No BS Bulletin 75

Seventy five

Author

Sarah
September 11, 2025

In partnership with

Welcome to Issue 75 of the No BS Beauty Bulletin!

Table of Contents

Made Me Laugh

Juicy Beauty News

👀 What did I buy this week?👀

Don’t tell Cameraman!

About the Dogs

The dogs have been doing their best to steer clear of the chaos in the kitchen, where the construction is still in full swing (more updates on that next week!). Ike, in particular, has taken his avoidance strategy to the next level—he’s been spotted hiding out in the weeds, crouched low like a lion on the Serengeti, keeping a close eye on things while staying well out of the action. Lincoln and Gabby are sticking to quieter corners of the house, clearly just as eager as the rest of us for the dust to settle.

Winner of the Week - Exosomes

Exosomes are having a good week!  Not only did several new exosome products release, a new study is showcasing the potential benefits of cica-exosomes for reduction of pore appearance, decreasing wrinkle depth, and improving skin roughness.  

Centella asiatica- fondly known as CICA - is regarded for its anti-inflammatory and healing powers. Scientists in South Korea took Cica a step further by isolating extracellular vesicles (exosomes) from the plant.  

Some caveats to this study which you should keep in mind:  this was only a two week study and only on 20 volunteers.  Most topical products take much longer to have their expected benefits- typically at least a minimum of one month (the average skin cycle is about 30 days).  My biggest question on this study is the accuracy of the tools they used to make these measurements and assessments. I also wonder if the complementary ingredients in the test ampoule give the study participants the positive results?

While it is easy to get excited about the benefits of new anti-aging products, it is important that we take a step back before believing we have found the true “fountain of youth.”  It feels like we hear about the next best thing on a monthly basis in the skincare community. I am looking forward to seeing more studies and if they will confirm the findings.  

Let me know your thoughts on this!  The new full study can be seen here:  https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/12/4/135 

Loser of the Week - Olive Young / Bioheal

Firstly, take a look at this Reddit thread photo: 

Shame on Bioheal & Olive Young for going above and beyond using photoshop to alter an already perfectly beautiful photo.  Bioheal is one of Olive Young’s in-house private label brands. We are all aware that most brands photoshop ads, however, this scenario was so egregious I’m glad it is being called out.  Am I supposed to believe their Bioheal Moisturizer can really change eye color!?!?  I literally laughed out loud at how bad this example is.  All of that being said, my message on this goes much deeper.

When an “after” photo is clearly “smoothed and perfected via photoshop” this gives unrealistic expectations. When a perfectly normal "before" image is altered to look "flawed," it sends a powerful message: natural skin isn't good enough.  This kind of messaging may fuel insecurities and create false expectations. This is especially true for older skin that naturally shows character.  Younger people may judge themselves more harshly for not having the desired “glass skin” appearance.

Retouching ads can take advantage of what trust some customers place in before-and-after images. When one side is artificially degraded or enhanced, it skews representation and erodes faith in the brand's claims. It becomes a marketing trick, not an honest display of a product’s actual performance.

Even subtle adjustments such as flattening wrinkles or evening out tone create a false narrative.  Intentional distortion undermines authenticity. Don’t hold yourself to an unrealistic perfect appearance.  Confidence, authenticity, and wisdom is beautiful and more than skin deep. 

In Case You Missed It

Comment of the Week:

@321morlan4  • I think this goes beyond one lab using a base formula that was no good, which of course the brands will just push all the blame toward.  Remember some of the chemical sunscreens tested lower. I think in general the testing is dubious and that these sunscreen companies aren’t testing as rigorously as they should be. And the influencer community  (including online chemists and dermatologists) defending the companies was kind of ridiculous. Appreciate your integrity.   I still apply sunscreen but had started doubting the amount of coverage provided when I was getting red after just 15 minutes after applying many of the popular ones, including Korean, American chemical and mineral.  This problem goes beyond just some brands, I think.

@NOBSBeauty ago • Thank you for your thoughts, I love hearing everyone's take on this.  I really am bummed to see people defending them so quickly before they know more about what is really going on.  As a company that specialized in JUST sunscreens I cannot believe they were doing more and frequent testing on multiple batches. It seems irresponsible to me. We're not talking about lipstick or eyeshadow, but something that is critical in prevent skin cancer (which is on the rise in many countries).

Giveaway - The winner is “cidjess”

Congratulations to this week’s winner, cidjess! 🎉 We’re so excited for you—be sure to check your email for a follow-up message from us with all the details on how to claim your prize. We’ve got a great package heading your way, and we can’t wait for you to enjoy it. Thanks for being part of the community and joining in on the fun each week!

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