- Simple rituals that nourish both skin and soul
- Holistic wellbeing guidance — from gut health to hormones to seasonal shifts
- Support for hormonal skin
- Conversations around sustainability, ethics, and transparency
- Brand highlights where we can share the industry wins on sustainability and ethical production
Because skincare should never be about shame or perfection.
It should be about empowerment, connection and feeling good — in your skin, your body, and your choices.
So, here’s to breaking the rules — not for rebellion’s sake, but to make space for something better: honest, thoughtful beauty that cares deeply for you and the planet. As one of my favourite yoga teachers, Adriene Mishler, says, find what feels good
Because skincare isn’t just what we put on our skin.
It’s how we show up for ourselves — with patience, presence, and love.
So welcome, friend.
Pour yourself a cup of tea.
Take a deep breath.
And let’s rethink skincare — not as a routine to perfect, but as a ritual to nourish.
With light and love
Rebecca Isabel x
I’d love to hear from you:
💬 What’s your biggest skincare question, struggle, or curiosity right now?
