news

OUMERE Lab Notes & Research features cosmetic science written by a cellular biologist. Explore our Research Library, Skin Guides, and definitional briefs designed for barrier-first routine design.

Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid cannot hold its own weight in water

Hyaluronic Acid Does Not Hold 1000× Its Weight in Water

The Four Biological Foundations of Youth

There are 4 biological foundations to a youthful appearance

The OUMERE guide to Redness, Rosacea and Inflammation

OUMERE research indicates that chronic skin redness is not an inevitable skin condition—but a modern phenomenon created by contemporary skincare formulation practices.

The OUMERE melasma, hyperpigmentation and dark spot routine

Say goodbye to one of skin's biggest problems with this simple routine

Accelerated Healing of Superficial Linear Abrasions With OUMERE Skin Care: Case Report

Single-participant, intra-individual controlled case with two comparable horizontal 4-inch abrasions on the abdomen—one treated with OUMERE (experimental) and one with distilled water (control).

Fragrance in Skin Care: Exposure, Biological Risks, and Evidence-Aligned Guidance

Fragrance mixtures are ubiquitous in personal care products and frequently listed only as “fragrance/parfum,” masking complex ingredient profiles. Beyond skin irritation, biomonitoring studies report systemic exposure to synthetic musk compounds...

Lower Eyelid “Bags”: Biology, Limits of Topicals, and Evidence-Aligned Care

Periorbital “bags” primarily reflect herniation/ptosis of orbital fat and variable fluid retention beneath progressively thinner eyelid skin. Despite pervasive marketing, topical products cannot remove adipose tissue.  

Hyaluronic acid fillers do not dissolve (Not the Way You Think)

Hyaluronic acid fillers can stay in the body for 12 years or longer and migrate.

How dehydration causes skin deformities

How dehydration gave me a temporary, but very prominent skin issue

Determinants of Facial Erythema and Practical Reduction Strategies: A Biology-Led Narrative Review

Facial erythema (redness) reflects cutaneous vascular changes and barrier status. While ubiquitous, persistent redness often worsens with common cosmetic practices

Buccal facial fat removal: Lose now pay later

This popular cosmetic procedure starts with a sculpted look and ends with an aged face.

Sheet Masks: Single-Use Waste, Questionable Sanitation, and Minimal Skin Benefit

The environmental math, the sanitation red flags, and why your skin (and planet) are better served by a minimal, daily routine.

The Biology of Proportion: When Overfilling Ages the Look

Over the last decade, many of us sense that faces look different—and paradoxically, often older. As a biologist working in cosmetic formulation, I don’t approach this as culture commentary but...

Hyaluronic Acid & the “1000× Water” Myth: What My Lab Tests Actually Found

The claim that HA holds 1000× its weight in water doesn’t hold up. Here’s the experiment, the variability by molecular weight, and why topical HA still dehydrates.

IS WATER IRRITATING TO THE SKIN? IS BACTERIA-INFUSED SKIN CARE BENEFICIAL? AND DOES THE SUNSCREEN IN YOUR MAKEUP PROVIDE ENOUGH SUN PROTECTION?

Ask a Skin Care Biologist is a recurring Bioluminescence post where Wendy answers reader questions. Areas of expertise include cellular aging, extracellular matrix biology, and the biology of skincare.

12 weeks ago I injured my face badly. Now the wound is completely gone. This is how I healed my skin.

Three months ago I was riding an ornery, tall, Hanoverian mare on dirt. Everything seemed to be fine and we were trotting along and then she got scared because of a...