No BS Bulletin 45

Forty-Five

Author

Sarah
January 02, 2025

Welcome to Issue 45 of the No BS Beauty Bulletin!

This week’s newsletter kicks off with some festive cheer and a recap of an unforgettable Christmas vacation to Costa Rica! Cameraman, my dad, and I joined Cameraman’s family for an adventure-packed holiday, and it was nothing short of amazing. We zipped through the treetops from the peak of a mountain, saw playful monkeys in the wild, and even caught glimpses of real sloths (yes, they are as adorable as you’d imagine!). Spending Christmas in Costa Rica was a unique and heartwarming way to wrap up the year, and I’m already dreaming of going back.

Now, back to business!

In Juicy Beauty News, we’re diving into the latest updates in skincare and beauty, including a prototype sunscreen that cools your skin, the surprising rise of beer baths in spas, and why some celebrities are reversing their fillers. Plus, we’re looking at top trends in beauty treatments and the evolving landscape of cosmetic safety and regulations.

This week’s What Did I Buy? section is packed with goodies, from new Drunk Elephant finds to some festive picks for a touch of sparkle. Don’t tell Cameraman, but my Ulta haul might have gotten a bit out of hand.

In About the Dogs, life has been a rollercoaster since we got back. Ike gave us quite the scare with what seemed to be IVDD, but in a miraculous turn, he’s back to his usual self! Lincoln is enjoying the snowy season in cozy comfort, and Gabby continues to charm us all in her festive outfits.

Our Winner of the Week spotlights spicules—tiny, natural exfoliators making waves in the skincare world. Meanwhile, the Loser of the Week reminds us to stay cautious about where we buy skincare, with a spotlight on the dangers of contaminated lightening products.

Catch up on all the latest reviews and favorites in In Case You Missed It, and don’t forget to check out our Giveaway section—this week’s winner is Lori W.!

As always, thank you for being part of the No BS Beauty community. Let’s dive into this week’s highlights! 🎉

Made Me Laugh - Dog Math

Juicy Beauty News

👀 What did I buy this week?👀

Don’t tell Cameraman!

Trendmood Beauty Box Vol. 29 (non-affiliate link)

About the Dogs

This week was very crazy! Upon arrival home late Saturday night from Costa Rica everything seemed normal. Ike, Lincoln, and Gabby were all excited to have us home. Although they love their baby-sitter (my brother-in-law Jay) they also love getting back to the usual routine. Getting back to normal didn’t last long. On Sunday morning all of a sudden Ike lost the ability to stand on his own with severe limpness in his back legs. He almost appeared “drunk.” He didn’t seem in pain though.

Tough to find an open vet on a Sunday morning, thankfully the U of M Small Animal Hospital was able to see him. I’ve spent a fair amount of time at the U of M Small Animal Hospital with Gizmo and Gertie so I was relieved they would be able to treat him. They thought it was a case of IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) and sent us home with a special harness, sedating medication, anti-inflammatory meds and pain medicine. I must admit, I was very, VERY close to deciding to put him down. He is 13 and has been through a lot in those years (hip dysplasia, hip surgery, mouth melanoma cancer, and an injured front leg joint) He’s a tough guy so we thought it was best to give him a chance to hopefully heal up, but quality over quantity is always my wish.

So strangely enough, after bringing him back home (carrying him up the stairs) within about an hour or two he started to move around by himself. He was able to stand up, go to the bathroom, and crawl into bed all on his own. I am happy to mention he has been continually improving to the point where we took his harness off. I would say at this point his is 100% back to normal. No idea if it will stay this way or not but Ike is a fighter! Lincoln and Gabby were both happy to see Ike back to his old self after this scary episode. So for now, I’m taking it day-by-day.

Winner of the Week - Spicules

Spicules are becoming a very popular trend, although I have been using them in my routine for many years before they became “trendy.” For about 4-5 years I have used a red spot treatment from Tia’m that contains spicules to help clear up red spots and potential breakouts. I’ll link to this below.

Spicules have been made popular mostly by the VT brand’s Reedle Serum line. Spicules are most often made from sea sponges and they are tiny, needle-like arrangements used in products for their exfoliating and skin-stimulating properties. If you are familiar with spicules you must have noticed the rough texture and feel, although the product may look smooth and creamy it has a bit of a “bite” to it upon application.

Their main purpose is to promote cell turnover, improve skin texture and smoothness, and to enhance the penetration of active ingredients. Spicules can assist with difficult to absorb skincare ingredients such as peptides, hyaluronic acid, and collagen. Many times brands will pair spicules with another “star” ingredient such as retinol or peptides. Spicules are also great for natural exfoliation since their natural texture encourages gentle dead surface skin removal.

Be cautious with spicules and always do a patch test! Overuse of spicules can cause irritation, redness, and inflammation. Sensitive skin, those with eczema, and rosacea should be extra careful with the strength of the spicules. It can be easy to overdo so I always recommend starting slow and working your way up to stronger strengths or more frequent use.

Products with Spicules Worth Trying:

TIA'M - AC Fighting Spot RX Cream 
At Yesstyle: Use Rewards Code NOBSBEAUTY for an additional discount!

COSNORI - PDRN-shot 675
At Yesstyle: Use Rewards Code NOBSBEAUTY for an additional discount!

VT Reedle Shot Serum 100
At Yesstyle: Use Rewards Code NOBSBEAUTY for an additional discount!

VT Red Booster Reedle Shot 300
At Yesstyle: Use Rewards Code NOBSBEAUTY for an additional discount!

Loser of the Week - Be careful!!

Contaminated skin lightening products causing irreversible brain damage in very rare case

Definitely don’t want to fearmonger but this is just a good reminder for all of us “in the know” on skincare topics. This is obviously a very, very rare occurrence but it is a good illustration of why people should be cautious of where they purchase their skincare products. Today I became aware of multiple cases of skin lightening/bleaching products causing illness to the people using them. In both cases the products were purchased in Mexico and used by customers in the United States.

“In June 2024, a family from West Texas was exposed to mercury through a skin cream product purchased in Mexico. It was labeled as Nunn skin cream, and mercury was not listed on the label as an ingredient. After using the face cream, one family member developed mild nonspecific symptoms. In the past, Texas and other states have identified cases of mercury poisoning through skin cream.” - Texas Department of State Health Services

In another case dating back to 2019 a California resident purchased and used a skin lightening cream made in Mexico. The brief exposure to this apparently caused permanent brain damage due the absorption of the accidental inclusion of mercury and other heavy metals in the lightening cream.

Red flags include:

  • Price- if it is too cheap there might be a reason

  • Location- if you are out of the country pay attention to manufacturing rules by local regulatory bodies

  • Brand- if you have never heard of the brand or manufacturer this could be a red flag

  • Function- this issue seems most common in skin lightening products

If you are debating purchasing pigmentation lightening products please heed caution and purchase it from a reputable brand. There is nothing about your appearance that is worth risking your health and future well being.

Articles:

In Case You Missed It

Giveaway - The winner is Lori W.

Big congratulations to this week’s giveaway winner, Lori W.! We’re thrilled to send some amazing beauty goodies your way. Be sure to check your email for all the details on how to claim your prize—we can’t wait for you to enjoy everything we’ve picked out for you!

A quick update for last week’s winner, Liz D.: Your prize is officially on its way! 🚚✨ Keep an eye on your mailbox because your beauty haul is heading straight to you today.

Thank you to everyone who entered this week’s giveaway. Your enthusiasm keeps these giveaways exciting, and we can’t wait to see who the next lucky winner will be! 💕