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.
Bathing a newborn: how often, and with what
How often to bathe a newborn, whether plain water is enough, when a mild cleanser makes sense, and how to care for the umbilical cord stump until it falls off.
Detergent residue on clothes: does it really bother your skin?
What stays in fabric after the rinse cycle, how it reaches your skin, who actually reacts, and what the research says about detergents and dermatitis.
Washing bedding and pillows: how often, and why your skin cares
What builds up in sheets, pillowcases and pillows, how often to wash them, when hot water is worth it, and what the evidence says about bedding, dust mites, acne and eczema.
Canada banned cosmetic animal testing in 2023: what actually changed
What Canada’s 2023 ban on cosmetic animal testing covers, what it doesn’t, the exceptions written into the Food and Drugs Act, and how it compares with the EU.
Eczema in babies: what to expect in the first year
Where eczema shows up on an infant, how to tell it apart from cradle cap, what the research says about moisturizing newborns to prevent it, and when your baby needs a doctor.
“Non-comedogenic”: what the label promises, and what it can’t
What a comedone is, what “non-comedogenic” means on a moisturizer or cleanser, why no regulator defines the word, and why it can’t guarantee you won’t break out.
Ceramide NP, AP, EOP: decoding the ceramide names on a label
What the letters in ceramide NP, AP, EOP and NS stand for, how they match the ceramides in your own skin, what the old numbered names were, and what evidence exists for each type.
Goat’s milk in skin care: what’s actually in it, and what it can do
What goat’s milk contains (fats, proteins, lactic acid, vitamins, minerals), what could plausibly help skin from the outside, and how thin the evidence really is.
Nails and cuticles: simple care that prevents problems
Why you should leave your cuticles alone, what causes brittle, peeling nails and sore nail folds, and why gel and acrylic nails can trigger a lasting allergy.
Eczema in children: the basics every parent should know
What atopic dermatitis is, how common it is in Canadian kids, where it shows up at each age, why a leaky skin barrier and a jumpy immune system cause it, and the outlook.
Had a reaction to a skin product? How to report it in Canada
Which Health Canada form to use for a reaction to a cosmetic, a drug or a natural health product, what details to give, what happens to your report and why it matters.
Your skin barrier: the brick wall that keeps water in and irritants out
What the skin barrier actually is, how its “bricks” and “mortar” keep water in and irritants out, how to tell it’s damaged, and what damages it most.
The fragrance allergens on your label, one by one
Canada now names specific fragrance allergens on cosmetic labels, using the EU’s list. What those names are, how they group into families, and why these ones were chosen.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Parabens: what they are, and why some people still avoid them
Parabens are among the oldest cosmetic preservatives. Here is what they do, what Health Canada, the EU and the FDA concluded, and why “paraben-free” is still everywhere.
“Consumer-perceived” results: what the small print means
What “consumer-perceived” and “self-assessed” mean under a skin care claim, why your own skin is a tricky witness, and how to read the asterisk before you believe the number.
Fragrance-free vs unscented: why they aren’t the same thing
“Unscented” products can still contain a masking fragrance. Learn what each label means in Canada, why it matters for reactive skin and how to read the ingredient list.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
Nickel allergy: the most common skin allergy, and where it hides
Nickel is the top cause of allergic skin rashes. Where it hides (earrings, belts, phones), why piercing matters, what nickel-free labels miss, and whether diet plays a role.
“Dermatologist tested” vs “dermatologist recommended”: what’s the difference?
Neither phrase is a regulated term in Canada. Learn what each one usually involves, what it doesn’t prove, and the questions to ask before you trust it.