📖 Skincare Science

The SkinCompass Blog

Plain-English articles on cosmetic ingredients, Canadian regulations, and how to make smarter skincare choices.

How to Read a Cosmetic Ingredient List (INCI Explained)

That wall of unpronounceable names on the back of your moisturizer is actually written in a standardized language. Here's how to decode it — and what order really tells you.

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What Are Parabens? The Science Behind the Controversy

Parabens have been vilified on packaging and social media for years. But what does the actual science say — and is avoiding them making your products safer, or just more expensive?

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Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives: What's Actually in Your Products

Formaldehyde doesn't appear on most labels — but ingredients that slowly release it do. Here's how to spot them, and why Health Canada has restricted several of them.

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Fragrance in Skincare: What "Parfum" Actually Means

"Fragrance" or "parfum" on an ingredient list is a single word hiding potentially hundreds of compounds. Here's why that matters, especially if you have sensitive skin.

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