Why You Shouldn’t Use Lemon Juice on Your Skin

There are more DIY skincare recipes on the internet than you can shake a stick at, and most of them really, really like lemon juice. According to these DIY tips you should be slathering it all over your face and hair. Lemon juice smells nice, and it’s pretty cheap. But is it effective? And is it safe? Let’s talk about …

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Skincare Chemistry: How to pick out humectants

humectant

I recently posted an excerpt from The Lab Muffin Guide to Basic Skincare on my Instagram and Facebook (which is one of many useful tables in my eBook by the way, and it’s packed full of information on the super important fundamentals of science-based skincare – although I’m obviously biased since I wrote it and put all my best tips …

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Is Sodium Hydroxide Safe in Beauty Products?

Is Sodium Hydroxide Safe in Beauty Products?

Sodium hydroxide is in a ton of beauty products. But as one of my favourite unreliable sources says (the “favourite” is sarcastic by the way, just to clarify): Sodium Hydroxide is, however, a known irritant… The National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health … recommends that consumers prevent skin and eye contact The CDC reports that “Skin contact with sodium …

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Activated Charcoal in Skincare: The Science

activated-charcoal-cleansing-mechanism

Activated charcoal skincare products are pretty cool. They’re black, they’re sciencey-sounding and they’re said to suck dirt out of your pores like a magnet – what’s not to like? The reality is a little more complex than that… (If you’re after the video version of this post, check it out here! To make sure you don’t miss a video from …

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How Does Olaplex Hair Treatment Work?

Olaplex 2 & 3: How Does Olaplex Hair Treatment Work?

What is Olaplex? Olaplex is a line of hair repair, “bond building” treatments that’s getting heaps of buzz in the hair community, especially with people who have damaged hair from excessive bleach. It’s available in a couple of forms – Olaplex can be mixed in with bleaching products to minimise damage, or it can be used as a separate treatment. Here’s …

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All About Fullerenes in Skincare (and Juva Review)

Fullerenes in Skincare: Juva Review

Juva Skincare is a Taiwanese skincare brand that I’ve been testing recently. The star ingredient in their skincare products is fullerene, which is a pretty unusual ingredient that I hadn’t researched before this review – here’s what it is and how it works! What are fullerenes? Fullerenes are molecules that are made up of carbon only, that are usually shaped …

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Video: How to Get Glowing Skin: All About Exfoliation!

Video: How to Get Glowing Skin: All About Exfoliation!

I’m a huge fan of exfoliation. It’s one of the easiest things to incorporate into your skincare routine that has really big effects, and pretty much anyone with any skin type can benefit from some form of exfoliation. I made a free Essential Guide to Exfoliation (click to download) all about exfoliating, and I’m giving an overview of the key …

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Testing Fake Tan Remover: How Does It Work?

Testing Fake Tan Remover: How Does It Work?

If you’ve ever used fake tan, you’ll know that after a few days it can start to flake off, and if you’ve applied it unevenly you’ll want to buff out the stain ASAP. I was pretty excited when I saw Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser ($19.99 AUD for 200 mL). It’s a product that claims to remove fake tan – …

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