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.
Cloth or disposable diapers: what actually matters for baby’s skin
Do cloth diapers cause more diaper rash than disposables, or less? What the studies found, why dryness and change frequency matter more than the type, and how to make either choice work.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
Irritation or allergy? Two very different skin reactions
Irritation can happen to anyone and depends on dose; allergy needs a sensitized immune system and shows up 24 to 72 hours later. How to tell them apart, and what to do.
Enzymes in laundry detergent: stain removers or skin irritants?
What protease, amylase and lipase do in detergent, why enzymes caused lung problems in factory workers in the 1960s, how encapsulation changed that, and what the skin evidence shows.
Azelaic acid: the gentle multitasker for redness and breakouts
What azelaic acid is, how it calms breakouts, redness and dark marks, why it’s both a cosmetic and a prescription drug in Canada, and what the trials show.
How to read an ingredient list on a Canadian cosmetic
INCI names, descending order, the 1% line, “parfum”, “may contain” and the new fragrance-allergen rules: how to decode the ingredient list on any cosmetic sold in Canada.
Worried about steroid creams? What parents should know
Why so many parents fear steroid creams for eczema, which side effects are real and which are rare, what undertreating costs a child, and how to talk it through with your doctor.
Do humidifiers help dry skin in winter?
What dry winter air does to your skin barrier, what the research does and doesn’t show about humidifiers, Health Canada’s humidity targets, and how to avoid the mould and bacteria risks.
“Protects for hours”: what persistent-activity sanitizer claims really mean
What “persistent” or “long-lasting” antimicrobial activity means, how it is tested, why Health Canada must authorize the claim, and what “resists wash-off” leaves out.
Healthcare workers’ hands: why hand hygiene hurts, and what helps
About one in three healthcare workers gets hand eczema at some point. Why constant hand hygiene damages skin, why alcohol rubs are gentler than soap, and what helps at work.
Zinc pyrithione: how the classic anti-dandruff ingredient works
Zinc pyrithione has been in anti-dandruff shampoos since the 1960s. How it slows the scalp yeast behind dandruff, why contact time matters, and where regulators stand.
“Made in Canada” vs “Product of Canada”: what the labels really mean
How the Competition Bureau reads “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” on non-food products, what the 98% and 51% thresholds cover, and what these labels say about quality.
“0% chlorine bleaching”: what it means on a diaper or wipe
What chlorine-free bleaching claims on diapers and wipes actually mean, where the dioxin worry came from, what testing has found, and what the claim doesn’t tell you.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
How products are tested to stay clean: the preservative challenge test
Before a cream reaches the shelf, labs deliberately contaminate it to see if it can fight back. How a challenge test works, which microbes are used and what passing does and doesn’t mean.
Dryer sheets, fabric softeners and skin: what’s actually in them
How softeners and dryer sheets coat fabric, why fragrance is the ingredient that matters for skin, what the research on irritation shows, and the alternatives.
Before-and-after photos: what they can and can’t show
How lighting, angles, expression and retouching change a before-and-after photo, how clinical trials standardize their photos, and what Canadian advertising rules say about images.
What “biodegradable” really means on a soap or detergent
How “readily biodegradable” is tested (OECD 301), what the 28-day rule means, how surfactants break down in sewage treatment, and what Canadian law asks of the claim.
Hypoallergenic & sensitive skin
Rosacea or sensitive skin? How to tell them apart
Both can sting, burn and turn red. How flushing, lasting redness, bumps and eye symptoms point to rosacea, why it needs a diagnosis, and a gentle routine that suits both.
Choosing skin care when your skin breaks out easily
How to pick a cleanser, moisturizer and leave-on products for acne-prone skin: light textures, what “non-comedogenic” and “oil-free” signal, and when to see a doctor.