Blog
Plain, sourced articles on skincare, food and ingredients.
What does a barcode tell you? The 869 country-code myth
There is a widespread belief that the first three digits of a barcode reveal the country of production. The truth is more interesting: a barcode states neither origin nor contents. So what does it say, and what actually happens when you scan it?
Samet BasınlıJuly 22, 20266 min readRed meat or white meat? A measured look
Red meat, white meat and processed meat get thrown into the same basket in most debates, yet they are three separate topics. What is the health difference, how much per week is reasonable, and what does cooking change?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 22, 20266 min readAn acne ingredient guide: what actually works?
When you are dealing with breakouts, the shelf is full of 'anti-acne' promises. Which ingredients have evidence behind them, which are best avoided, and when should a dermatologist take over?
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 22, 20267 min read'Clean label' claims: what they really mean
Some front-of-pack claims have legal definitions, others are pure marketing. Which statements can you trust, which are decoration, and where should you look to decide?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 20269 min readHidden sugar in milk and yogurt
Even plain yogurt lists sugar on its label; that is lactose, and it is not in the same basket as added sugar. How do you catch the added sugar in fruit yogurts and milk drinks?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readEnergy vs sports drinks: an ingredient guide
One promises alertness through caffeine, the other replaces what you sweat out. How do you calculate the caffeine and sugar load, who should avoid them, and what should you check on the label?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readWhen is 'whole wheat' real? Flour and fibre
Brown bread is not always whole wheat; there are easy ways to darken the colour. Two checks tell the truth: the flour's position in the ingredients and the fibre per 100 grams.
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readAHA, BHA and PHA: which acid suits whom?
Exfoliating acids fill the shelves with three-letter abbreviations: AHA, BHA, PHA. What is the difference, which suits which skin type, what strength should you start with, and why does the sun warning matter so much?
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readUse-by, best-before and PAO explained
In food, 'use by' and 'best before' are not the same thing; in cosmetics there is an open-jar symbol (PAO) instead of a date. Which one is about safety, which about quality, and when should you throw a product away?
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readHow to read allergen labels: food and cosmetics
For someone with an allergy, the label is not a detail but a safety tool. Why must 14 food allergens be printed in bold, what does 'may contain' mean, and why are linalool and limonene listed one by one on cosmetic labels?
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 20269 min readPreservatives in both soda and shampoo
Sodium benzoate can appear on the label of a drink and a shampoo alike. Why are preservatives necessary, is 'preservative-free' always better, and when should you pay attention?
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readFlavouring and parfum on the label
In food it says 'flavouring', in cosmetics 'parfum': one word can hide dozens of components. Why is it not disclosed, what does natural vs artificial mean, and what should sensitive or allergic people do?
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 20269 min readGlycerin: in your cream and your cake
The glycerin in your cream and the E422 in your cake are the same molecule. Through one substance's job in two worlds, we learn to look at E-numbers more calmly: a code is an identity, not a danger sign.
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readWhat does the vegan label mean?
The vegan mark says a food has no animal ingredients and a cosmetic uses no animal derivatives. So where do gelatine, carmine and lanolin hide, and why does vegan not automatically mean 'healthy'?
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 20269 min readMicroplastics in food and cosmetics
Microplastics enter our lives by two routes: particles deliberately added to cosmetics and those accidentally ending up in food. What does the EU restriction say, how do you spot them on the label, and is panic warranted?
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readHow do products go bad? Storage guide
Light, air, heat and humidity: the same four factors spoil both food and cosmetics. Why does oil go rancid, why does vitamin C change colour, why should creams not live in the bathroom? A practical storage guide.
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 20269 min readPackaging symbols: open jar, e-mark and more
The small symbols on packaging are actually a dictionary: the open jar (PAO) and hourglass on cosmetics, the glass-and-fork and plastic codes on food. We decode them all briefly in one article.
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202611 min readHow to choose a vitamin C serum: forms and use
Vitamin C is skincare's best-proven brightening active, but serums differ a lot. Which form suits whom, how do you spot an oxidised serum, and when do you apply it?
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readHidden salt: which foods hide the most sodium?
Most salt comes not from the shaker but from packaged food: bread, cheese, processed meat, sauces. What is the daily limit, how do you read sodium on the label, and which products surprise?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 18, 202610 min readWhat is hyaluronic acid and how do you use it?
Hyaluronic acid is in almost every moisturiser. What does it really do, why is it applied to 'damp skin', and is it a miracle? A simple, sourced guide.
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 17, 202612 min readWhat is palm oil and why is it debated?
From chocolate spread to biscuits, from soap to cleansers, palm oil is everywhere. Why is it debated for health and the environment, and how does it appear on the label?
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 17, 202610 min readWhat is niacinamide and what does it do?
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is one of the most versatile and gentle actives in skincare. What does it do, who is it for, and what does it pair with?
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 17, 202613 min readIs fruit juice as healthy as whole fruit?
'100% fruit juice' looks healthy. But what is the difference between whole fruit and its juice? A measured look through fibre, sugar and portion.
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 17, 202615 min readHow to figure out your skin type
The same product can be 'good' for one skin and 'careful' for another. The right choice starts with knowing your skin type. A simple 2-hour at-home test and the signs of each of the four types.
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 17, 202610 min readSkincare routine: which product first?
Cleanser, serum, moisturiser, sunscreen... The order you apply products in decides whether they actually work. A simple, sourced order for morning and evening.
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 14, 202612 min readIs your olive oil real or fake?
Olive oil is one of the most adulterated foods in the world. Is it cut with cheap vegetable oil, and how can you tell? What do the label and official lists say?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 14, 202616 min readLight and sugar-free: a sweetener guide
'Sugar-free', 'light', 'zero'... These products use sweeteners instead of sugar. But are sweeteners safe, which are debated, and does 'light' automatically mean healthy?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 14, 20269 min readHow to start retinol: a beginner's guide
Retinol is one of the best-proven actives for wrinkles and acne, but starting wrong irritates the skin. The sourced way to start slow and right.
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 14, 202612 min readWhat is the skin barrier and how to repair it
If your skin is dry, red, stinging or reacting to products, your barrier may be damaged. What is the barrier, what harms it, and which ingredients repair it?
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 14, 202611 min readAn ingredient guide for pores and blackheads
You cannot 'erase' pores, but you can reduce their look. Which ingredients help with blackheads and visible pores, and which are empty promises?
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 14, 202610 min readWhat is ultra-processed food (NOVA)?
How much a food is processed can matter for health as much as any single additive in it. What is the NOVA classification, and what does 'ultra-processed' describe?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 14, 20269 min readBreakfast cereal: how to read the label
'Whole grain', 'with honey', 'for kids'... Most breakfast cereals are high in sugar. What do you look at on the label to choose a better one?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 14, 202615 min readHow to choose a sunscreen: SPF and filter type
Sunscreen is one of the most important steps in skincare, but the label is confusing: SPF, UVA, mineral, chemical filter... In plain language, what to look at and how to choose for your skin type?
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 13, 202610 min readWhy processed meat is called a carcinogen
Sausage, salami, hot dogs... The World Health Organization put processed meat on its 'definite carcinogen' list. But that headline is more measured than it looks. What does it mean, what's nitrite's role, what should you do?
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 13, 202610 min readWhat is Nutri-Score and how to read it
The numbers in a nutrition table mean little to most people. Nutri-Score sums up a product's nutritional profile in a single letter and colour. What it measures, what it doesn't, and how to read it right.
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 13, 202612 min readWhat is adulteration? Official lists explained
It's hard to tell by eye whether honey is really honey, or whether a cream hides a banned substance. The good news: Türkiye's Ministries of Agriculture and Health check this and publish problem products on public lists. What is adulteration, and how do these lists help you?
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 13, 202610 min readAre E-numbers harmful? Which are safe?
The 'E' numbers on labels scare a lot of people. But an E-number alone doesn't mean 'harmful'; most are safe, some are debated. Let's separate them in plain language.
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 11, 202610 min readIs paraben really harmful? A measured look
Paraben is one of the most feared words in cosmetics. But the truth is more measured than 'paraben-free' labels suggest. Let's look at it based on the sources.
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 11, 202612 min readHow to read an ingredient list
The long list on the back of a product looks intimidating at first. But once you know a few simple rules, you can read what the product actually is from that list.
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 11, 202612 min readWhy skin type changes how you read a label
An ingredient is not the same for everyone. Fragrance is riskier on sensitive skin, a comedogenic oil on acne-prone skin. Let's explain why personalization matters.
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 10, 202613 min readSkincare in pregnancy: what to avoid
Skin changes in pregnancy and some ingredients come with a 'be cautious' note. We gathered the most-debated ones and those generally considered safe, in plain language. (Not medical advice.)
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 10, 202612 min readWhat 'natural' and 'organic' labels mean
The words 'natural' and 'organic' sell well on the front of a product but are often misunderstood. Let's look at what these two labels actually say.
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 10, 202613 min readWhat to watch for in children's products
Children's skin and bodies are more sensitive; checking the label matters even more here. What to watch for in food and care products, in plain language.
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 10, 202612 min read10 different names for sugar on grocery labels
Sugar does not hide under one word on the label; it has dozens of names. Recognizing them is the most practical way to see a product's real sugar load.
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 10, 202610 min readIs a pricier product always better?
A price tag doesn't tell you whether a product is good for your skin; the ingredient list does. Let's look at the cheap-vs-pricey question through ingredients.
GeneralSamet BasınlıJuly 10, 202614 min readShould I switch to sulfate-free shampoo?
Short answer: it depends. Sulfates are not bad for everyone; but for some hair and skin types sulfate-free is genuinely more comfortable. For whom, and why?
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 9, 202612 min readBanned but still on shelves: E171
Titanium dioxide (E171) is banned in food in both the EU (2022) and Türkiye (2024). Yet it still shows up in many products via older label data. We looked at the numbers in our own database.
FoodSamet BasınlıJuly 8, 202612 min readIngredients to watch on a cosmetics label
That long list of foreign-looking names on the back of a cream follows a specific order. Once you learn the order and the five ingredient groups, you can read a label in 30 seconds.
CosmeticsSamet BasınlıJuly 7, 202613 min read