Thoughts on Sponsorships, Disclosures, Product Samples, Bias etc.

Hello Lab Muffin readers! Over the last couple of years you’ve probably noticed a few changes here – the launch of my YouTube channel, the growth of Instagram, my eBook debut, the gradual transition from shorter, more frequent content to longer, more in-depth posts, and the appearance of some larger sponsored projects. I’ve had lots of thoughts swirling around my …

Read more

Resistance to Botox: What It Is and How to Avoid It

Botulinum toxin (commonly called Botox, although that’s actually a specific brand) injections have been rising as a minimally invasive treatment for wrinkles. They’re quick, relatively painless and have almost no recovery time, and if you have an experienced injector the results look very natural. Since they stop muscle movement, botox injections can also be used to prevent future wrinkles. I’ve …

Read more

All About Micellar Water

All About Micellar Water Video

Video is sponsored by Bioderma. I’ve talked about the science behind how the ingredients in micellar water work before, but I haven’t talked much about the practicalities of micellar water before. This video is a guide to micellar water, and it covers a lot of common questions about micellar water, including: The importance of cleansing What is micellar water? Is micellar …

Read more

Can you freeze your beauty products?

Skincare fridges are taking off, and the question is – what’s the point of refrigerating your beauty products? Why does cold make them last longer? What about freezing your skincare products – is it OK? The short answer is yes, most of the time. Here’s the longer explanation… (also in video form here!) Why do beauty products go off? If …

Read more

Instagram Live Q&A session: 30 July 2018

Instagram Live Q&A session: 30 July 2018

I did my first Instagram Live session earlier this week, where I fielded questions and answered them to the best of my ability – it was basically a pop quiz for me! The questions were mostly about skincare (of course), but there were a few about hair and cats as well. I tried to answer as many questions as I …

Read more

Instagram Live – Tomorrow (Monday) at 9 pm AEST

Instagram Live - Tomorrow (Monday) at 9 pm AEST

I get a lot of questions in my Instagram message inbox and email, and even as comments on unrelated posts – about whether a routine is right, or what I think of a particular product, or what I think of an ingredient, or how to use a product. I usually get more than 20 a day, and I would love …

Read more

Common Rosacea Questions with Dermatologist Dr Estee Williams

Common Rosacea Questions with Dermatologist Dr Estee Williams

Rosacea is one of the most common skin conditions. It happens when sensitive skin isn’t just sensitive – there’s redness too, and it usually rears its head between the ages of 30 and 60. The most common form of rosacea causes flushing and affects about 15% of Caucasian women. To get a practical perspective on rosacea since I don’t have …

Read more