Parabens In Cosmetics - Do They Keep You Looking Young?

Judging by the number of anti aging skin products thatGood idea, you should be wearing one anyway. Just
contain parabens, you'd have to think they contribute incheck the label though because... guess what? That's
a big way in protecting the skin from aging.right, parabens are even found in certain sun protection
What are parabens?products.
Parabens are a large collection of synthetic chemicalHow can I tell if there are parabens in the products I
products found in most skin care and cosmeticuse?
products including moisturizers, shampoos, foundation,It's very difficult because they go under so many
face powder, exfoliants, baby products... There aredifferent names! Some of the more recognisable ones
thousands of skin care products that contain parabens,are: Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Isobutylparaben,
the list is endless.Aseptoform Butyl and Benzoic acid. Parabens have
The reason parabens are put into skin care products ismany synonyms so without knowing all the names,
they have an antibacterial effect and act as awhich is virtually impossible, reading the label will only
preservative.add to further confusion.
So what? There are two problems.It's fairly safe to say if you see several long names
The first and most serious one is the potential foryou can't pronounce on the back of a product, there's
parabens to be absorbed by the skin into thea paraben lurking somewhere inside! Over 90% of skin
bloodstream from where they can lodge in our fattycare products, contain these chemicals. They are there
tissues. As women are the main users of thesebecause they are cheap and until recently, considered
products, the breast tissue is of particular concern.relatively safe.
Parabens mimic the hormone estrogen and can beThe FDA has requested cosmetic companies to test
absorbed by the breast tissue. In fact parabens, in theirthe various ingredients they use to manufacture their
unconverted form, have been found in breast tumours.products (May 2005). While they are to be
What's the other problem with parabens?commended for this, the process is laboriously slow
Anti aging products are bought by both men andand ongoing.
women in the hope of preserving the appearance ofHow can I protect my family against parabens?
their skin. The problem is that some parabens canEasy! Use natural cosmetics. The products on the site
react to the UV rays in sunlight to produce abelow contain no parabens whatsoever and are free
substance that actually accelerates aging.of other cancer causing agents. And no, they're not
No problems, you may think, I'll just wear a sun block.expensive!