62 guides
Skin, food and ingredient guides
Clear answers about your skin, the ingredients in your cosmetics and the food on your plate, so you can choose better products with confidence.
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What is good for your skin? 10 habits and ingredients that make a difference
Sunscreen, gentle cleansing, one active at a time, sleep and more: the habits that really improve your skin, and the ones to drop.Read guideHow does salicylic acid help your skin?
What salicylic acid does inside your pores, how it helps acne and blackheads, how often to use it and the side effects to watch for.Read guideUltra-processed foods: what they are and how to spot them
The four NOVA processing groups, the ingredients that give ultra-processed foods away, what the research says and simple swaps.Read guideSkin problems: causes and what helps
Guides to acne, blackheads, large pores, oily or dry skin, redness, dark spots and more: what causes them and which ingredients and habits help.
Common skin problems: causes, signs and what helps
Acne, oiliness, redness, pores, dark spots and more: what causes the most common face skin problems and what actually helps.Read guideAcne: what causes breakouts and which ingredients help
Why breakouts happen, which acne type you have and how salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, adapalene and niacinamide help.Read guideHow to get rid of blackheads (and stop them coming back)
Why blackheads form, how to tell them from sebaceous filaments, and the ingredients and habits that clear them for good.Read guideHow to minimize large pores: what actually works
Pores can't be shrunk for good, but they can look much smaller. Here is what causes large pores and what really helps.Read guideOily skin: causes and a routine that keeps shine in check
What makes skin oily, a simple morning and night routine, and the ingredients that keep shine and clogged pores in check.Read guideDry skin on your face: causes and what helps
Why your face feels tight and flaky, how dry differs from dehydrated skin and which moisturizer ingredients actually help.Read guideSensitive skin: what triggers it and how to care for it
Why skin stings, burns or turns red after products, which ingredients to avoid and how to build a gentle routine.Read guideWhy is my face red? Common causes of facial redness
Irritation, flushing, sunburn or rosacea? How to tell what is making your face red and which ingredients and habits calm it.Read guideDark spots on your face: causes and ingredients that fade them
Sun spots, acne marks and melasma explained, plus the sunscreen habits and brightening ingredients that help fade dark spots.Read guideUnder-eye bags and dark circles: causes and what helps
Why eyes get puffy and dark, the habits that help most, what eye creams can and can't do, and when swelling needs a doctor.Read guideCrow's feet and fine lines: what causes them and what helps
Why lines form around the eyes, the habits that prevent wrinkles and the anti-aging ingredients with real evidence behind them.Read guideMoles: what's normal and when to see a dermatologist
What normal moles look like, the ABCDE warning signs, how to do a monthly self-check and when a mole needs a doctor.Read guideSkincare basics and routines
How to find your skin type, build a simple morning and night routine, layer products in the right order and choose a sunscreen you will actually use.
What is good for your skin? 10 habits and ingredients that make a difference
Sunscreen, gentle cleansing, one active at a time, sleep and more: the habits that really improve your skin, and the ones to drop.Read guideWhat is my skin type? How to tell in a few minutes
Two quick at-home tests to tell whether your skin is normal, dry, oily, combination or sensitive, and why your type can change.Read guideA simple skincare routine for beginners
Cleanse, moisturize, protect: a basic morning and night routine, products for your skin type and how to add actives safely.Read guideDamaged skin barrier: signs and how to repair it
Stinging, tightness and flaking can mean a damaged skin barrier. Here is what causes it and a simple plan to repair it.Read guideSkincare routine order: how to layer products morning and night
The right order for cleanser, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen, where actives like retinol and vitamin C go, and how long to wait.Read guideSkincare for men: a simple routine that actually works
A three-step routine for men, plus shaving tips for razor burn and ingrown hairs, sunscreen and beard care.Read guideSunscreen: how much to use, which SPF and how often to reapply
How much sunscreen your face needs, SPF 30 vs 50, broad spectrum labels, reapplying and wearing it under makeup.Read guideSkincare ingredients explained
What salicylic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid, exfoliating acids and peptides do for your skin, and how to use them together.
How does salicylic acid help your skin?
What salicylic acid does inside your pores, how it helps acne and blackheads, how often to use it and the side effects to watch for.Read guideWhat does niacinamide do for your skin?
How niacinamide (vitamin B3) helps oil, pores, redness and dark spots, which strength to pick and what to pair it with.Read guideVitamin C for skin: benefits, how to use it and which type to choose
What vitamin C does for skin, ascorbic acid vs derivatives, when to apply it and what an orange serum means.Read guideRetinol for beginners: how to start without irritation
A week-by-week plan to start retinol, plus retinol vs retinoids, purging vs irritation and who should avoid it.Read guideWhat does hyaluronic acid do for your skin?
How hyaluronic acid hydrates skin, why to apply it on damp skin, sodium hyaluronate explained and the myths to ignore.Read guideAHA vs BHA vs PHA: which exfoliating acid is right for you?
Glycolic, lactic, salicylic or gluconolactone? Compare the three acid families and learn how often to exfoliate without irritation.Read guideCentella asiatica (cica): what it does for your skin
Cica creams promise calm, comfortable skin. Here is what centella asiatica and madecassoside do, how strong the evidence is and who it suits.Read guidePeptides in skincare: what they do and are they worth it?
Signal peptides, copper peptides and "Botox in a jar": what peptide serums can and can't do, and how they compare with retinol.Read guideSkincare ingredients you shouldn't mix (and the myths you can ignore)
Retinol with acids, benzoyl peroxide with tretinoin, niacinamide with vitamin C: which combinations to separate and which rules are myths.Read guideGlycerin in skincare: what it does, benefits and is it safe?
Glycerin is one of the most studied moisturizing ingredients. Learn how it hydrates skin, why it tops so many labels and whether it suits oily skin.Read guideVitamin E for skin: benefits, side effects and the scar myth
Vitamin E protects skin as an antioxidant and softens dry patches, but it won't fade scars. Learn the forms on labels, allergy risk and how to use it.Read guidePanthenol for skin: what provitamin B5 does and who it suits
Panthenol is a gentle humectant that soothes irritated skin and supports barrier repair. Learn who it suits, how to use it and its rare allergy risk.Read guideAzelaic acid for skin: rosacea, acne, dark spots and how to use it
Azelaic acid calms rosacea bumps, treats acne and fades dark marks. Learn the strengths, how to use it and how long results take.Read guideKojic acid for skin: does it fade dark spots, and is it safe?
Kojic acid slows melanin production to fade dark spots and melasma. Learn how well it works, the EU 1% limit, irritation risks and how to use it.Read guideCitric acid in skincare: what it does and is it bad for your skin?
Citric acid is usually a pH helper in tiny amounts, sometimes an AHA exfoliant. Learn how to tell from the label and why lemon juice on skin is a bad idea.Read guideCosmetic ingredient safety
Plain-language guides to parabens, preservatives, sulfates, silicones, fragrance allergens, sunscreen filters and other ingredients people ask about.
How to read a cosmetic ingredient list (INCI)
INCI names, the 1% rule, aqua, parfum and CI numbers: a plain guide to reading the ingredient list on any cosmetic or skincare product.Read guideAre parabens safe? What the science and regulators say
Methylparaben, propylparaben and "paraben-free": what the hormone and cancer concerns are based on and what the FDA and EU actually say.Read guideEndocrine disruptors in cosmetics: what they are and how to spot them
Parabens, UV filters, triclosan, BHA: what "hormone disruptor" really means, what regulators say and how to spot these ingredients on a label.Read guideSulfates in shampoo: are SLS and SLES bad for you?
SLS, SLES and sulfate-free shampoo explained: what sulfates do, when they irritate, and which hair and scalp types do better without them.Read guideFragrance allergens in cosmetics: what "parfum" can hide
What "parfum" means on a label, which fragrance allergens must be named, and how to tell fragrance-free from unscented.Read guideSilicones in skincare and hair care: good, bad or overhyped?
Dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane and silicone-free shampoo: what silicones really do to hair and skin, and why the EU restricts some of them.Read guideMineral vs chemical sunscreen: which UV filters to choose
Zinc oxide or avobenzone? How mineral and chemical UV filters compare, what regulators say about oxybenzone and what "reef safe" really means.Read guideAluminum in deodorant: is it safe, and what are the alternatives?
Deodorant vs antiperspirant, what cancer organizations say about aluminum and breast cancer, and how to switch to aluminum-free deodorant.Read guideBaby skincare: which ingredients to look for and which to avoid
Which ingredients belong in baby wash, lotion, diaper cream and sunscreen, and which to skip, from fragrance to talcum powder.Read guidePreservatives in cosmetics: phenoxyethanol, MIT and formaldehyde releasers
Why cosmetics need preservatives, which ones cause allergies, what formaldehyde releasers are and the trade-offs of preservative-free skincare.Read guideFood labels and nutrition
Understand nutrition labels, Nutri-Score, food additives, ultra-processed foods, sugar, salt and allergens, and learn to compare products in the supermarket.
What is Nutri-Score? How the A to E food label works
How the A to E Nutri-Score is calculated, where it is used, what the updated algorithm changed and what the label does not measure.Read guideHow to read a nutrition label in 60 seconds
A quick routine for any nutrition label: per 100 g vs per serving, high and low thresholds, %Daily Value, ingredients and claims.Read guideUltra-processed foods: what they are and how to spot them
The four NOVA processing groups, the ingredients that give ultra-processed foods away, what the research says and simple swaps.Read guideE-numbers explained: which food additives to watch
What E-numbers are, what the ranges mean, which additives are harmless and which ones deserve a closer look.Read guideHow much sugar per day is too much? (And where it hides)
Daily sugar limits from WHO, the NHS and the AHA, what counts as added sugar, how to read it on labels and where it hides.Read guideHow much salt per day? Limits, hidden sources and easy swaps
Daily salt and sodium limits, how to convert sodium to salt, where salt hides in everyday foods and simple swaps to eat less.Read guideArtificial sweeteners explained: aspartame, sucralose, stevia and more
Aspartame, sucralose, stevia and sugar alcohols explained: how they are regulated, the 2023 WHO evaluations and what it means for you.Read guideFood allergens on labels: the 14 major allergens and how to spot them
The EU and UK 14 allergens, the US 9, how labels highlight them, hidden ingredient names and what to do in an emergency.Read guide"May contain traces": what precautionary allergen labels really mean
"May contain" warnings are voluntary and inconsistent. Learn what they mean, why the wording doesn't reflect risk and how to check food if you have an allergy.Read guideIs palm oil bad for you? Health and environmental facts
Palm oil is high in saturated fat and linked to deforestation. Here is what the evidence says, what RSPO means and how to spot palm oil on labels.Read guideHow to check if a food is vegan (hidden animal ingredients)
Carmine, shellac, whey, isinglass: learn the hidden animal ingredients and E-numbers to watch for, and what "may contain milk" means on vegan food.Read guideIs organic food healthier? What the evidence says
Organic vs conventional: what the research says about nutrition and pesticide residues, what organic logos mean and where organic is worth the money.Read guideHow to choose a healthy snack in the supermarket
Protein bars, granola bars, crisps or yogurt? Learn the label numbers that matter and how to pick store-bought snacks that actually keep you full.Read guideHow to choose a healthy breakfast cereal
Sugar per 100 g, fiber, whole grains first: a simple checklist for picking a healthy breakfast cereal, plus the truth about granola and kids' cereals.Read guideHow to check food and cosmetics with your phone
Step-by-step guides to scanning barcodes, checking cosmetic ingredients, comparing foods and getting a personalized skincare routine with Green Point.
How to check if your skincare and cosmetics are safe
Scan a barcode or read the INCI list: a step-by-step guide to checking cosmetic ingredients and what a low score really means.Read guideHow to get a personalized skincare routine from a selfie
Take a selfie, see scores for 10 skin concerns and get a morning and night routine matched by active ingredient. Plus tips for a good photo.Read guideHow to scan food barcodes to check ingredients and nutrition
Scan food barcodes with Green Point, step by step: the A to E grade, nutrients, additives, processing level, allergens and missing products.Read guideShopping abroad: how to check food labels in another language
Key words, E-numbers, Nutri-Score and allergy translation cards: how to understand food labels when you shop or travel in another country.Read guideOur guides explain skin and food topics in plain language, based on public guidance from health authorities such as the World Health Organization, the European Commission and dermatology associations. They are for general information and don't replace advice from a doctor, dermatologist or dietitian.
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