Based in the Aberdeenshire town of Ellon, BareDream is the creation of Ella Forbes, a natural skincare brand born out of the aim to safely sooth the skin problems of her daughter and grandson. What started as a range of botanical soaps designed to help her loved ones has become a trusty solution for a growing customer base wanting to put their skin health first. We spoke to Ella herself to learn more about the phenomenal BareDream, which takes inspiration from the Scottish landscape and the wisdom of her Polish ancestors. Best Handcrafted Natural Skincare Brand 2026 & Botanical Skincare Innovation Excellence Award 2026 Rewind to 2021 and Ella’s daughter and grandson were struggling with their skin, unable to find a solution that provided relief or healing. “I started looking more closely at ingredients and wanted to create something gentler and more natural for my own family, without unnecessary additives,” Ella began. “What started at my kitchen table slowly became a real passion and eventually grew into BareDream. Today, I make all of my products myself from my dedicated studio.” BareDream entered the world as a botanical range of soaps comprising plant oils, butters, clays, botanicals, and essential oils, but business growth has seen Ella continue to develop the range, and more recently, she launched her traditional tallow soaps and tallow balms. “I really enjoy taking traditional ingredients like tallow and combining them with botanical oils and extracts to create something that feels more modern and refined,” she told us. Today, the BareDream range includes botanical and tallow soaps, tallow balms, facial skincare, shampoo and conditioner bars, body butters, and natural deodorants, among other everyday skin and body care. These products appeal greatly to those who are becoming increasingly conscious about what they are putting on their skin and therefore seeking natural, quality products that contain good ingredients. People approach Ella because they are seeking to move toward a more natural and thoughtful skincare routine. Many have dry or sensitive skin, including conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, and they have been waiting years to discover a skincare product that feels comfortable and actually works. “Some of the messages I receive from these customers about their experience with my products are incredibly rewarding,” Ella commented. It is highly important to Ella that her customers always feel cared for and satisfied with their experience. “Because I sell mainly directly to my customers, I get to know many of them, listen to their experiences, and understand what they are actually looking for,” she said. “As the business grows, I want the level of customer care to growth with it, rather than becoming less personal.” AIM-Sep26091 As such, BareDream is constantly evolving and Ella believes this to be why she still loves what she does so much. She never stops learning, researching ingredients, improving existing products, and developing new ones. She has no interest in following every trend for the sake of it, but she does pay close attention to what her customers are looking for and where she can create something meaningful. The introduction of her tallow range is a great example of that, taking a very traditional ingredient and developing it into something that fits naturally within a modern skincare range. Also crucial at BareDream is remaining mindful of its impact on the environment, with Ella avoiding plastic everywhere she possibly can, while continuing to look for better packaging and more environmentally friendly options. She stated: “It isn’t always possible to make everything perfect, but I believe lots of small choices over time can make a real difference.” Ultimately, Ella wants BareDream to be known for the quality of its products, the luxury feel of the brand, and the care that goes into it, while never compromising on approachability or affordability. She wants the business’ growth to be intentional, always doing right by her customers and the planet, continuously learning, and growing in a way that she is proud of. “Keeping personal involvement in the business is very important to me,” she noted. “I have made a conscious decision not to chase getting BareDream onto lots of shop shelves. I prefer selling directly to my customers, whether that is face-to-face at events or through my website. It allows me to stay close to the people who actually use my products, hear their experiences, and have much more control over how BareDream develops. I want the business to grow organically, at the right pace, without losing what made it so special to me in the first place.” To learn more about BareDream and shop the range, visit the company website. Contact: Ella Forbes Company: BareDream Website: www.baredream.co.uk
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