This week’s Juicy Beauty News is packed with everything from major industry shakeups to skincare science breakthroughs. Walgreens Boots Alliance is set to be acquired by Sycamore Partners in a $10 billion deal, marking a significant shift in the beauty retail landscape. Meanwhile, L’Oréal Paris’ iconic ‘Because I’m Worth It’ slogan gets the documentary treatment, exploring its role in beauty and empowerment.

On the product safety front, recalls are making headlines as La Roche-Posay and Proactiv products have been pulled from shelves due to high levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. L’Oréal SA has also issued a recall for Effaclar Duo for similar concerns. While these recalls raise important questions about product safety, Louis Vuitton is stepping into the beauty world with a splash, naming Pat McGrath as Creative Director for their upcoming luxury beauty launch.

And of course, no newsletter is complete without What Did I Buy This Week?, Winner & Loser of the Week, and About the Dogs (who are thrilled that winter is almost behind them). Plus, Cameraman’s Corner is back with updates on the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty & Sephora Copycat Sale Spreadsheet, making sure you never miss a deal. Keep reading for all the details! 😊

Plus a well-deserved spotlight on Jen S., this week’s Giveaway Winner! 🎉 Keep reading for all the details! 😊

Juicy Beauty News

• Walgreen Boots Alliance Is to Be Acquired by Sycamore Partners
  Walgreens Boot Alliance said it will be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a $10 billion deal.

• The story of L’Oréal Paris’ ‘Because I’m Worth It’ mantra explored in new documentary
  The Final Copy Of Ilon Specht, created by Oscar-winning director Ben Proudfoot, charts how Specht created the French beauty brand’s iconic ‘women’s empowerment’ slogan

• L'Oréal SA recalls Effaclar Duo in the US over fears acne treatment may contain cancer-causing chemical
  A common ingredient for treating acne has been found to produce high levels of benzene

• Louis Vuitton to launch into beauty with Pat McGrath as Creative Director
  Louis Vuitton embarks on a new journey with La Beauté Louis Vuitton, marking its official debut in the world of beauty.

• La Roche-Posay, Proactiv products recalled over levels of cancer-causing chemical
  The companies involved in the recall voluntarily agreed to be a part of it "due to elevated levels of benzene" found during third-party testing

• Beauty brands should not ‘cheapen’ products due to inflation
  Cosmetics players should avoid shrinkflation and price hikes if they want to retain fans, says cosmetics manufacturer Rohan Widdison, CEO of New Laboratories

👀 What did I buy this week?👀

Don’t tell Cameraman!

• Beekman 1802 Milk RX Advanced Better Aging Cream at Ulta (SALE)

• Versed Multi Serum Skin Tint Foundation SPF 40 at Target

• La Roche Posay Cicaplast B5 Spray For Dry Skin Irritation at Target 

• Premoistened Sanitizing Hand Wipes at Amazon

About the Dogs

The dogs are loving the warmer weather this week! With the snow almost gone, Lincoln has been back to patrolling the yard like it’s his personal kingdom, while Gabby is just happy to be outside without freezing her paws. Even Ike seems to be enjoying the change—though he’s still more interested in sneaking snacks than anything else. Spring is on the way, and they’re all ready for it! 🌤️🐾

Winner of the Week -
Terracycle / Pact Collective 

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know my strong dislike for jar packaging. But recently, I encountered a product that takes frustrating packaging to a whole new level.  The Dr. Idriss Major Fade Hyper Dark Spot Treatment uses a crazy amount of unnecessary packaging.  The packaging on this serum is excessive and feels more like a gimmick than a necessity. While the brand does incorporate a small amount of recycled plastic, the rest of the packaging waste is, frankly, over the top.  

When it comes to plastic waste, many people don’t realize just how difficult certain plastics are to recycle. TerraCycle is a game-changer in this space, offering a way to repurpose most plastic waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. What makes this program even better is that TerraCycle partners with numerous brands to offer free recycling solutions—perfect for those who love products with unique or tricky packaging.  

We all know how much plastic is used in beauty products, from bottles to tubes to jars. Fortunately, many of these empties can be recycled in a convenient and responsible way. TerraCycle collects and repurposes used beauty packaging, transforming it into new, usable materials.  And if TerraCycle isn’t an option for you, Sephora also offers a beauty packaging recycling program at many of their locations, just check their website to find a participating store near you.  Reducing beauty waste is easier than ever, so let’s make the most of these resources!

Loser of the Week - Body Makeup

Most of us are on a journey to achieve our best skin—hydrated, glowing, and healthy. But for some, the goal isn’t just improvement; it’s absolute, airbrushed perfection. And apparently, that pursuit doesn’t stop at the face.

Unbeknownst to me, 100% flawless skin is now expected everywhere—literally. Enter body makeup. I always knew sunless tanners were a thing, but now there are full-coverage foundation and concealer products for your arms, legs, and basically everything below the neck. Because, you know, natural skin apparently just isn’t good enough anymore.

I can’t help but wonder: at what point does this all become too much? As if we’re not already juggling a 10-step skincare routine, perfectly styled hair, and polished nails—now we’re supposed to make sure every inch of our body is seamlessly color-corrected and poreless too?

In my opinion, body makeup feeds into the same beauty ideal that has so many of us obsessing over filters, editing apps, and unrealistic expectations. Real skin has texture, freckles, scars, and stretch marks. That’s normal. And yet, products like these make us feel like we need to hide every natural detail, covering up anything that isn’t "flawless" by society’s standards.

And honestly, who has the time for all of this? I barely manage to get out the door with my face makeup blended, the last thing I need is to be buffing foundation onto my knees. Plus, body makeup transfers, stains clothes, and let’s not even talk about what happens in the summer heat. No one wants to leave foundation smudges on every chair they sit on.

Instead of adding yet another step to our beauty routines, maybe we should take a step back and ask: why are we doing all this in the first place? Confidence doesn’t come from having perfect skin, confidence comes from embracing the skin we’re in.  Let’s give ourselves permission to skip the body makeup and let our skin just be.

In Case You Missed It

3.6 Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Sale - My Picks for Half Off Skincare Product Favorites!

3.7 11 Underrated & Affordable Skincare Product Favorites - Everything Under $17!

3.8 The Best 10 Affordable K-Beauty Skincare Product Favorites You Need to Try!

3.9 What Are the Newest & Best Anti-Aging Ingredients for Mature & Aging Skin? My Youthful Skin Faves

3.11 12 Products You've Never Heard of That You Need to Try!

3.12 Evening Skincare Routine - Lux Products - Over the Top Dry, Sensitive "Bougie" Routine

Cameraman’s Corner

Cameraman has been hard at work keeping beauty deal hunters ahead of the game! 🛍️ He’s been busy updating the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty spreadsheet daily, making sure every sale and deal is tracked and easy to navigate. But that’s not all—he’s also been adding updates for the Sephora copycat sale, so you can compare discounts and see which retailer is offering the better deal each day.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can find the spreadsheet here: nobsbeauty.com/21days. Huge thanks to Cameraman for making beauty shopping so much easier! 😊

Giveaway - The winner is Jen S.

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