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.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Gluten-free skin care: does gluten on your skin actually matter?
Why gluten can’t get through intact skin, where the real risk sits for people with celiac disease (lips and hands), what testing found, and how wheat allergy differs.
“Laundry stripping”: what the murky water really shows
What laundry stripping removes (detergent, softener, minerals and dye), what the science says about hard water and skin, the safety concerns with borax, and a gentler way to deal with build-up.
The “atopic march”: eczema, food allergy, asthma and hay fever
What the atopic march means, why newer research says it’s far less predictable than it sounds, what raises a child’s risk, and what parents can actually do about it.
Fragrance and eczema: what the research actually shows
Is fragrance allergy more common with eczema? The studies are more nuanced than the advice. What the evidence says and why fragrance-free still makes sense.
Skin after 65: dryness, itch and fragile skin
Why skin gets drier, itchier and more fragile after 65, what asteatotic eczema and skin tears are, and a gentle daily routine that research and wound-care experts support.
How to read a skin study without a science degree
A plain guide to reading a skin care study: what the abstract, methods, results and limitations tell you, the red flags to watch for, and how to find studies on PubMed.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
The ingredients most likely to cause a skin allergy
Patch-test clinics see the same culprits again and again: nickel, the preservative methylisothiazolinone, fragrance mix and a few others. Here’s where they hide in daily life.
Dry shampoo and your scalp: handy, but not a real wash
What dry shampoo actually does, why it can’t replace washing, how build-up can irritate your scalp, and what the aerosol benzene recalls in Canada and the US were about.
Gloves and hand dermatitis: when protection backfires
How gloves protect hands from wet work but can also harm them through sweat and occlusion, latex allergy or rubber accelerator allergy, and how to choose and wear gloves that help.
Prebiotics and your skin’s microbiome
What the skin microbiome is, what “prebiotic”, “probiotic” and “postbiotic” mean on a label, what early studies show for eczema-prone skin, and what’s not known.
“May contain”: the colour lists at the end of an ingredient list
Why makeup labels end with “±” or “may contain” and a string of CI numbers: what those numbers mean, why every shade shares one list, and what the list can’t tell you.
Pods, liquid or powder: does the form change how your skin reacts?
How detergent pods, liquids and powders differ in concentration, dosing and dissolving, what that means for residue on skin, and the child-safety warnings on pods.
“Clinically tested” vs “clinically proven”: not the same promise
“Clinically tested” says a test happened; “clinically proven” says a result was shown. What each phrase means, the ingredient loophole, and the questions to ask before trusting either.
Eczema at school and in the teen years
How eczema changes between ages 4 and 17: hands, folds and face, gym and sweat, uniforms, sleep, self-esteem and mental health, and handing the routine to your child.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
Allergic to “natural”: plant extracts, propolis and botanicals
Chamomile, calendula, arnica, propolis and other botanicals can cause skin allergies too. Which plant ingredients cause reactions, why natural isn’t automatically gentler, and how to find out.
Everyday habits that weaken your skin barrier (and how to recover)
The ordinary habits that strip your skin barrier: hot water, over-washing, harsh cleansers, over-exfoliating, stacking actives. How to spot the damage and let it heal.
Why lips dry out so fast (and what actually helps)
Why lip skin loses water faster than the rest of your face, how licking, cold and sun make it worse, when a lip product is the cause, what a good balm does, and when chapped lips need a doctor.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
PEGs on your label: what the letters and numbers mean
What PEG ingredients do in skin care, what Health Canada, the FDA and European experts concluded about the 1,4-dioxane question, and why some people still skip them.