No BS Bulletin 82

Eighty Two

Author

Sarah
March 05, 2026

Welcome to Issue 82 of the No BS Beauty Bulletin!

Welcome back to issue 82 of the No BS Beauty Bulletin! This week we've got all the Juicy Beauty News you need to stay in the loop, plus a deep dive into one of skincare's most underrated ingredients — ectoin — and a look at what's been in my shopping cart. Don't miss our In Case You Missed It YouTube roundup, this week's giveaway winner, and a brand that seriously dropped the ball in our Loser of the Week. Let's get into it.

Table of Contents

This issue is brought to you by... me, apparently. I made two things you can actually buy at nobsbeauty.com/shop: the No BS Beauty Airless Jar Set ($29.99) — two refillable airless pump jars and a neoprene pouch, because keeping your actives away from air and light actually matters — and the neoprene cosmetic bag on its own if you just need a solid travel bag without the jars (currently on sale for $9.99). No sponsored talking points, I just genuinely think airless packaging is underrated and wanted to make it easy to get. If that's useful to you, cool.

Juicy Beauty News

  • PFAS "forever chemical" bans hit cosmetics across multiple US states Maine, Vermont, Illinois, and Colorado all enacted bans on intentionally added PFAS in cosmetics effective January 1, 2026. France followed with its own national ban. Connecticut is next (July 2026), and new PFAS legislation for cosmetics was advancing in additional states as of February 27. Sources: Manufacturing Dive · Morgan Lewis · Bloomberg Law · WVTF

  • M·A·C Cosmetics enters Sephora US for the first time in 41 years On March 2, MAC launched at 100+ Sephora US stores and Sephora.com, fronted by a Chappell Roan campaign. The brand has been in Sephora globally for years but never in the US — a significant distribution signal from Estée Lauder amid a shifting retail landscape. Sources: Cosmetics Business · Business of Fashion

  • LVMH exploring sale of its 50% stake in Fenty Beauty LVMH hired Evercore to explore options for its half-stake in Rihanna's Fenty Beauty, valued between $1–2B. Fenty's net sales declined from ~$570M in 2021 to ~$450M in 2024. The move reflects LVMH's broader portfolio rationalization strategy rather than a verdict on the brand's cultural standing. Sources: Business of Fashion · Reuters via Investing.com

  • K-beauty hits record $11.43B in exports; US overtakes China as top market South Korea's cosmetics exports rose 12.3% in 2025 to an all-time high, and the country surpassed the US to become the world's 2nd-largest cosmetics exporter. The US ($2.2B) now outranks China as K-beauty's top destination — a structural reversal driven by TikTok, clinical credibility, and expanded retail distribution. Sources: Korea Herald · Personal Care Insights · Street Insider

  • GLP-1 / "Ozempic face" drives an emerging skincare category With UK weight-loss injection use projected to double in 2026, brands are moving fast. Image Skincare launched Vol.U.Lift — the first product clinically tested on GLP-1 users — targeting facial deflation, dehydration, deep wrinkles, and density loss. P&G, Unilever, and L'Oréal are all eyeing the white space. Sources: Cosmetics Business · Wigmore Medical

  • Corvus Pharmaceuticals oral eczema pill shows early promise vs. Dupixent Early-stage results for Corvus's oral soquelitinib showed skin clearance that could rival Dupixent in treating atopic dermatitis. Still in early trials, but the prospect of an oral pill replacing a biologic injection would be a major shift in the eczema treatment landscape. Source: Stat News

👀 What did I buy this week?👀

Don’t tell Cameraman!
Beauty of Joseon — Revive Firming Moisturizer (Use code NOBSBEAUTY for an additional discount)

About the Dogs

Winner of the Week - Ectoin

The Underrated Ingredient Having Its Moment

Ectoin is one of the most underrated skincare ingredients around, but it seems like it might finally have its time to shine. Originally discovered in microorganisms that survive extreme desert conditions, it helps protect cells from environmental stress - and that same protective ability is what makes it so valuable in skincare.

The biggest benefits of Ectoin:

Strengthens the Skin Barrier - Ectoin works by binding water molecules and forming a protective hydration shell around skin cells, helping reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL), improve moisture retention, and support barrier repair.

Calms Sensitive Skin - Its anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for reactive, redness-prone, or post-procedure skin, and it's often used in products targeting rosacea and eczema.

Pairs Nicely with Actives - Ectoin plays well with retinoids, exfoliating acids, vitamin C, and peptides. Rather than competing with actives, it helps buffer irritation and support recovery.

Reduces Environmental Stress - Pollution, UV exposure, and temperature changes all create oxidative stress. Ectoin helps protect against these stressors by stabilizing cell membranes and reducing inflammation triggered by environmental exposure.

Some of my current Ectoin favorites:

boben Ectoin Moisturizing Soothing Sensitivity Repair Cream (Use code NOBSBEAUTY for an additional discount)

Loser of the Week - Neutrogena

Neutrogena is facing controversy this week over a $4.7 million class-action lawsuit settlement tied to its former app, Neutrogena Skin360.

The Skin360 app was designed to scan users' faces and analyze their skin, with those scans powering an AI "skin coach" that recommended Neutrogena products. The problem: plaintiffs alleged that the app captured, collected, and stored users' facial scans without proper notice or consent — a direct violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), which requires companies to obtain informed written consent before collecting, storing, or using biometric identifiers like facial geometry.

The app launched in 2018 but reportedly didn't include any disclaimer about biometric data storage until 2023. As part of the settlement, Neutrogena must also delete all facial scans and images collected through the app.

The case touches on something bigger than one app. Biometric surveillance is quietly everywhere — studies suggest the average American is captured on security cameras anywhere from 35 to 300 times per day, and companies like Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe's have all faced scrutiny over similar data collection practices. Neutrogena's settlement is a reminder that the beauty industry's embrace of AI skin analysis tools comes with real legal and ethical obligations around consumer data — and that many brands may be one lawsuit away from a similar reckoning.

In Case You Missed It

Giveaway - The winner is mfe*****@gmail

Thank you to everyone who participated — we love this community and your support means everything. Our winner will be receiving a separate email from Cameraman shortly to get things sorted. If you're in the US, he'll get it shipped out to you ASAP! Stay tuned — we'll have more giveaways coming your way in future issues. 🙌