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.
Expiry dates and the open-jar symbol: how long products last
Why your moisturizer may have no expiry date while your medicated cream does, what the open-jar symbol with “12M” means, and the signs that a product has gone off.
Why some moisturizers feel greasy and others don’t
The science of moisturizer texture: oil-to-water ratios, silicones and film formers, how “absorbs quickly” is tested, and why greasy isn’t bad for very dry skin.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Lanolin: a classic moisturizer some skin can’t tolerate
Lanolin comes from sheep’s wool and is one of the best skin protectants there is. Here is how it works, who tends to react to it, what “medical grade” means, and what the evidence says.
“pH balanced”: does a cleanser’s pH matter for your skin?
What “pH balanced” can and can’t mean on a cleanser, what research says about pH and your skin barrier, and why the type of detergent matters as much as the number.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
Contact dermatitis on hands, face and eyelids: clues to the cause
Where a rash appears says a lot about what caused it. How to read patterns on the hands, face and eyelids, why nail polish can cause eyelid rashes, and what patch testing tends to find.
Where fragrance hides on an ingredient list (and how to spot it)
“Parfum” can stand for dozens of chemicals, and fragrance also hides behind essential oils, plant extracts and masking agents. The words to look for on Canadian labels.
Urea in skin care: the humble moisturizer that also smooths
What urea does in your skin, why low strengths hydrate and higher strengths soften thick, scaly skin, the evidence for dry skin and eczema, why it can sting, and Canada’s 10 percent cosmetic limit.
“9 out of 10 agreed”: consumer perception tests explained
What a consumer perception test is, how it differs from instrument measurements and expert grading, why companies use both, and how to read a “9 out of 10” number.
Squalane: a skin-like oil and where it comes from
Squalene vs squalane, why one oxidizes and the other doesn’t, where cosmetic squalane comes from (sharks, olives, sugarcane), and what’s known about clogged pores.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
How patch testing finds what your skin reacts to
A patch test puts dozens of common allergens on your back and reads them over several days. What it finds, the most common positives, and how to get one in Canada.
Benzoyl peroxide: an old acne treatment that still works
How benzoyl peroxide kills acne bacteria without breeding resistance, what Health Canada allows, how to handle dryness and bleached towels, and what the benzene findings really mean.
Vitamin C in skin care: brightening, firming and the stability problem
What topical vitamin C does for skin, why pure L-ascorbic acid turns brown, how derivatives differ, what concentration and pH matter, and why it pairs with sunscreen.
Drool rash around the mouth: gentle care during teething
Why constant drool reddens the skin on your baby’s chin, cheeks and neck, how to calm it with wiping, bibs and a barrier ointment, and how to tell it apart from eczema or impetigo.
A simple hand-care routine for people who wash a lot
A routine for hands washed all day: lukewarm water, mild cleanser, pat dry, moisturize every time, ointment overnight, gloves for wet work, and how to pick a hand cream.
Optical brighteners: the invisible dye behind “whiter whites”
How optical brighteners make fabric look whiter, why they’re designed to stay on your clothes, what Health Canada concluded, and how thin the skin evidence really is.
Does conditioner belong on your scalp?
Conditioner is built to coat hair fibres, not skin. Why most of it should stay on the lengths, when a scalp-friendly conditioner makes sense, and how to avoid build-up.
Eczema and sleep: how to break the night-time itch
Why eczema disrupts children’s sleep, what poor sleep does to a child, and practical steps for the bedroom, bedding, pyjamas and bedtime routine, plus when to ask your doctor for help.
What’s in baby wipes (and what “99% water” means)
Baby wipes are a cloth plus a mostly-water solution with a cleanser, a preservative and sometimes fragrance. Here’s what each part does and what the water claim leaves out.