Barefaced turns a nurse practitioner's clinic experience into a compact routine built on exfoliating pads, vitamin C, a retinal serum and SPF. Several key strengths are disclosed, including 15% L-ascorbic acid in Liquid Gold, and the instructions for building tolerance are unusually clear. Prices are upper mid-range, shipping is US-only and some concentrations stay proprietary.
What we like
- Founded by a nurse practitioner, with clear step-by-step schedules for introducing each active
- Discloses key strengths such as 15% L-ascorbic acid and up to 2% or 5% glycolic acid in its pads
- A small, focused range that makes building a routine simple
- Pregnancy-considered options, including a Retinoid Alternative version of the Core Four kit
- Minis of the cleanser, RetinAL Skin, Overachiever and Hydrating Lotion allow lower-cost testing
Keep in mind
- Retinal and Brightening Serum concentrations are not disclosed
- Full sizes are pricey, with key serums at $128 to $155
- Ships only within the US, and free shipping starts at $99
- The tinted SPF is described as mineral-based but also contains octinoxate, a chemical filter
Barefaced is built on an idea its founder sums up as "Less but Better." Instead of a 12-step routine, the brand offers a small set of products meant to do the heavy lifting: exfoliating pads, a vitamin C serum, a retinal treatment, moisturizer and daily sunscreen. It describes itself as a clinical skincare brand rooted in education, and its product pages read more like a provider's aftercare sheet than a glossy brochure.
In our research for 2026, we looked at the official Barefaced site for current products, sizes, prices and policies. The brand speaks mainly to women in their 30s, 40s and beyond, and it shares a mix of disclosed strengths, consumer study results and detailed usage schedules. Here is how the range fits together, where it offers the best value and who should look elsewhere.
Who Barefaced Is: A Nurse Practitioner's Clinical Approach
Barefaced was founded by Jordan Harper, a board-certified nurse practitioner who also serves as CEO. After years of guiding patients through skin decisions, she set out to bring that kind of professional guidance to people at home. The brand's first product was its Toning Pads, which she developed with a chemist before launching the business with the family garage as its first warehouse.
The philosophy rests on four ideas: simplified skincare, results-driven formulas, expert-led guidance and education first. That shows up in practical ways, from an online AI skin analysis tool to product pages with week-by-week instructions for introducing actives. Barefaced's own formulas are made without parabens, fragrance, phthalates, sulfates, artificial dyes, mineral oil and formaldehyde donors.
The Barefaced Range, Step by Step
The line maps neatly onto a basic routine:
- Cleanse: Barrier Balance Cream Cleanser, with ceramides, cholesterol and niacinamide.
- Exfoliate: Toning Pads for beginners and sensitive skin, Toning Pads II for oilier, congestion-prone skin, and Polishing Pads.
- Treat: Liquid Gold vitamin C serum, Brightening Serum for dark spots, the multitasking Overachiever serum and RetinAL Skin.
- Moisturize: Hydrating Lotion, a lightweight moisturizer with ceramides, peptides and antioxidants.
- Protect: Tinted Protection SPF 50+ and Sheer Protection SPF 50+.
- Extras: Clean Slate Spritz, reusable eye patches and a facial shaving kit with Perfectionist shave oil.
Many shoppers buy through kits. The Core Four combines Toning Pads, Liquid Gold, RetinAL Skin and SPF, while the Retinoid Alternative version uses Overachiever in place of a retinoid. The online store also stocks a selection of Revision Skincare products and an Obagi cleanser alongside the Barefaced line.
See Barefaced's current range
Best Barefaced Products to Start With
Toning Pads (60-pad jar, $50)
The original Barefaced product combines glycolic acid at up to 2% with salicylic acid under 2%, plus lactic, mandelic and succinic acids and soothing aloe, chamomile and green tea. The brand suggests using them every other day for two weeks before moving to daily use.
Liquid Gold (1 fl oz, $136)
A hydrating vitamin C serum with 15% L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E and botanical extracts including Kakadu plum. Apply it in the morning before SPF, and use it within about three months of opening.
RetinAL Skin (1 fl oz, $145; 0.5 fl oz mini, $85)
A retinaldehyde night treatment cushioned with bakuchiol, bisabolol and plant oils. The brand recommends it for normal, oily and combination skin that tolerates stronger actives and gives a step-down schedule if irritation appears. It is not recommended during pregnancy.
Barrier Balance Cream Cleanser (5 fl oz, $35)
A creamy, fragrance-free cleanser with ceramides, cholesterol, niacinamide and borage oil, gentle enough for nights you use retinal or acids.
Ingredients and Actives: What to Know
Barefaced is more open than many brands about the strengths that matter most:
- Liquid Gold: 15% L-ascorbic acid, a well-studied form of vitamin C.
- Toning Pads: glycolic acid at up to 2% and salicylic acid under 2%; Toning Pads II raises glycolic acid to up to 5%.
- Tinted Protection SPF 50+: 14.5% zinc oxide with 7.5% octinoxate.
Other strengths stay private. RetinAL Skin does not state its retinaldehyde level, and the brand describes the kojic acid, alpha-arbutin and azelaic acid levels in Brightening Serum as proprietary. Overachiever blends bakuchiol, azelaic acid, acetyl hexapeptide-8, resveratrol, caffeine and plant exosomes, again without percentages, and the brand considers it pregnancy- and nursing-friendly.
Most results claims come from small consumer studies of about 30 women. In an 8-week study of Liquid Gold, for example, 94% said their skin looked more radiant. These are self-assessments, so read them as user satisfaction rather than measured outcomes. Note, too, that the tinted SPF is described as mineral-based even though it includes a chemical filter.
Barefaced Pricing, Shipping and Returns
Individual Barefaced products range from about $15 for a 1 oz Clean Slate Spritz to $155 for a full-size Overachiever. The cleanser is $35, Toning Pads cost $50 to $52, the SPFs are $47 to $50, Brightening Serum is $128 and Liquid Gold is $136. Minis keep the entry price down: the cleanser mini is $18, the Hydrating Lotion mini $42, the RetinAL Skin mini $85 and the Overachiever mini $90. Kits such as the Minimalist Kit ($205) and Core Four (about $378) cost more up front, and subscriptions are available.
Standard shipping is $9.95, or free on orders over $99, with delivery in about five to seven business days. Expedited two-to-four-day delivery costs $14.95. Barefaced ships only within the US, including APO, DPO and FPO addresses.
Full-price items that are new or gently used can be returned by mail within 30 days of purchase through the brand's returns portal. Some orders may carry a $9.95 handling fee, select items are final sale and exchanges are not offered.
Who Barefaced Suits, and Who Should Skip It
A good fit if you:
- Want a short routine with clear instructions on how to introduce acids, vitamin C and retinal.
- Are in your 30s or older and focused on texture, uneven tone and fine lines.
- Are pregnant or nursing and want retinoid-free options, with your doctor's agreement.
Consider skipping if you:
- Live outside the US.
- Want every active strength disclosed, including retinal and brightening ingredients.
- Prefer purely mineral sunscreen filters or need a very low-cost routine.
Our Verdict on Barefaced
Barefaced is a strong pick for people who want clinic-style guidance without a clinic visit. The range is compact, the strengths that matter most are largely disclosed, and the usage schedules make it easier to introduce acids and retinal without overdoing it. Toning Pads and Liquid Gold are the standouts to start with, with RetinAL Skin as the natural next step.
The drawbacks are premium serum pricing, undisclosed retinal and brightening strengths, and US-only shipping. If you are in the US and value a simple, well-explained routine, it is well worth a look in 2026.
Barefaced products at a glance
| Product | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toning Pads | Daily exfoliating pads with up to 2% glycolic acid and under 2% salicylic acid for sensitive or beginner skin. | about $50 |
| Liquid Gold | Hydrating vitamin C serum with 15% L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E and Kakadu plum (1 fl oz). | about $136 |
| RetinAL Skin | Retinaldehyde night serum with bakuchiol and bisabolol, sold in full and mini sizes. | from about $85 |
| Overachiever | Multitasking bakuchiol serum with azelaic acid, peptides and resveratrol, positioned as pregnancy-friendly. | from about $90 |
| Barrier Balance Cream Cleanser | Fragrance-free cream cleanser with ceramides, cholesterol and niacinamide (5 fl oz). | about $35 |
| Tinted Protection SPF 50+ | Universal-tint daily sunscreen with 14.5% zinc oxide and 7.5% octinoxate (2 fl oz). | about $50 |
Prices as listed on the brand's site at the time of our research and may change. Check the store for current pricing.
Barefaced FAQs
Is Barefaced legit?
Yes. Barefaced is a US skincare brand founded by board-certified nurse practitioner Jordan Harper, selling directly through its own website. Product pages list full ingredients, several active strengths and detailed usage instructions.
Which Barefaced products are pregnancy-friendly?
The brand considers Overachiever, Toning Pads and Barrier Balance Cream Cleanser pregnancy-friendly, and it offers a Retinoid Alternative version of its Core Four kit. RetinAL Skin is not recommended during pregnancy, and the brand advises checking with your healthcare provider either way.
What is the difference between Toning Pads and Toning Pads II?
Both contain salicylic acid under 2%, but Toning Pads use glycolic acid at up to 2%, while Toning Pads II go up to 5%. The brand suggests starting with the original pads and moving to Toning Pads II for oilier, more resilient or congestion-prone skin.
How should I start using RetinAL Skin?
Barefaced recommends a patch test first, then nightly use as tolerated. If irritation appears, it suggests dropping to every third night for two weeks, then every other night, before returning to nightly use, with SPF every morning.
Does Barefaced offer free shipping?
Yes, on US orders over $99. Otherwise standard shipping is $9.95 with delivery in about five to seven business days, and the brand does not currently ship internationally.
What is the Barefaced return policy?
Full-price items that are new or gently used can be returned by mail within 30 days of purchase through the returns portal. Some orders may incur a $9.95 handling fee, and select products are final sale.
Women in their 30s and beyond who want a short, results-focused routine
Disclosure: InhouseHeal may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. Our score is based on research of the brand's products, evidence, pricing and policies. How we review.
