No BS Bulletin 64

Sixty four

Author

Sarah
May 29, 2025

In partnership with

Welcome to Issue 64 of the No BS Beauty Bulletin!

We’re officially in summer mode—longer days, open pools, and… a very sulky Ike. Cameraman was out of town this week, and Ike took it hard—staring at the door like he was auditioning for a tearjerker. Meanwhile, Lincoln has been making a splash (literally) now that the pool is open, and Gabby’s been stealthily inching closer to dinner plates while the drama unfolds around her.

In this week’s Juicy Beauty News, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) issued a new report showing nearly 80% of U.S. sunscreens failed their safety and effectiveness criteria. Keep in mind this is EWG. We’re also covering a rare but serious reaction some experience after stopping allergy meds, new tariff-driven ingredient sourcing issues, rising skin cancer concerns in the UK, and PFAS chemicals showing up in American beer. Plus, the latest status symbol? Glowing from a solid night’s sleep.

Don’t tell Cameraman, but I picked up a few skincare gems this week, including two serums from SkinMedica, Acnemy’s adapinoid serum, and the Thrive mascara everyone’s been raving about. Winner of the Week goes to Geek & Gorgeous—an indie brand that’s affordable, effective, cruelty-free, and refreshingly honest about ingredients. On the flip side, Loser of the Week is Huntington Bank... and me. Let’s just say if you deposit cash into an ATM, keep every receipt and screenshot—you might need it.

In Case You Missed It, I reviewed Peach Slices' discoloration serum, some exciting new drops from Mizon and Klairs, top Memorial Day beauty deals, and a roundup of my favorite anti-aging serums. This week’s Comment of the Week came from someone curious about e.l.f.'s Hydrating Booster Drops—my advice? Avoid third-party sellers and always check who’s fulfilling the order. And finally, congrats to our giveaway winner Liz B.! Sandy P., if you're reading—your prize is still waiting. Get in touch!

Let’s get into it.

Made Me Laugh - This would be Ike:

Juicy Beauty News

👀 What did I buy this week?👀

Don’t tell Cameraman!

About the Dogs

Ike has been in full-on drama mode this week. With Cameraman gone, he’s been sulking like a heartbroken teen in a YA novel—just staring at the door and refusing to be cheered up. Cameraman really is his spirit animal.

Lincoln, on the other hand, is thriving. The pool is finally open, and he’s living his best aquatic life, already perfecting his splash game like it’s a summer sport.

Gabby’s been chill as ever, mostly focused on monitoring the kitchen and keeping tabs on anything edible. She’s been taking advantage of Ike’s distracted mood to sneak in closer at dinner time—and honestly, it’s working.

Winner of the Week - Geek & Gorgeous

It has been about a year since I've been doing a weekly newsletter and at this point I don’t think I’ve ever picked a skincare brand to be the winner.  Because of this, I would like to make the indie skincare brand Geek & Gorgeous the “Winner of the Week.”  A few things I love about this brand is their variety of products, the research based items they make, their affordability, and their packaging. 

These days many brands have been rapidly increasing their prices.  I have yet to notice a major price hike from Geek & Gorgeous.  I love how affordable their products are.  They have a dupe for a $180 serum which is about $13.  You cannot beat saving hundresds on a simple serum.  The fact that the G&G vitamin c serum is also manufactured fresh weekly is another major benefit.  I also love supporting a small brand as opposed to some of the giant conglomerates such as Nestle.  Nestle owns over 20% of L’oreal.  I’d much rather give cruelty free Geek & Gorgeous my money any day of the week!

Geek & Gorgeous also has an extensive list of exfoliating options- actually 4 different formulas based on different skin needs.  I’ve used all 4 of these and must say I was super impressed with each and every one of them.  

Their Porefectly Clear 2% BHA Serum is wonderful for skin that tends to be oily or have blackheads.  It is also fungal acne safe and fits into any routine easily.  Even better, it retails for just about $10.

Next up is their Calm Down Liquid Exfoliant.  I love this one during the long Minnesota Winter!  This is great for sensitive skin and contains the gentle exfoliant PHA(3.2%) and a little bit of BHA (0.8%).  This one keeps skin calm and clear while being sensitive skin safe.

The Smooth Out Liquid Exfoliant is a great option for aging skin or skin that has texture issues.  AHA’s are great ingredients and even proven to create collagen formation deep down in skin, making it a chosen exfoliant for fighting wrinkles.  Their Smooth Out Exfoliant contains a combination of 10% Glycolic Acid and 2% Lactic Acid- sure to help even out skin texture and fight aging.

And last, but certainly not least, the Geek & Gorgeous Cheer Up Liquid Exfoliant.  This formula is geared to help fight acne prone skin and fight the appearance of post acne marks.  This formula uses 5% Mandelic Acid and 1% Salicylic Acid to help brighten up skin and fight blackheads and oiliness while still being sensitive skin friendly.

Loser of the Week -
Huntington Bank (and me)!

I’ve heard about this happening but I never thought it would happen to me.  Last week, I deposited cash into a Huntington Bank ATM. The machine accepted the money, showed the correct amount, and printed a receipt confirming the transaction. But here I am, seven days later, and the deposit still hasn’t hit my account.

The next day the deposit showed up then was reversed.  Thankfully I took a screenshot because by the time the bank opened the next day that “transaction” made it look like it never happened.  Memorial day weekend… more time passes and still no deposit in my account.

I’ve been calling the bank, visiting the bank, and somehow no one can actually fix this for me.  At this point I have a feeling I’ll end up filling in Conciliation Court.  Never thought this could actually happen so take this as a lesson learned by yours truly!

How to Protect Yourself:

  • Use a human tellers inside bank (or drive thru) branches when possible.

  • Cover your PIN, every time.

  • Check for loose or suspicious parts near the card reader.

  • Set up mobile alerts for withdrawals.

  • Always double-check your transaction history after using an ATM.

  • Save and document everything because it may disappear

  • Call the local police department and file an incident report.

  • Request any video surveillance footage to be saved, they can delete it after 30 days otherwise.

  • Let the power of the pen (or keyboard) be your friend - Send certified letters to document your problem and demanding a solution. This will establish a good paper trail if further action is required.

In Case You Missed It

Comment of the Week

Q: Do you know anything about the Elf Hydrating Booster Drops? Comes in a white bottle and is $21 on Amazon?

A: Ooh yes- I've used those before.  I'm not sure if they are still manufacturing them or not.  The only one I could find listed on Amazon was listed by a third party vendor (Missin Pieces LLC).  If this is the one you are looking at I highly recommend you avoid it and avoid purchasing from third party vendors.  

You just never know if they are selling something legit, something that is old stock, expired, or something fake.  It is highly important if purchasing skincare, beauty, or anything else on Amazon to always check the “Shipped by and Sold by” fields to avoid purchasing items from a third party.  This is especially true when it comes to something you will put on your face or in your mouth (supplements, food, vitamins, etc).  When I link to products on Amazon I always verify the vendor because I do not want to link to random sellers or even unknowingly support those selling counterfeit products.  

Giveaway - The winner is Liz B.

This week’s giveaway winner is Liz B. – congratulations! We’ll be sending out your goodies soon, so keep an eye on your inbox.

And a quick reminder to Sandy P., last week’s winner: we still need to hear from you! Don’t miss out—get in touch so we can send your prize your way.

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