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Banish ingrown hairs with my DIY version of Tend Skin
Ingrown hairs are my nemesis. They’re painful, unsightly, and unfortunately my body is a big fan of growing hairs the wrong way. I suffered for years until a Reddit thread turned me onto a product called Tend Skin… which worked, but at over $20 CAD a bottle, it added...
A big brand’s “mouldy” mistake
I found every skincare DIYer & beauty brand’s worst nightmare in the reviews for an $80CAD product on Sephora’s website. This one-star warning was right at the top of the reviews. I took a look at the other one star reviews, and again—”Horrible. Grew mold”. “Grew...
Things I Learned in 2025
It's time for my annual "Things I Learned" post; let's get into it! Have hard conversations sooner rather than later. They might not even be all that hard. Payment processors are MASSIVE leaches. Be sure the people you appreciate know how much you appreciate them; you...
New on Patreon
An on-the-fly update for my Rice & Castor Shampoo Bar
What to you do when you're in the middle of making something and you discover there isn't quite enough of an ingredient left?
Which esters should I try for more luxurious lotions?
🗳️ From The Question Box: "Hi, Marie — I feel like I saw or heard you say once that using esters in place of oils in an emulsion lends to a more luxurious feel in products. Which ester/s would you recommend? My immediate thought was isoamyl laurate, but...
How should I design “get to know” experiments for emulsions and cleansers?
🗳️ From The Question Box: "Hey Marie! I consider myself a "confident beginner" and have a good understanding of the basic process for HOW to formulate different products. I am trying to find a good way to get some good, first hand experience with a lot...
What to do with silicone gel
This ingredient is super duper versatile—both in terms of what you can do with it & its specs 😅
How do I make my cold process soap creamier and have more lather?
🗳️ From The Question Box: "How do I make my cold process soap creamier and have more lather? Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge! I have learned so much from you." – Jessica Caldwell
Mini Formulation Makeover: Luxurious Silk Lotion (c. 2012)
Back when I first tried silk peptides I created a "Luxurious Silk Lotion". I still like the idea—let's give it a makeover!
