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Mineral Mascara: The Natural Choice for Healthy and Head-Turning Eyelashes

Ever since women in Egypt around 3000 BC found a way to make their eyes look more striking, mascara has been a staple in every woman’s makeup kit as a non-negotiable part of the beauty routine. One swipe of the magic wand and you can turn eyelashes from inconspicuous into fabulously luscious. From darker to longer and thicker, there’s a mascara formula that can meet any need. But what about health and safety? Is there a way to pull off the dramatic look without applying toxic chemicals so close to your eyes?

Luckily, we have come a long way from the original ‘kohl’ the Egyptians made from animal fat, antimony, and soot, but that doesn’t mean that conventional products are free from harmful chemicals. It’s been only recently that for the production of a natural lash mascara, organic ingredients have been used. And with the numerous benefits they offer, the demand for this product is continuously growing.

Dress Your Windows Right: A Simple Guide to Different Types of Window Coverings

Window coverings aren’t just functional; they also infuse personality into your space. They unlock the full potential of your windows and upgrade the look of your home. However, there are many different options out there, from cosy drapes that add warmth to a Scandinavian home, to sleek blinds that are perfect for a modern interior. So, read on to discover which one’s the ideal solution that will transform your windows from mere openings to captivating focal points that tell a story. 

A Simple Guide to Infusing Bohemian Charm into Your Home Décor

Carefree, unique, and unconventional, bohemian style is ideal for those who don’t mind experimenting with colours and patterns while also showcasing their personality. This type of interior design creates a relaxed, eclectic, and vibrant atmosphere where no rules apply.

Whether you’re a traveller who enjoys collecting treasures from their trips and showcasing different cultures in their home or a free-spirited person who loves to mix and match textures and materials, this style is for you. Keep reading to discover some of the key pieces that will surely elevate your décor and infuse your home with the captivating charm of bohemian style.

Dressed to Impress: A Guide to Women’s Formal Dress Codes

Your wardrobe’s full, but you still have no idea what to wear? This is an everyday ‘struggle’ for us ladies, and when we need to dress to impress on some special occasion, things get even more complicated. Which way do you go? A floor-length gown, a cocktail dress, or a pantsuit? And what does semi-formal even mean?

Edward Essences: Give Your Homemade Alcohol the Right Flavour

In Australia, it’s perfectly legal to distil alcohol as long as you have a licence. Additionally, it’s feasible that you can distil alcohol without permission entirely, depending on the intended use. That gives Australian homebrewers a vast choice to enjoy homemade liquor and freshen their home bar. Homebrewing spirits can be rewarding as it allows you to customise the flavours to suit your taste. Enter essences, the best way to give flavouring to your homemade alcohol.

Aesthetics and Convenience: A Guide to Window Furnishing with Plantation Shutters

Both beautiful and functional, plantation shutters have long been Australia’s favourite type of window furnishing. Seen by many as a high-end luxury window treatment, they are a sophisticated finish to your home that increases the value of your property. This hard-wearing solution for your windows is designed to withstand the elements while exuding elegance. In this guide, we will explore the different types of plantation shutters, their materials, as well as the pros and cons associated with their use.

A Simple Guide to Picking Your Next Drum Set

It’s all about that bass, no treble. When you hear the thump, thump, thump of a drummer banging his drum your heart goes right with him.  Drums are the base of music. They are much more than just an instrument you hit. I’m sure you noticed when you hit it softly, it’s different than when you hit harder. It all comes down to skill and practice. 

So, are you looking to expand your knowledge of drums or perhaps start a home studio? Follow along with me as we look at some essential pieces to look for when buying your next set. 

A Simple Guide to Aftermarket Ford Ranger Exhaust Upgrades

It’s no coincidence that Ford’s PJ and PK Rangers, together with their scrappy little cousin from Mazda, the BT-50, continue to be some of the most highly regarded and sought-after 4WDs in Oz. These mid-sized, Aussie-engineered utes were designed to be sturdy enough to tackle the toughest terrain, while still being tame enough to take on peak traffic in Sydney; and they’re longtime favourites of Australia’s aftermarket community, especially when it comes to exhaust systems.

With their hardy 115kW 3.0L turbo diesel powerplants, Gen 3 Rangers have nothing to lose and everything to gain from a low-restriction exhaust system. It’s bolt-on power that doesn’t require you to open up the engine, which is why if you’re looking for a simple guide on what to look for in a proper aftermarket exhaust, you’ve come to the right place.

Time to Enjoy the Benefits of an Aftermarket Ford Ranger Exhaust

Let’s be honest: while the Gen 3’s breathing isn’t shabby, an upgraded turbo back 3.0″ exhaust for Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 utes can free up some of the power that these 4-cylinder engines have always been obliged to hold back on. 12kW is a noticeable, easy power increase to be found simply by moving from 2.0” tubing to 3.0” tubing, but that’s not the only benefit that upgrading the Ranger’s exhaust has to offer.

At their core, exhaust systems are tasked just as much with moving excessive heat away from an engine as they are with moving spent gases. And even though power-robbing heat would be problematic anywhere, Australia’s hot climate places a special urgency on moving as much heat away from engines and engine compartments as efficiently as possible.

Beating the heat is also an essential part of preventing damaging thermal fatigue, and a 3.0” Ford Ranger exhaust upgrade helps by achieving the following:

• Scavenging as much hot exhaust gas away from the engine as possible;
• Creating a sufficient amount of flow velocity to encourage quicker exhaust gas removal; and,
• Removing any obstacles that could hamper exhaust gas movement.

Make no mistake, with the Ranger’s 1175kg payload and 3038kg towing capacities, upgrading your Ranger exhaust system is going to generate a welcomed power boost. It’s when you’re driving a tonne of tools out to a job site, pulling a trailer on holiday, or just trying to merge safely into freeway traffic, that the extra power of a 3.0” exhaust is going to come in handy.

Top-Quality Exhausts Begin with Top-Quality Australian Parts

Top quality Australian made, 3.0” turbo back systems for the Gen 3 PJ and PK Rangers, and Mazda BT-50s are exact replacements for their factory-installed systems, and consist of:

• A front dump pipe and connector pipe with double braided flex joint;
• A 200-cell diesel catalytic converter assembly;
• A low-restriction muffler or resonator assembly;
• A side exit tailpipe assembly; and,
• All necessary connection hardware.

TIG welded flanges and mandrel bent tubing help to ensure that these upgraded Ford Ranger exhaust systems have the benefit of minimal turbulence and maximum scavenging. They also don’t require any cutting or welding, are designed to fit both 2WD and 4WD models, and will work with any Gen 3 space-, extra-, or dual-cab configuration. In fact, these Ranger exhaust systems bolt directly to your vehicle’s stock exhaust mounting points, and don’t even require a hoist for the installation.

Here’s Why 409 Stainless Steel Makes the Best Exhaust

Tube stock is just as important as tube size when it comes to building high-quality exhaust systems, and long-lasting 409-grade stainless steel has all the attributes that you could ask for in an exhaust upgrade. 409 grade stainless is highly formable, making it easier to repair than other grades of stainless; and it also lacks the annealed appearance that’s common with highly polished stainless steels like 304 or 316. That’s because 409’s chromium content oxidizes quickly, forming a passive layer of protective surface rust that protects it from even deeper forms of corrosion.

It’s in the endless battle against heat retention, however, that 409’s heat transfer capacity really proves its worth. 409-grade stainless is 60% more efficient at shedding heat than other stainless steel alloys, giving it a range of premium performance characteristics that include:

• Prolonged heat resistance to 675°C, with acceptable limited exposure up to 815°C;
• Superior resistance to thermal fatigue brought on by heat cycling; and,
• Advanced corrosion protection from exhaust gases or on-road exposure.

409’s exceptional heat transfer capacity can even help minimize the possibility of EGR sensor failures, along with the sudden jump in fuel consumption and loss of performance that it can lead to. In short, 409-grade stainless makes for a Ford Ranger exhaust system that can even save you money in the long run.

Thermal Barrier Coatings Lock in Heat for Added Durability

Make no mistake: no matter if it’s OE or aftermarket, keeping as much excess heat away from your engine as possible is one of the most important tasks that any exhaust system for a Ford Ranger can have. And with exhaust gas temperatures easily capable of stretching above 600°C downstream of a turbo, thermal barrier coatings have to be a part of any aftermarket exhaust solution.

That’s why when it comes to high-quality custom exhaust, Ford Ranger systems need to be treated with heat-resistant enamel for maximum thermal assurance. Thermal barrier coatings are formulated to lock in exhaust temperatures in excess of 1000°C, the benefits of which are:

• A reduction in radiated heat levels, both within the engine bay and within the cab;
• A reduction in tubing oxidation due to exposure to extreme temperatures; and,
• An increase in heat retention that can aid in exhaust scavenging as well as turbo spooling.

Ideally, insisting on your upgraded Ford Ranger exhaust system having a thermal barrier coating not only increases the efficiency of the system, it also increases its durability.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, the Gen 3 PJ and PK Rangers are the reason today’s T6 / PX Rangers are now the best-selling utes in Australia. Reliable, straightforward engineering is Gen 3’s greatest attribute, and that approach is even reflected in their aftermarket exhaust offerings.

A turbo back 3.0″ exhaust for the Ford Ranger and the Mazda BT-50 is an affordable, uncomplicated upgrade that can give these hardworking utes a solid performance boost. There’s no simpler, or easier way to unlock their power potential.

A Guide to Gold Monster 1000: The Right Metal Detector for Your Prospecting Needs

From hiking towering mountains to diving into the depths of the ocean, people’s fascination with exploration knows no bounds. Among these passions, a certain group of adventurers seeks not only the adrenaline rush but also the elusive glint of gold. If you’re one of these modern-day treasure hunters, you need a trusty tool that will amplify your prospecting endeavours like never before.

With the ultra-sensitive detector Gold Monster 1000 with an impressive 45 kHz VLF performance, those micro-sized nuggets don’t stand a chance of hiding from you. It also has automatic ground tracking, so you don’t need to constantly fiddle with settings while you’re supposed to be finding gold. Read on to discover all the amazing features of this metal detector.

High Operating Frequency

The soil is filled with all sorts of bits and bobs – bottle caps, nails, and who knows what else. But you’re on the lookout for those elusive nuggets – and this material has a distinct frequency at which it resonates. This is where the Gold Monster 1000 metal detector shines. Its high operating frequency means it’s trained to pick up the gold’s specific tune. It can detect those teeny, tiny nuggets that might as well be whispering in a crowd of noise.

So, whether you’re hitting the beach, wandering through the woods, or exploring old mining sites, this high frequency helps you maximise your chances of finding treasure. With this detector’s knack for sniffing out gold, you’re not wasting time digging up false signals. You’re not sifting through a sea of random trash. Instead, you’re zeroing in on what matters and saving time and energy.

Multiple Sensitivity Levels

Different terrains have different levels of mineralization that can mess with your metal detector’s signals. The Gold Monster 1000 comes with multiple sensitivity levels, so you can tailor its sensitivity to match the conditions you’re dealing with. Got a terrain that’s particularly “chatty” with false signals? Dial down the sensitivity a notch, and boom – you’re back in control.

When you’re exploring an area with low mineralization where signals are popping up left and right, simply crank up the sensitivity and you’ll unearth even the smallest hidden treasures. Those large nuggets might send out a stronger signal, while the smaller ones are more subtle. By toggling those sensitivity levels, you’re fine-tuning your detector to catch the frequency of your target’s signal.

Different Discrimination Modes

Not every blip on the radar is the treasure you’re after – sometimes, it’s a rusty nail, a soda can, or some other not-so-precious find. This is where discrimination modes come to the rescue. They allow you to filter out certain types of metals, so you’re not wasting time and energy digging up every little signal.

It’s like having a built-in “Gold Only” button that saves you from the frustration of chasing false leads. But here’s where it gets interesting – the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 isn’t just a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. It understands that every hunting ground is unique, and what might be trash in one area could be treasure in another. So, you get different discrimination modes, each tailored to different scenarios.

Let’s say you’re at an old mining site. You want to filter out iron junk and focus on the good stuff. Adjust the mode and you’re narrowing down your search to the shiny bits that matter. Or perhaps you’re on a beach, where some modes help you sift through salty sands to spot the treasure hidden beneath.

Automatic Ground Tracking

Automatic ground tracking always works in the background to keep your detector in tune with its surroundings. The Gold Monster 1000 detector continuously adjusts its settings to match the ground conditions, so you’re not constantly tinkering and twiddling knobs. This feature doesn’t require you to be a tech guru. This detector’s design is user-friendly, so even if you’re new to metal detecting, you can reap the benefits.

The automatic ground tracking of Minelab Gold Monster saves you time, effort, and frustration. It’s your ticket to conquering those finicky terrains that other detectors shy away from. Whether you’re a seasoned prospector or a curious newcomer, this feature turns your hunts into smooth, enjoyable experiences.

Lightweight Design

No one wants to lug around a heavy, bulky detector that feels like you’re hauling a load of bricks. That’s why the Monster 1000 detector is lightweight and easy to handle. This device feels like an extension of your arm, rather than a cumbersome burden. You can swing it, navigate tricky terrains, and chase after signals without feeling like you’re in a strength-training session.

However, this lightweight design doesn’t mean sacrificing performance. This detector still packs a punch when it comes to sensitivity, accuracy, and all those features that make it a top-notch gold-hunting machine. It’s proof that you can have the best of both worlds – powerful performance without the heavy lifting.

Is the Gold Monster 1000 Detector Waterproof?

Another piece of exciting news is that the Minelab Monster 1000 is waterproof. You can find gold in all sorts of places, including those wet and watery spots. That’s where the waterproof feature comes in handy. You can confidently venture into shallow streams, damp soil, or even rainy conditions, knowing that your detector can handle it.

But here’s the deal – when we say “waterproof,” we’re often talking about the search coil and maybe some parts of the detector. While you might not want to go deep-sea diving with it, you’re good to go in situations where the detector gets wet or splashed. This device is a trusty companion that’s up for a little adventure, rain or shine.