| What is paraben? As someone who buys skincare | | | | many natural skincare advocates tend to demonize |
| products, it's an ingredient you should be concerned | | | | cosmetic companies. These companies approach |
| about. You found this article somehow, so you | | | | skincare primarily from a business and marketing angle; |
| probably already know that cosmetics companies put | | | | there's nothing evil about that; it's just another way of |
| some nasty chemicals in their skin creams. But you | | | | doing things. |
| may be wondering, as a consumer, if you should go | | | | However, I look at the use of paraben differently. First, |
| out of your way to buy paraben free products? | | | | it's a cheap preservative that helps a cosmetic |
| The answer: Yes. | | | | companies keep costs low and profits high. Second, |
| Let's discuss this in a bit more detail though. What is | | | | paraben poses a risk to your skin health; it's known to |
| paraben? Well, as you may have guessed by the | | | | cause skin rashes and allergic reactions. And third, it |
| name, it's a chemical. When it comes to skincare | | | | may also pose a risk to your overall health; one recent |
| ingredients, anything that sounds synthetic, most likely is | | | | study found paraben in samples of breast cancer |
| synthetic. There are many kinds of paraben. On the | | | | tissue. |
| label, you could see any of these parabens (all of | | | | I don't want to make it seem like paraben causes |
| which are undesireable): | | | | great harm, because I don't think it does. Millions of |
| - methyl paraben | | | | people use skin creams every day that contain |
| - ethyl paraben | | | | paraben. That said, I would still recommend using |
| - butyl paraben | | | | paraben free products---why? Because anything you |
| - propyl paraben | | | | rub onto your skin is absorbed into your body. The |
| So if it's a chemical, why do you so often find it in face | | | | long-term effects of absorbing chemicals through your |
| creams, body lotions, eye creams, and moisturizers? | | | | skin is largely unknown, but it can't be good. |
| Well, cosmetic companies don't just use chemical | | | | Go natural, I say. |
| ingredients for no reason---actually---they usually have | | | | With all your skincare products, stick with companies |
| a very good reason. In the case of paraben, it makes | | | | that make paraben free products. For example, |
| excellent business sense to use it. | | | | instead of paraben, many use vitamin E as a |
| Paraben gives skincare products a long shelf life. It's a | | | | preservative. You'll find that natural skincare products |
| low-priced preservative. | | | | are a bit higher-priced; but that's the price of |
| If they produced paraben free products, companies | | | | approaching skincare from a scientific angle and |
| would have to pull their products off shelves sooner. | | | | sourcing natural ingredients. |
| That would cut deep into their profits. So, from a | | | | I wish that paraben was the only chemical to avoid, but |
| business standpoint, you can see the dilemma these | | | | there are others. At my website, you can learn about |
| companies face. It's either, use a chemical or let your | | | | a few more popular "bad ingredients" you want to |
| products deteriorate faster on the shelf. | | | | avoid putting on your skin. |
| Now, I'm not defending the use of paraben. It's just that | | | | |