Behind the Scenes: Why I Test Other Brands (and What This Week Taught Me)
As a formulator, one of the most important things I do happens quietly in the background:
I regularly test products from other brands.
It’s something I’ve done since the very beginning of Bear Paw Apothecary — not out of doubt, but out of discipline. If I’m going to create products that perform beautifully, feel good on real skin, and hold up against anything on the market, I need to understand what’s out there. What people love. What people react to. What could be better.
Why I Test Other Brands
Most of the time, these comparison tests are uneventful.
I take notes, observe the texture, the lather, the way a formula rinses or clings, how it smells after a day. It’s part curiosity, part quality control, part “How can I make my products even better?”
This week, though… my skin had something to say.
I tried a well-known shampoo and conditioner duo for its fragrance profile and feel. I used it once, didn’t think much of it, and then (in the chaos of the week) left the conditioner in far longer than intended.
That’s when the reaction hit.
When Things Went Wrong
A rash spread across my neck and ears.
The skin felt hot, itchy, irritated. Even a lymph node decided to get involved — something that can happen when the skin barrier gets aggravated.
It wasn’t dangerous, but it was absolutely uncomfortable. And it was a very loud reminder of something I already knew:
Your skin knows the difference.
What I Learned
When I looked deeper into the ingredient list, the culprit made sense — heavier synthetic fragrance components, botanical extracts that react differently on sensitive skin, and a formula that wasn’t meant to sit on the skin for extended contact.
It wasn’t a “bad” product.
It just wasn’t meant for my skin, and it reaffirmed exactly why I formulate the way I do.
Why It Matters for My Formulas
Bear Paw products are intentionally simple, intentionally gentle, intentionally balanced.
Aloe, herbs, nourishing oils, minimal ingredients — nothing extra, nothing that doesn’t serve a purpose. I build my formulas so they can sit on sensitive skin without causing chaos, and so they feel good even hours later.
Because I live with sensitive skin myself, I’m always my own first test subject.
And weeks like this remind me why.
Testing other brands keeps me grounded. It keeps me curious. It keeps me pushing Bear Paw forward. But it also reminds me that the choices I make — the ingredients I avoid, the herbs I choose, the simplicity I protect — matter more than ever.
My skin reminded me of that this week.
And honestly? I’m grateful for the reminder.
