The UN/EXTRA Journal
Clear thinking
for considered skin.
Evidence reviews, clinical perspective and opinion—without fear-led claims or wellness theatre.
Latest
We distinguish what is known, what is uncertain and what is simply a personal preference.
Skincare snake oil.
Topical collagen, botanical extracts and plant stem cells: what they may do—and what the jar leaves conveniently vague.
Does sunscreen cause cancer?
Benzene, absorption and the established risk people keep getting backwards.
Hydration is not the same as barrier repair.
Water in the skin and the structure that keeps it there are related—but they are not the same thing.
Natural, fragrant and not automatically gentle.
A clear look at fragrance, essential oils, contact allergy and the limits of the word natural.
Preservatives are not the enemy.
Why protecting a water-based cosmetic from bacteria, yeast and mould is part of responsible formulation.
Do deodorants cause breast cancer? What the evidence actually says.
A careful look at aluminium, antiperspirants and the gap between public concern and current evidence.