Today’s post is based on a question that Rosemarie of Every Little Polish asked me at a recent Aussie Nails meet-up: what’s in mascara? There are two main types of ingredients in traditional mascaras that give you dark, thick lashes: – Pigment – This is what gives mascara its colour. Black and brown are the most common colours, created using …
The right hair conditioner can make your hair glossy and bouncy, but the wrong one can instantly make it lifeless and lank. What’s in them that make them so different? Monik Markus pH and hair The most important thing about hair conditioner is that it’s acidic (pH < 7). Hair is made up of three major layers – the innermost …
A lot of people have asked me questions about Essence/PVA base coat since my original post on it – I’ve gathered here some of the most common questions and some solutions that seem to work, after some trial and error. Some of the solutions weren’t thought up by me, but by clever ladies who’ve contacted me on Twitter, or are …
Ceramides – where have I heard that before? Ceramides are in lots of moisturisers and serums. Brands which feature ceramides in their skincare range include Elizabeth Arden, L’Oréal, Ultraceuticals and Innoxa. What are ceramides? Ceramides are a family of lipids (fatty molecules) which make up a significant proportion of cell membranes, the “skin” of cells. They are also the main …
Benzoyl peroxide (or BP, as it’s affectionately known) is one of those products that seems to work for everyone. It’s a topical treatment (cream) that’s an essential component of many acne treatment regimens (Dan Kern’s acne.org, ProActiv, Paula Begoun just to name a few). But what does it do, and how is it most effective? Benzoyl peroxide is a peroxide, …
A few readers have asked me questions about acne – I thought I’d share my answers here 🙂 What’s the fastest way to get rid of a huge pimple? A cortisone injection from a dermatologist. This will even get rid of those massive hard lumps under the skin that usually take forever to go away on their own! Most pimples …
(Photo credit: Steve Ford Elliott) Lots of personal care products proudly say they’re “SLS-free”. What was wrong with it in the first place? Sodium lauryl sulfate (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate, or sodium coco-sulfate) is found in many personal care products, such as shampoo, toothpaste . It looks like this: It has an oil-soluble “tail” (on the left) and …
I’m sure many of us polishaholics have often come across a gluggy old bottle of polish and wanted to pour a whole bottle of remover in. But does it ruin your polish? Unfortunately, there’s no easy yes or no – the incredibly unsatisfying answer is: it depends. It depends on 2 things: the type of nail polish remover and the …