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Definition
Are you struggling to see what, exactly, a matte polish is compared to an opalescent one, or how cream polishes are different from frosts? You've come to the right place. Nail polish texture terminology can get a little bit iffy, but once you know a few easy phrases, you'll be discussing the fine points of texture trends like a pro .
From merging celeb names (Brangelina, TomKat) to clothes (skort) and TV fans (Gleek), it seems we all love a portmanteau, the fancy pants name for two or more words brought together to make a whole new word. In the beauty world, you might be familiar with the "lob," or long bob, worn by the likes of Jessica Alba and Zoe Saldana, but there are totes other combined words out there that any Bella-lover needs to know . .
Last week I told you that there are currently no regulations surrounding the use of the word 'natural' in the cosmetics industry. Now let's take a look at organic and certified organic . .
To kick-start Earth Month with a bang, we thought we should clear up a few things first. As we all become more aware of the environment, climate change and all that jazz, there's been a huge surge in green cosmetics. Now, just about anyone has a natural, organic or certified organic range, collection or product that they want you to know about.
Turmeric (aka turmeric root, Indian saffron or curcuma longa) is a shrub that is related to the ginger family. It's grown throughout India, Asia and Africa, and while it's most commonly known for its golden colour and use in curry powders and mustards, turmeric is also used to dye fabrics and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to aid digestion and liver function, relieve arthritis pain and topically treat wounds.
In cosmetics, turmeric has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent to soothe skin and recent research has shown it boosts the enzyme that produces the skin's natural antioxidants, so expect to see it pop up in various skincare ranges, though purifying it without losing its power is both tricky and costly.
This traditional Tahitian coconut oil is the signature ingredient in several products and its divine scent alone merits it a definition.
Monoi gets its gorgeous fragrance from Tahitian gardenias, which are submerged in the pure oil and left to soak. It's also known for its skin-friendliness, because it doesn't contain any emulsifiers.
The macadamia nut tree is native to the East coast of Australia, though it is also cultivated in Hawaii now. The trees can reach as high as 20m and have glossy leaves, but are most famous for producing the macadamia nut. In fact, they are the only Australian native species that is grown on such a large scale for food.
The Kakadu plum—aka the gubinge or billy goat plum—grows natively across Northern Australia. It's been a traditonal healing remedy of the Indigenous people for thousands of years thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Dubbed a "super food," there is no other fruit worldwide that produces the same potent levels of vitamin C (the Kakadu plum contains 3000mg of vitamin C per 100g of fruit which is over 50 times the concentration found in oranges), antioxidants and bioactives.
Lilly pillies are evergreen rainforest plants that have glossy green leaves. In spring to early summer they develop fluffy white flowers followed by long-lasting reddish-purple berries.
It's one of the most popular plants in Australia today but is used in cosmetics because it is rich in age-defying vitamin C, antioxidants and exfoliating fruit acids.
I'm not sure why, but I have been under the impression that bergamot—an ingredient I often come across in fragrances—is a spiny flower. Indeed it is, but I did not know that the Italian and Ivory Coast-based plant also produces a pear-shaped yellow citrus fruit. It is not, however, in any way, shape or form, related to the bergamot herb.