Bare Essentials Skin Bar

I discovered Bare Essential Skin bar on Social shopper a while back and when I was ready to institute a solid skin care regimen, I went returned. Amy is very sweet, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about women’s wellness.
I have found that as I enter into mature skin the necessity for extra special care and attention; I didn’t realize how important the balance of hydration is to the aging process. I knew that when I returned for my next spa treatment, that Bare Essential Skin bar was where I would go. I knew I would leave feeling refreshed and pampered, but I didn’t anticipate the level of expertise and education Amy has. She has particularly enhanced knowledge about women’s whole body health and carefully explains how it affects our skin. In essence, she educated me on how to work from the inside to radiate a youthful complexion and keep my face looking dewy and supple.
I have only had a few visits and I am truly astounded with every visit I learn something more about self-​care which I believe is a powerful tool for staying young and energetic. I feel rejuvenated and excited equipped with this new wisdom. I have added facials as part of my enhanced pro-​active skin care regimen.
I referred my daughter because Amy has a gentle way of educating about skin care and I knew that she would make an impact and I was right. My daughter loved the experience and said she felt elated afterwards. Amy provided my daughter with samples and armed her with knowledge on her skin type. My daughter now has a better understanding of skin care and more confidence in her appearance.
I also recommend laser hair removal with her advanced tech equipment. It has an exfoliating effect. This is my number one spa choice in Vancouver. Excellent customer service. Tranquil space.

This Spa carries decent products.

I booked an appointment at Bare Essentials with the intention of getting a treatment to help with my problematic skin (winter skin). After answering many questions about my skin with the employee, I felt very discouraged. I understand dermalogica is a great line, but I felt pretty low after she put down the skin care line and make up line I was currently using. She tried to sell me the dermalogica line, which I am interested in, but I felt rubbed the wrong way so I wasn’t going to buy it at that point. She told me there wasn’t much point in doing any treatments on me until I changed my skin routine. It made me feel like shit about my skin which I am already self conscious about. Since I had spent 40 mins on the bus to get there, I didn’t want to leave without having anything done, so I decided to have a 30 min facial. It felt very impersonal and the small talk felt very unnatural and insincere. I would rather be chatting about the process of the facial and which product she was putting on my face and how it would help my skin. I had to ask what the first few products were, and then I eventually gave up and just let her go. I had specifically asked about extractions, and she just mentioned that they do them there, I understand they may not be included in only a 30 minute procedure, but would have liked more insight into that. The environment and atmosphere was cold and I was unimpressed with the facial, having said that, this is a skin bar and not a spa, very different concept. I think the employee had good intentions deep down, but having worked in customer service for many years, I have high expectations, and I felt like it was rather poor.

Great customer service. Picked up a dermalogica sunscreen yesterday and realized it was about to expire when I had returned home. I came in this morning and they exchanged it for a different one without hassle. Will def come back :)

I had a great experience at Bare Essentials! It’s definitely not the most luxurious place to get a facial but it’s a lovely go-​to when you just need a pick me up and don’t want to make a day of it. Frankie was WONDERFUL, they have a great product line and my skin felt better than after a $ 250 dollar facial. I’m a busy professional and it’s the perfect place for me, I will definitely be back.

I love this place. I do! Why? Because of the concept. It’s meant to be clean, simple, and effective enough to do on your lunch break if that’s the only time you have. They carry primarily Dermalogica, and a HUGE assortment thereof. My facial and microdermabrasion was direct, simple, to the point and hugely effective. I don’t remember the last time my now-​aging skin looked so… well…less old!
But let’s clear the air, here. There is a difference between a spa and a skin bar. Bare Essentials is meant to get you in and get you out quickly and efficiently in a way that makes it timely and effective. And while I’m a sucker for a leisurely facial and massage, with Enya and essential oils and nakedness and heated beds and being manipulated into dough for 3 hours by a stranger to the point where I am sedated enough to not be able to drive home safely… I just don’t have the time or the money for the huge production that goes into it making it little more than a once a year treat, if I’m lucky.
Bare Essentials uses high quality, effective products and offers a multitude of medspa treatments (read: lasers and microdermabrasion). Treatments are face-​focused and accessible making a functional facial something you can keep up on a regular basis with no fuss. Get in, get done, get out! Far more realistic on the pocket book to maintain and freshen up that face of yours!

Far too expensive for a less than mediocre experience. I was given a gift certificate valued at $ 150. There is only one person working, she registers you, answers the phone and does the treatment. The treatment was 50 minutes, Fully clothed on a terribly uncomfortable bed in a cold room. There is no privacy. The facial is literally your face, not your neck. It is definitely not worth the cost. For $ 150 I could have had an amazing facial at the Fairmont, a dip in the pool and a eucalyptus steam afterwards and left feeling relaxed and refreshed, instead it was not relaxing and my skin looks the same as prior to going in. There is no lit magnifying mirror for extractions, no steam, no hot towels, the sink isn’t even near the treatment bed. Anyone walking in can see you having a treatment… Mind you you are fully clothed with shoes on… Very bizarre experience.
The gal Frankie doing my facial was lovely, unfortunately the spa, the set up and the décor (very ikea and the Brick– there’s a random dining room table in the salon that makes no sense) just doesn’t cut it.

I bought this voucher:
The description says: «Choose one of any of their 45-​minute signature facial treatments: vantini, screwdiver, 007, scotch on the rocks, G&T, or mai tai «When I came to the shop, the menu said the treatment lasts only 30 minutes. The facial was just very simple. She just cleaned my skin and put a mask on it. I can do it myself at home. $ 39 for a cleansing and mask is way too expensive.
At the end, she said the tax is $ 4.68. I asked her why the tax is $ 4.68. She showed me that she calculated with the voucher price $ 39 multiplied by 12% tax. I said the tax should be 5% not 12. She then changed it. She is so dishonest. She has been owning this business for over a year and she also owned another place in Surrey for years. She should know service tax is only 5%. This lady called Amy used to own a laser spa called Bliss Day Spa in Surrey. Before closing down that business, she sold a lot of vouchers and tried to avoid answering phone calls. People could not redeem the vouchers before the expiration dates. They needed to use them as credits in the store. If you cannot book an appointment with her before she closed down her business, your vouchers became garbage. She is a scammer. Do not visit this business.
If you dont believe in what I said, you can read the Bliss Day Spa’s reviews on
. You can see many of those bad reviews on the filtered page.
Please don’t believe in the five star reviews. A business opened for only one year should not have so many reviews. This owner has the habit of making fake reviews. You may also view another review page which is a spa’s reviews she used to own called Honey Laser Lounge. That business only opened for a couple years and they also have so many reviews. Does not make sense.

I love bare skin essentials! Vancouver’s première express skin bar! The facials and microdermabrasions are perfectly timed for someone who is always on the go and busy! I love that their staff are extremely knowledgeable, and have advice for any skin problem you may have (or may not even know about!!) Depending on your service, some come with neck and shoulder massages, which is a relaxing, add on, in my opinion. All the products are reasonably priced. I was extremely impressed by the Dermalogica shave kit and Dynamite Skin Recovery; Which feels amazing and is really easy to use. Amy and the rest of the staff pay close attention to what they are doing and make sure you have a great experience and a relaxing time.

A total waste of time, money and energy.
The «facial» lasted for like 10 minutes max, despite it being advertised as a «30 minute facial» on Groupon. This is false advertising. With the remainder of the time (a good 20 minutes), the girl gave her spiel on products she wanted me to buy. She was aggressive too, and their products are ridiculously overpriced. I believe their starter kit is well over $ 200, for small tubes of creams, serums, etc. Also, she seemed quite keen on pushing me to book another 5 or 6 treatment sessions at full price, and fortunately I didn’t budge. In hindsight, the girl seemed more concerned selling me products, than caring for my skin.
I also agree with what another reviewer has said, as my experience was also similar. Before the facial even started, I didn’t see her wash her hands before touching my face. She put all sorts of serums, creams or whatever on my face, giving me an «analysis» of my skin. I found her more annoying than useful. She sounded like a know-​it-​all, and the information she provided was not accurate. i seemed to have known more than she did. Also, small talk felt forced and unnatural with her, and her being an esthetician, I would have thought someone with clearer skin would serve me. It would at least add a bit more credibility to what she was telling me.
I did not like the fact that facials are not done in a private, dimly-​lit, secluded area; but rather was out in the open next to the window, where sunlight practically blinded my eyes. Given everything, the entire experience felt more like a business transaction/​sales pitch than a relaxed environment. It kind of reminded me of a time share presentation you might get when travelling: you think you’re getting a good deal when they lure you in, but you realize there is a catch to what you’re getting. And you end up wasting, time, energy and money listening to their presentations. To be fair, you are not obligated to buy their products, but be cautioned that they will hard sale and be agressive in their tactics.
A word to the wise: avoid this place at all costs if you want a proper facial and massage! i would recommend you go to a proper salon/​bar where they actually specialize in giving facial treatments and massages. but if you want to waste time, money and energy listening to agressive sales pitches, then by all means go here! I wish I had read this piece of advice before stepping foot in that place! but ultimately, the choice is yours, and who knows, maybe your experience will be more positive than mine.