Everyone in my family has dry, sensitive skin (either eczema or psoriasis all around), so we always need a bottle of lotion in every room. Recently, my parents have gotten really into Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion. Last time I visited them, this was the brand that was in every room of the house. Anyway, I was drawn to the minimalist packaging and the words “non-comedogenic” made me wonder if I could use it as a facial moisturizer. Lo and behold, I could—and I did. I even brought it…

Recently, I spotted an interesting product at the drugstore: a shaving cream that claimed to be “self-heating” and had a giant “PATENT PENDING” stamp on its label. I was intrigued, to say the least—so I snapped a picture and made a mental note to check it out later. One of my dad’s specialties was developing shave prep products, so I thought it would be interesting to get his perspective on this product. Here’s what he had to say about Van Der Hagen…

Lately I’ve come to realize that salicylic acid is an underrated over-the-counter ingredient. For a long time, I only associated salicylic acid with acne face washes, spot treatments, and the like. But it’s actually a very versatile skin care ingredient that helps people who have psoriasis and keratosis pilaris (“rough and bumpy” skin). And it’s classified as a beta hydroxy acid, aka a chemical exfoliant that helps improve the texture of skin and fine lines, without…