I recently read an article on the pros and cons of parabens in the new issue of Skin Inc. I’m grateful to have read this article because in the end I sided with the cons of parabens and decided your skin is better off :
What are Parabens?
First of all parabens are preservatives used in skin care products, lotions, moisturizers, makeup, cleansing gels, toothpaste, and some of our foods! So when choosing products read the ingredients to watch out for any form of parabens. Here’s why:
What makes paraben’s harmful?
Ok, so there were some studies that have been done which have shown that parabens mimic estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancer!
Also, in the July 2002 issue of the Archives of Toxicology , Dr. S. Oishi of the Department of Toxicology, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health reported that exposure of newborn male mammals to butylparaben “adversely affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system.”
Check your ingredient labels
Words like “natural” and “organic” does not mean paraben-free.
Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Ethyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Parahydroxybenzoic acid and Parahydroxybenzoate. These are all forms of parabens….get rid of them!
Safe and Effective Preservatives
Look for grapeseed extract, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, tocopherol (vitamin E), vitamin A (retinyl), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid); these are the safest preservatives that seem to cause the least irritation and have the fewest allergic reactions.
PARABEN-FREE companies
View the complete list at Breast Cancer Action.
Do you know any other companies that have paraben-free products?
If so, please share!
Thanks for reading!
skin savvy 