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.
“Slugging”: sealing your skin overnight, explained
What “slugging” actually does to your skin, the science of occlusion behind it, who it suits, when it can backfire (acne, active treatments) and what it can’t fix.
Washing baby clothes: what actually matters for delicate skin
Do you need a “baby” detergent? What newborn skin is like, why fragrance-free and dye-free matter more than the label, dosing, rinsing, softener and new clothes.
Scalp psoriasis: thick scales that aren’t dandruff
How to tell scalp psoriasis from dandruff, why it often spreads past the hairline, what treatments exist from shampoos to prescriptions, and when to see a doctor.
Why phosphates were taken out of detergents (and what replaced them)
How phosphorus from detergents feeds algae blooms, what Canada’s 1989 and 2010 phosphorus limits did, what replaced phosphates, and why “phosphate-free” still matters.
Skin care recalls in Canada: how they happen and how to check
How recalls of sanitizers, sunscreens and cosmetics work in Canada, the usual reasons (contamination, benzene, wrong ingredients), how to search the alerts and what to do with a recalled product.
Comedogenic ingredient lists: why the online rankings mislead
Where the 0-to-5 “comedogenic scale” came from (rabbit ears, single ingredients, 1980s), why concentration and formula change everything, and coconut oil’s rating.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
“Self-preserving” and “preservative-free” formulas explained
How a water-based product can be sold without classic preservatives: the multifunctional ingredients, pH and packaging tricks behind it, the names on the label, and the trade-offs.
Does soap dry out your skin? Bar soap, syndets and pH explained
Why true soap is alkaline, what a syndet is, why your skin likes a pH around 5, and how to pick a cleanser that doesn’t leave you tight and flaky in a Canadian winter.
Who tracks skin allergies? How patch-test data is collected
How dermatology clinics in Canada and the US pool patch-test results to spot rising skin allergies, what that data can and can’t tell you, and how it has changed ingredient rules.
Bathing and moisturizing when your child has eczema
The “soak and seal” routine for kids with eczema: short lukewarm baths, gentle cleanser, pat dry, moisturizer within minutes, and why bleach baths need a doctor.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
Why some products sting even when they “test fine”
Stinging without a rash is sensory irritation, not allergy. How the lactic acid sting test works, which ingredients tend to sting, why a damaged barrier makes it worse, and what to do.
Can a moisturizer really “restore” your skin barrier?
What studies actually measure when they test barrier repair (TEWL, hydration, ceramides), what the evidence says about lipid-rich moisturizers, and the honest limits.
Chemical vs physical exfoliation: acids, scrubs and brushes
How acids and scrubs remove dead skin in different ways, what the evidence says about scrub “microtears”, why Canada banned plastic microbeads, and how to choose if your skin is sensitive.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Silicones in skin care: villain or misunderstood?
Dimethicone and its cousins give creams their slip and protect the skin. Here is what silicones do, what safety reviews found, the “suffocating skin” myth, and why some people still skip them.
Allantoin: the soothing ingredient in so many balms
What allantoin is, why Health Canada lists it as a skin protectant, what the (thin) evidence shows for soothing and healing, and why it’s considered one of the safest ingredients around.
Dyes in soaps, lotions and detergents: do they matter for your skin?
Colourants in skin care and laundry rarely cause allergy compared with fragrance. Learn where the real dye allergy comes from and why dye-free can still make sense.
Salicylic acid for breakouts: what it can and can’t do
How salicylic acid works on clogged pores, how strong the acne evidence really is, what Health Canada’s acne monograph allows, and who should be careful with it.
Not all evidence is equal: from lab dish to clinical trial
The evidence ladder for skin care, from lab-dish tests and animal studies to randomized trials and systematic reviews, and why a dish result may not work on skin.