Minoxidil is one of the few non-prescription treatments with good evidence for hereditary hair loss, but results are often modest and slow. That has made microneedling, rolling or stamping tiny needles over the scalp, a popular add-on for people who want to get more from their treatment. Microneedling with minoxidil appears to work better than…
Most lipsticks fade because of simple chemistry: the oils and waxes that make them creamy also make them soft, mobile and easy to wipe away. Long-wear lipsticks, stains and setting tricks all work by changing that chemistry, either in the formula itself or in the way you apply and set colour on your lips. To…
Most people finish a lipstick or mascara long before they finish a tube of BB cream, so it is common to find one at the back of a drawer and wonder whether it is still safe to use. The answer depends on whether it has been opened, how it has been stored and whether it…
BB cream is sold as a light, skin-friendly alternative to foundation, so it can be a surprise when small bumps and blackheads appear a few weeks after you start wearing it. Whether it is the culprit depends far more on the formula, your skin type and your evening routine than on the fact that it…
Tinted moisturiser and BB cream sit next to each other on the shelf, often with similar claims about a light, natural finish. It is easy to assume they are the same product with different names, and sometimes they almost are, but there are real differences that matter for your skin and your routine. Tinted moisturiser…
BB creams are often sold as a one-step answer to makeup, skincare and sun protection. The SPF number on the tube looks reassuring, but how much protection you actually get depends on the formula and, even more, on how much you put on. Many BB creams do have SPF, commonly between SPF 15 and SPF…
BB cream is one of the easiest base products to use, but a few small mistakes can leave it streaky, cakey or shiny by lunchtime. The good news is that getting it right takes only a couple of minutes once you know the order and the amount. Here is exactly how to do it, whatever…
BB cream and foundation both even out your complexion, but they are built for different jobs. One is a light, skincare-leaning tint for everyday wear, while the other is designed to cover more and last longer. Which one is better depends on how much coverage you want, your skin type and how you spend your…
BB and CC creams sit side by side on beauty shelves, both promising a quick, natural complexion with skincare benefits. The letters sound like a scale from weaker to stronger, but the real difference is what each one is designed to fix, and the right choice depends more on your skin than on the name….
BB cream promises a lot in one tube: coverage, hydration, sun protection and skincare. If you are wondering what it actually does to your face, and whether it can replace your moisturiser, sunscreen or foundation, the answer depends on the formula and how you use it. BB cream, short for blemish balm or beauty balm,…
Green concealer on red skin sounds like a strange idea until you see it work. Colour correctors can make redness, dark circles and dull patches almost disappear under foundation, but only if you choose the right shade and use very little of it. Colour correctors neutralise unwanted undertones by using the colour opposite on the…
Store-bought setting sprays can be pricey, and some contain alcohol or fragrance that not everyone enjoys. So it is tempting to mix your own from a few simple ingredients at home. The good news is that it is easy to do. The catch is that a homemade spray works differently from a commercial one, and…
Cruelty-free labels are everywhere, from drugstore mascaras to luxury serums. But the words not tested on animals can mean very different things depending on who is saying them, and many shoppers only discover the fine print after they have switched brands. To choose cruelty-free brands, look for independent certification rather than a brand’s own claim….
Almost every cream, lotion and liquid foundation is a mixture of oil and water. Left alone, those two separate within minutes, the way salad dressing splits in the bottle. The ingredient that stops this from happening in your moisturiser is the emulsifier. Emulsifiers are the ingredients that keep oil and water mixed in cosmetics. Each…
You matched your foundation carefully, it looked perfect in the mirror, and an hour later your face looks darker, warmer or slightly orange compared with your neck. This common problem is usually called foundation oxidation, and it is one of the most frustrating makeup issues because it only shows up after you have left the…
Every few months a headline links an everyday chemical to heart disease, and cosmetics are often mentioned in the same breath. Phthalates, heavy metals and so-called hormone disruptors all turn up in articles about makeup safety, and it is easy to come away thinking that your foundation or perfume might be harming your heart. There…
Open a lipstick, a foundation or a setting spray and there is often a faint scent: vanilla, roses, fruit or just something clean. Makeup is not perfume, so why do so many products smell of anything at all? Fragrance is added to makeup for a few main reasons. Many raw ingredients such as oils, waxes,…
Paraben-free is one of the most common claims on skincare and makeup. For many shoppers it has become shorthand for safer or gentler, and some people avoid parabens entirely. But what does the label actually tell you, and is a paraben-free product always the better choice? Paraben-free means a product does not contain parabens, a…
Two foundations in the same shade can look completely different on the skin. One looks velvety and blurred, another looks flat and heavy, and a third looks glowing or even slightly sparkly. Much of that difference comes down to something you cannot see on the label: the size and shape of the particles in the…
You open a moisturiser and find a layer of oil on top, or shake a foundation that has settled into a thick paste at the bottom and a clear liquid above. Is the product ruined, or is this just what happens to creams over time? Most creams, lotions and liquid foundations are emulsions: tiny droplets…
Soft focus, blurring and airbrushed are some of the most common claims on primers, powders and foundations. They promise the smooth, slightly hazy look of a flattering photo filter, with pores, fine lines and uneven texture looking less obvious. The soft-focus effect is an optical trick. Soft-focus products contain spherical or finely milled particles, such…