Ingredients
The active ingredients behind your skincare — what they actually do, how they work, and which ones earn their place in your routine.
What Is Rosehip Oil?
A good oil, and not nature's retinol. What is actually in it, why that claim needs scrutiny, and why it goes off faster than you think.
Silicones in Skincare — Are They Bad for Your Skin?
Silicones like dimethicone do not clog pores or suffocate skin. Here is what they really do, what scientists still argue about, and who should skip them.
What Is Glycolic Acid?
Two numbers decide whether a glycolic acid product works — the percentage and the pH. Most brands print one. Here is how to read both.
What Is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide works at 4 to 5 per cent. Below 2 does little, above 10 often stings. What it does, and why it does not cancel out vitamin C.
What Is Snail Mucin?
It hydrates and soothes, and the evidence stops there. Plus the reason the percentage on the bottle tells you almost nothing.
Why Is Niacinamide Irritating My Skin?
Four usual causes, and none of them is purging. Niacinamide does not speed up cell turnover, so what looks like a purge is irritation.
niacinamideCan you use Vitamin C and Niacinamide together?
Why it is considered unsafe to mix them together - Is it a myth or there is truth to it | This post explains if you can you actually use niacinamide & vitamin c together
niacinamideWhat Not to Mix with Niacinamide?
Very little, and that is the honest answer. The real mistake is stacking it across several products without noticing.
niacinamideIs Niacinamide supposed to turn White and Foamy?
Why do some niacinamide products produce foam | How to stop it from doing so | Does it mean the product has gone bad
niacinamideNiacinamide vs Vitamin C
They do different jobs, so there is no single winner. Which to pick, and why the form of vitamin C matters more than the percentage.
niacinamideWhy is there a White Stuff in Niacinamide bottles?
White crust on a niacinamide bottle is quite normal. But what is it, what does it mean and what to do...Explained.
niacinamideIs Niacinamide as Good as Retinol?
For lines and sun damage, no. Retinol has far more evidence. But niacinamide makes retinol easier to stick with, which is the point.
glycolic acidHow to Use Glycolic Acid
Start at 5%, twice a week, at night, on dry skin. Moisturiser after, sunscreen every morning. Most problems come from going too fast.
glycolic acidSide Effects of Glycolic Acid
Tingling and light flaking are normal. Burning, lasting redness and stinging with other products are not. Plus the sun sensitivity people miss.
glycolic acidGlycolic Acid Benefits For Face
This post explains in detail what glycolic acid can do for our face.
glycolic acidWhat is Glycolic acid 08% Exfoliating Liquid Used for?
What exactly can Glycolic acid Exfoliating Liquid at 8% concentration do for our skin - Explained in this post.
glycolic acidGlycolic Acid for Dark Knees
Knees take a higher strength than underarms. But much of the darkness is dry, built-up skin, so moisturising matters as much as the acid.
glycolic acidGlycolic Acid for Dark Underarms
It can lighten dark underarms over 8 to 12 weeks. Twice a week, never after shaving, and why overdoing it makes the darkness worse.
glycolic acidDoes Glycolic Acid Work as a Deodorant?
It can reduce smell, and the mechanism is real. But daily acid on underarm skin causes the darkening people are usually also trying to fix.
snail mucinHow Is Snail Mucin Harvested?
Snails are not killed for it. Past that, straight answers are hard to find, and cruelty-free claims cannot be checked by anyone.
snail mucinSnail Mucin on Lips
Harmless, and the wrong tool. Lips have no oil glands, so an ingredient that adds water without sealing it can leave them drier.
snail mucinSnail Mucin Side Effects
Reactions are uncommon, and most problems are not the mucin. Dry air, the rest of the formula, and one allergy link that catches people out.
snail mucinDoes Snail Mucin Brighten Skin?
A little, mostly by hydrating skin so it looks less dull. It does not fade dark marks, and the glycolic acid in it is far too weak.
rosehip oilRosehip Oil for Dark Spots and Pigmentation
A little, indirectly, and not how it is usually explained. Plus the fruit-versus-seed mix-up behind half the claims made for it.
rosehip oilRosehip Oil Anti-Ageing Benefits
It helps, modestly, and not how it is sold. Why the vitamin C and retinol claims do not hold up, and what the oil genuinely does.
rosehip oilRosehip Oil for Acne
One of the better oils for acne-prone skin, and not a treatment. Why linoleic acid matters, and why comedogenic ratings do not.
siliconeIs Silicone-Free Skincare Worth Paying For?
Silicone-free is a marketing claim, not a skin benefit. Here is when it is worth choosing, when it is not, and what brands put in instead.
siliconeAre Silicones Bad for Your Hair?
Silicones smooth hair and cut breakage, but some need a proper wash to shift. Here is what they do, who should skip them, and what silicone-free means.
Does Vitamin C Reduce Pigmentation?
A detailed post on all the ways Vitamin C can help reduce pigmentation on our face.