Articles
Plain-language explainers on the ideas behind the claims the panel reviews: what the words on a label mean, how skin works, and what the evidence says. No product names, just the concepts.
How long does a damaged skin barrier take to recover?
What tape-stripping studies reveal about how fast the skin barrier repairs itself, why it takes longer with age, stress and repeated damage, and what you can do to help it along.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Steroid-free and antibiotic-free: why balms make this promise
What over-the-counter hydrocortisone and antibiotic ointments do, when they help, why long or careless use causes problems, and what a steroid-free balm can and can’t do.
Hair loss and scalp health: what’s connected and what isn’t
Normal shedding, stress-related shedding, pattern hair loss and inflamed-scalp conditions explained, plus why washing your hair doesn’t make it fall out.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Why skin care needs preservatives (and what “preservative-free” really means)
Why water-based products grow microbes without a preservative, what contamination can do, how Health Canada restricts preservatives, and how “preservative-free” works.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
Shaving and sensitive skin: razor burn, bumps and aftershave
Razor burn and razor bumps are different problems with different fixes. How each one happens, the shaving technique dermatologists recommend, and why an aftershave that stings is worth swapping.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Water-free formulas: why some balms contain no water at all
What an anhydrous balm or ointment is, why it can skip preservatives, why it feels heavier and seals better, and when a water-free product suits your skin (or doesn’t).
The skin around your eyes: thinner, touchier, different
Why eyelid skin reacts so easily, the common triggers of eyelid dermatitis (including nail polish, metals, fragrance and preservatives), how eye products are checked in Canada, and gentle care.
The three lipids your skin barrier is made of, and why their ratio matters
Ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids make up the “mortar” of your skin barrier in a set balance. What research on “physiologic lipid” moisturizers found.
Acne treatments and a dry, irritated barrier: finding the balance
Why retinoids and benzoyl peroxide leave skin dry, red and peeling, what studies show about adding a moisturizer, and practical ways to protect your barrier without giving up on acne treatment.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Petrolatum: the most studied moisturizer, and why some products skip it
How petrolatum locks water into skin, what dermatologists and Health Canada say about it, the refining and PAH question, the acne myth, and why some people avoid it.
Keratosis pilaris: those little bumps on your arms
Why keratosis pilaris happens, how common it is, its link to dry skin and eczema, what actually helps (moisturizing, urea, lactic and salicylic acid) and what doesn’t.
Scalp sunburn: the burn people forget
Why your part line, crown and thinning spots burn so easily, how to protect your scalp with hats and sunscreen, how to soothe a burned scalp, and why scalp skin checks matter.
Textile dermatitis: when your clothes, not your detergent, cause the rash
Disperse dyes, formaldehyde resins in wrinkle-free fabrics, elastic and wool: what textile dermatitis is, its tell-tale rash pattern, diagnosis and what laundry can do.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
Skin changes in menopause: dryness, sensitivity and what helps
Falling estrogen changes your skin: drier, thinner, itchier and quicker to react. What the research says about menopause and the skin barrier, a gentler routine, and when itch needs a doctor.
Can you get “addicted” to lip balm?
Why lip balm can’t cause physical addiction, what’s really behind the feeling you can’t stop (irritants, flavours, licking, habit), and how to choose a plain balm that breaks the cycle.
When a child’s eczema needs a doctor
The signs that a child’s eczema needs more than home care: infection, eczema herpeticum, lost sleep, no improvement after two weeks, and what a doctor can offer.
Baby rashes: which ones need a doctor right away
Most baby rashes are harmless, but a few are emergencies. Learn the glass test, why fever in a young baby changes everything, and which signs mean calling 911 rather than waiting.
Dry skin vs dehydrated skin: what’s the difference, really?
Dry skin lacks oil and lipids; dehydrated skin lacks water. What the research says about each, why oily skin can still be short of water, and what helps.