Ingredients on the “free from” list
Parabens, formaldehyde releasers, phthalates, silicones, lanolin, PEGs and the rest: what each one is and why some products leave it out.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Steroid-free and antibiotic-free: why balms make this promise
What over-the-counter hydrocortisone and antibiotic ointments do, when they help, why long or careless use causes problems, and what a steroid-free balm can and can’t do.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Why skin care needs preservatives (and what “preservative-free” really means)
Why water-based products grow microbes without a preservative, what contamination can do, how Health Canada restricts preservatives, and how “preservative-free” works.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Water-free formulas: why some balms contain no water at all
What an anhydrous balm or ointment is, why it can skip preservatives, why it feels heavier and seals better, and when a water-free product suits your skin (or doesn’t).
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Petrolatum: the most studied moisturizer, and why some products skip it
How petrolatum locks water into skin, what dermatologists and Health Canada say about it, the refining and PAH question, the acne myth, and why some people avoid it.
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.
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.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Propylene glycol: humectant, solvent and occasional irritant
Propylene glycol is in thousands of creams, deodorants and prescription ointments. Here is what it does, why it was named Allergen of the Year in 2018, and why concentration matters.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Phthalates in personal care products: what’s actually known
Phthalates soften plastics, but one of them, diethyl phthalate, also hides inside “fragrance”. What Health Canada, the FDA and the EU concluded, and what the evidence shows for skin.
Ingredients on the “free from” list
Formaldehyde releasers: the preservative you didn’t know was on the label
DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea and bronopol slowly release formaldehyde to keep products fresh. What that means for your skin, and what Canada allows.
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.