This week, we’ve got an exciting lineup of beauty news, product discoveries, and updates, and I’m thrilled to share all the latest with you. And yes, we’re doubling up on prizes for this week’s giveaway, so keep reading for all the details!

In this week’s Juicy Beauty News, we’re looking at how hyperpigmentation might be more than just a cosmetic concern, potentially indicating underlying medical conditions that require proper diagnosis and treatment. There’s also groundbreaking research with the creation of a human skin map, which could play a major role in preventing scarring and advancing regenerative medicine. Additionally, for eczema sufferers, non-pharmacologic treatments like natural oils and music therapy are being explored to complement traditional care. On the environmental front, scientists are warning about the overlooked presence of microplastics in leave-on skincare products, which pose risks to both health and the environment. Lastly, Gen Z and Millennial beauty consumers are driving the rise of beauty dupes, blending aspirational trends with budget-friendly alternatives.

And for my weekly shopping confession, this was a tamer week for purchases (don’t tell Cameraman, though 😉). I found a few new goodies, including some Prequel skincare items at Target that I’m really excited to try out, but overall, I was pretty restrained. Check out the full list in the “What Did I Buy This Week?” section below.

On the dog front, there’s been plenty of excitement. Cameraman and I went to see our niece’s volleyball game, leaving Lincoln and Ike to fend for themselves for a night—let’s just say Lincoln wasn’t thrilled with Ike's idea of "house rules." Meanwhile, Gabby had a lovely grooming day and is looking better than ever. You’ll find all the details in the “About the Dogs” section.

And of course, we have our Winners of the Week! Congratulations to Gina S. and MaryAnn M. for winning this week’s double giveaway! Since Nicole from last week couldn’t accept her prize, we decided to spread the love and offer two prizes again. The first to respond gets their pick, so make sure to check your email, and don’t delay!

And lastly, I couldn’t end without a fun personal note—I got tickets to see Jelly Roll in Nashville, and I couldn’t be more excited! I’ve never seen him live, and I’ve never been to Nashville either, so it’s going to be an awesome experience. I’ll keep you updated on how it goes!

Thanks for being a part of our No BS Beauty community, and I hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter!

This Made Me Laugh

I have to find a way to get Cameraman on this!!!

Juicy Beauty News

• Hyperpigmentation: Is It Medical or Cosmetic?
  Hyperpigmentation frequently indicates undiagnosed medical conditions, necessitating accurate diagnosis and treatment beyond cosmetic concerns.

• Human skin map gives 'recipe' to build skin and could help prevent scarring
  Prenatal human skin atlas and organoid will accelerate research into congenital diseases and lead to clinical applications for regenerative medicine.

• Creative Approaches to Eczema Care
  Non-pharmacologic approaches, such as natural oils and music therapy, complement traditional eczema treatments, enhancing patient well-being.

• The Beauty Dupe Generation: Gen Z's and Millennial's Aspirational Beauty Opportunity: New Report & Video
  Gen Z and millennial shoppers have aspirational beauty tastes, according to a new co-created report from Base Beauty Creative Agency and Mintel, whether or not these consumers are actually rich.

• Scientists Expose Unseen Dangers of Popular “Leave-On” Skincare Products
  Microplastics in leave-on cosmetics, such as sunscreens and lip balms, are being overlooked by researchers and regulators. While most regulations focus on rinse-off products, leave-on products could contribute significantly to environmental pollution and health risks.

• Ice-Cream Tubs of Tampons and Sunscreen From a Whipped-Cream Can: Welcome to ‘Chaos Packaging’
  Lesser-known brands try to grab shoppers’ attention with unexpected trappings

• U of A law professor counters sunscreen misinformation
  Among other claims, some wellness influencers are claiming that sunscreen, not the sun's UV rays, cause skin cancer, Timothy Caulfield says.

• Vera Wang, 75, talks ‘very balanced’ health routine: ‘Minimal’ skincare, Dunkin’ Donuts and lots of sleep
  Vera Wang revealed her down-to-earth beauty tips.

👀 What did I buy this week?👀

Don’t tell Cameraman!

BYOMA Sensitive Body Lotion - At Target

Prequel Gleanser Facial Cleanser - At Target

Prequel Lucent Vitamin C Serum - At Target

Prequel Skin Utility Ointment Facial Treatment - At Target

About the Dogs

This week, the dogs had a bit of an adventure of their own! Cameraman and I had to head out to watch our niece's volleyball game, which meant Lincoln and Ike were left to hold down the fort for a night. While you might expect them to enjoy a little freedom, Lincoln was less than thrilled. He was completely stressed out by Ike's bold decision to break a few house rules. Poor Lincoln—ever the rule follower—was beside himself, convinced that Ike was causing all sorts of chaos while we were gone.

Meanwhile, Gabby had her own calm little day at the groomer. She was an absolute angel and took her grooming session in stride, coming out looking fresh and fabulous. She’s definitely back to her usual self after her UTI recovery and seems quite pleased with all the attention. While the boys had their mini-adventure at home, Gabby got her own kind of pampering!

Winner of the Week -
Prequel Gleanser Gel Facial Cleanser!

I picked the Prequel Facial Cleanser last weekend when I saw the brand was finally available at my local Target store, and I’m very glad I did!  This cleanser is super gentle but does a great job removing most makeup and even non-waterproof sunscreens from my face.  The bonus with this gentle cleanser is that I can use it in my morning routine without any dryness.  I’ve grown accustomed to typically only rinsing my face with water in the morning to avoid flaking and dryness.  When using this cleanser this isn’t an issue at all.  

The Gleanser can also be used on the body which makes it a winner all the way around (and the bottle is large sized (13.5 Ounces, 400ML) so this isn’t extremely expensive to use for both body and face.  This fragrance free cleanser contains very gentle ingredients as well as some soothing ingredients such as aloe and oat kernel.  If you have sensitive skin or are just looking for a nice cleanser to try the Prequel Gleanser is definitely worth considering!  I still love my Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Joker, but it is nice to have options!  

Prequel Gleanser - At Target

Loser of the Week - Greenwashing

Fast forward to 2024 - these days so many brands have been created to appeal to the “natural” or “clean beauty” crowd  and many people have been taught and trained to be afraid of chemicals in skincare.  The biggest groups of demonized chemicals have been preservatives - namely parabens.  Parabens encompass an entire group of ingredients:  Propylparabens, Isopropylparabens, Butylparabens, Methylparabens, Ethylparabens and Isobutylparabens.  

The purpose of parabens in skincare products is to prevent the consumer from exposure to contamination.  Parabens prevent mold growth, bacteria growth, E Coli. in water based skincare products.  One main point I want to make is that preservatives are NOT about extending shelf life to a product, but about protecting consumer safety!  Preservatives are there to stop dangerous bacteria from slipping onto your face, mouth, and eyes.  Preservatives are used to guarantee when a consumer purchases a product that it is free of contaminants.  If the preservatives are strong enough they can even prevent the addition of contaminants that may be added accidentally by the consumer (such as dipping your fingers in the jar).  

Often studies quoted to show certain ingredients are dangerous are misguided or misinterpreted.  Since the “clean” beauty trend began there have been dozens of cases of mold being found in topical skincare and beauty products.   Herbivore, Naturium, Clinique, Fenty, La Roche Posay, and others have all had cases where a product looks moldy.  The bigger question is the source of the mold- was it a one-off situation where the product was bad (contaminated) when purchased, or was it unwittingly added somehow by the consumers use of the product?

Things to consider to preserve your products:  Where the product is stored -bathrooms are highly humid and make a good environment for mold to grow, especially in the shower. How you have used the product also comes into play - dipping fingers in a cream  is a common way to contaminate any product (this is why I’m a huge fan of pump bottles or squeeze tubes). Storing and using these products thoughtfully will lessen the chance of contamination. 

I would love to see more independent research on some of these chemicals before they are “condemned.”  There are many brands I’m starting to notice that don’t use any preservatives, which is concerning.  In the end, it comes down to a personal choice.  Conduct your own research and come to your own conclusion.  Each of us has certain life experiences and education that help us make decisions - and there are also great resources for further education on the topic.  I am prone to veer towards using PubMed for published studies, but there are many other sources out there.  PubMed can be found here: PubMed

Potential Mold Cases:  

Clinique Mold:

Naturium Mold:

Fenty Mold:

La Roche Posay Mold:

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This weeks giveaway

The winners are Gina S. and MaryAnn M.