Evidence & myths

Check popular claims, understand evidence limits, and see why uncertainty is not the same as a verdict.

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What Does a "Restricted" Ingredient Actually Mean?

A "restricted" cosmetic ingredient almost never means banned — it means a concentration or pH rule, and 2,304 products in our catalog carry one, most for ordinary actives like citric acid.

7 min read · Aug 20 · Sources attached

Why Does Health Canada Restrict MIT and MCI Preservatives?7 min read · Aug 20

Does Rice Water Actually Work for Your Skin?16 min read · Aug 20

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What Does a "Restricted" Ingredient Actually Mean?A "restricted" cosmetic ingredient almost never means banned — it means a concentration or pH rule, and 2,304 products in our catalog carry one, most for ordinary actives like citric acid.Aug 20, 2026 · 7 min read
Why Does Health Canada Restrict MIT and MCI Preservatives?Health Canada caps methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone by concentration and product type rather than banning them — a rule built on a documented, multi-country rise in contact allergy that several independent research groups called an "epidemic."Aug 20, 2026 · 7 min read
Does Rice Water Actually Work for Your Skin?Rice water's K-beauty popularity rides on a real, centuries-old East Asian folk practice — but the clinical evidence behind it is a handful of small studies from 2002 to 2018, plus at least one widely repeated statistic that doesn't trace back to any readable source.Aug 20, 2026 · 16 min read
Is Witch Hazel Good or Bad for Your Skin?Witch hazel's reputation splits along a real chemical line: the tannin-rich extract has preliminary anti-inflammatory evidence, but most drugstore witch hazel is a steam-distilled, tannin-poor water with 14% alcohol added — and the alcohol, not the plant, is the more likely source of stinging or dryness.Aug 20, 2026 · 11 min read
Does Gua Sha Actually Work? What the Circulation Studies ShowFacial gua sha promises depuffing, lymphatic drainage, and a sculpted jawline. The measured evidence backs a real, temporary circulation boost — from studies on the back, using the traditional, bruise-raising version. The "lymphatic drainage" and "toxin" language is where the citations run out.Jul 19, 2026 · 7 min read
Beef Tallow for Skin: The Chemistry Is Real, the Retinol Claim Isn'tBeef tallow's skincare boom rests on real chemistry — its fatty acids do overlap with human sebum. A 2025 audit of 200 social-media posts found something else: claims about acne, eczema, and psoriasis mostly went uncited, and most came from accounts with a financial stake in the sale.Jul 19, 2026 · 7 min read
Hard Water, Hair, and Skin: Why the Studies DisagreeTwo small hair trials point in opposite directions, and the best eczema trial found a water softener didn't help. Here's what each study actually measured.Jul 18, 2026 · 5 min read
Biotin for Hair Growth: Deficiency vs. MarketingBiotin gummies promise thicker hair, but real biotin deficiency is uncommon and the evidence for supplementing when you're not deficient is thin. Here's what the studies — and the FDA — actually say.Jul 18, 2026 · 5 min read
The Silicone "Buildup" Myth: What Actually Happens on Your HairSilicone buildup is real, but it isn't the endless, hair-suffocating pileup the internet describes. Here's what the actual evidence says about how much builds up, on whose hair, and how to reset it.Jul 17, 2026 · 5 min read
DIY Skincare: What's Actually Fine, and What Can Really Hurt YouOat masks and plain oils are genuinely low-risk — but lemon juice, baking soda, and homemade sunscreen have caused real, documented harm. Here's the evidence-backed line between the two.Jul 12, 2026 · 6 min read
The Detox Skincare Myth: What Clay Masks, Charcoal, and Sweat Actually DoYour skin doesn't "release toxins" through a mask or a foot pad — your liver and kidneys already handle that. Here's what clay, charcoal, and sweat actually do instead.Jul 12, 2026 · 5 min read
Does Drinking Water Actually Give You Glowing Skin? Here's What the Studies Show"Drink 8 glasses a day for glowing skin" is everywhere, but the actual studies tell a smaller, messier story. Here's what drinking more water really does for skin hydration — and what helps more.Jul 12, 2026 · 6 min read
The "Chemical-Free" Myth: Why Every Skincare Product Is ChemistryWater is a chemical. So is aloe extract, glycerin, and the fragrance-free serum in your cabinet. "Chemical-free" isn't a purity claim — it's a marketing phrase with no scientific meaning. Here's how to actually judge whether an ingredient is safe.Jul 12, 2026 · 6 min read
When Does Skincare Actually Expire? How to Read the PAO Symbol (and What to Toss)That tiny open-jar icon on the back of your bottle has a job: telling you how long a product is good for once it's opened. Here's how to read it, which ingredients break down fastest, and the real signs it's time to let a product go.Jul 12, 2026 · 5 min read
"Non-Comedogenic" Claims: How Much Should You Actually Trust Them?The label reads like a promise, but "non-comedogenic" isn't a regulated term, and the ratings behind it trace back to decades-old rabbit-skin testing. Here's what the evidence actually supports.Jul 12, 2026 · 6 min read
pH and Your Skin: What Actually Matters (and What's Mostly Hype)Your skin runs acidic for a reason. Here's what the research actually says about soap versus syndets, why AHA/BHA formulation pH matters, and why the 30-minute wait and DIY pH-strip habits don't hold up.Jul 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Fragrance in Skincare: What the Evidence Actually SaysFragrance is one of the most common causes of allergic reactions to cosmetics — but most people who use it never react. Here's how to tell if you're one of the people who should skip it.Jul 12, 2026 · 6 min read
"Clean" and "Natural" Beauty Claims: What They Actually MeanNeither the FDA nor the FTC defines "clean" or "natural" for cosmetics — brands make up their own rules. Here's why that matters, and how to actually judge a product.Jul 12, 2026 · 5 min read
Do Pores Really Open and Close? What Hot and Cold Water Actually DoPores don't have muscles, so nothing you splash, steam, or swipe on your face makes them physically open or close. Here's what really changes their appearance — and what's just marketing.Jul 12, 2026 · 5 min read
Glass skin, honestly: what's achievable and what's lightingThe poreless, lit-from-within look is part skincare, part makeup, part camera. Here's what a routine can actually change — and what it can't.Jun 29, 2026 · 5 min read
Double cleansing: evidence or ritual?The K-beauty two-step has exactly one thing testing supports — and a lot of ritual on top. Here's the line between them.Jun 28, 2026 · 4 min read
Sunscreen myths, checked against the evidenceReapply every two hours? SPF 50 versus 30? PA ratings and tinted formulas? Here's which sunscreen rules are real — and the one habit that actually earns its effort.Jun 19, 2026 · 3 min read