There are a few common sciencey questions I get asked a lot, and for some of them, I have a strong suspicion on how they work, but I can’t confirm it properly (without misappropriating university resources, anyway). So here’s a post where I speculate about how things work, which may or may not turn into a series of posts… How …
The latest buzz-phrase in skincare seems to be “stem cells”. Here’s the nitty gritty on what they are and how they’re relevant to skin… What are stem cells? Your body is made up of lots of different cells with different functions – some types of cells include red blood cells, nerve cells and muscle cells. But as you might know, …
My first real cosmetic purchase was deodorant when I started high school, but not until recently did I really think about deodorant and how it works. So I did a little digging and here’s what I found: (not actually sweat) How is sweat produced and why does it smell? There are two types of glands which produce sweat: eccrine and …
Plastic is unavoidable in modern society, and unfortunately the vast majority of the plastic products we use will long outlive us. While we can (and should) recycle a lot of our plastic waste, microplastics (including microbeads) are a form of plastic that is difficult to dispose of thoughtfully. (Photo credit: Kenny Louie) What is microplastic? Simply put, microplastic …
15/9/2015: I’ve updated this post with better drawings and a better explanation of how micellar water works. Micellar water is taking off in a big way, with a bottle of Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O Micellar Water (formerly Crealine) sold every 6 seconds worldwide, and celebrity endorsements from Kylie Minogue and Gemma Ward. But what is micellar water and how does it …
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 …
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 …