Nail blogger secrets for pretty nails 2: Prep that base

Here’s the second installment of my Nail Blogger Secrets series (you can check out the first post on top coats here). Today we’re discussing the prep work before you slap on a colourful polish – it’s more important than the polishing itself! We’re going to cover the whole shebang of routines, including diet, moisturisers, cuticle removers, nail strengtheners, filing, and …

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Nail blogger secrets for pretty nails 1: Top coat the mother

Here’s a series I’ve wanted to write for a long time. Like many other nail addicts, I’m a bit sick of people assuming that: the only reason our nails look good is an ungodly amount of Photoshop; and/or it takes a lot of skill or special equipment to get nice nails. Neither of these is true. There are tons of …

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Project 100 Pan: Empties 61-70

I’ve been hauling a bit while overseas – I brought a lot of products to use, but failed miserably at estimating how much I needed, and the things I would miss the most. So while I’m still aiming to rack up the empties, I’m giving myself a lot of slack in the new buys department. It’s definitely made me think …

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Fact-check Friday: What does retinol do?

Retinol is one of the most highly hyped anti-aging skincare ingredients. But what is it, and what exactly does it do? That’s the focus of this Fact-check Friday! What does retinol do?   Retinol is a form of vitamin A. Other forms of vitamin A in skincare that you may be familiar with include isotretinoin (better known as Accutane) and …

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Essence Metal Glam collection – swatches and review

Essence’s Metal Glam trend collection has finally reached Australian shores! It will be appearing in stores in March. Here’s some of the offerings: First, what always gets me excited in the Trend collections – the makeup! Naturally, the makeup in this collection is super shimmery and metallic. From left to right, I’ve swatched Gold Digger highlighting powder ($5.35 – mine …

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Do I need extra sunscreen when using chemical exfoliants? Fact-check Feature

Fact-check Feature is a new series here on Lab Muffin, where I’ll be answering beauty questions and busting beauty myths. Got a question? Email me, or leave me a comment. I’ve heard a lot about sun exposure and chemical exfoliants. What precautions do I need to take? Chemical exfoliants, unlike physical exfoliants, are products that you leave on your skin. …

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Concealer creasing comparison 2.0 – Collection 2000 vs MAC

After my original concealer creasing comparison here, I did some digging around to see if there were other concealers that could compare to MAC Pro Longwear. I’ve had a terrible run with MAC breaking me out (and my skin is pretty hardy), so I wanted to try my luck with other brands. I also disliked the packaging of MAC Pro …

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Dubai stopover and haul!

En route to Europe, I stopped over for a few days in Dubai, where as you might know, Ms Lather Rinse Repeat has recently relocated. As well as putting me up for a few nights, she pointed me in the direction of Dubai’s mega malls, which are conveniently accessible by metro. I tried hard not to haul too much, but …

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