What Are Parabens Used For In Cosmetics?
What are parabens, and why are they used in cosmetics? – Parabens are a family of related chemicals that are commonly used as preservatives in cosmetic products. Preservatives may be used in cosmetics to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and mold, in order to protect both the products and consumers.
What products are parabens used in?
How People Are Exposed to Parabens – People can be exposed to parabens through touching, swallowing, or eating products that contain parabens. Many products, such as makeup, moisturizers, hair-care products, and shaving creams, contain parabens. Parabens in these products are absorbed through the skin.
Why is paraben not good?
Parabens, Explained – What Are Parabens And Why Should You Use Paraben-Free Makeup Products Not all beauty products are good for your skin but there are certainly some that are better than others. In a world where we’re increasingly aware of what we eat, it’s no surprise that we’re equally aware of the ingredients in our skincare and what we put on our face.
But which product ingredients are good and which are bad? You don’t need to be a to know the answer to that one. Anyone who’s skincare-aware will recognise one of the biggest names on the naughty list: parabens, So we’re told parabens are bad for our health and our skin but what actually ARE they? Bacteria? Bad particles? It’s a beauty myth that we’ve all commonly accepted without knowing much about them.
Which is why we caught up with the pros to find out what parabens actually are and why we should be boycotting them. 
LAUNCHMETRICS SPOTLIGHT What are parabens? Consultant Dermatologist, says, ‘Parabens are a group of preservatives that are widely used in topical pharmaceutical products. They are also used in cosmetics, skin care products, medications, foods, and industrially in oils, fats, shoe polishes, textiles and glues.
- ‘Despite being cheap and for the mass markets, they are also added to many luxury sector skin and cosmetic products.
- Parabens started to be added to products in the 1950s and they are used primarily to prolong shelf life and also to prevent growth of bacteria/ mould etc within them.
- In chemical terms they’re a series of parahydroxybenzoates or esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid.’ Unfortunately, it’s not just a case of looking for ‘CONTAINS PARABENS’ on the bottle.
When it comes to studying the label of your favourite serum, the names to look out for are butylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben aka the most commonly found parabens. Why are parabens thought to be bad for us? According to Veraitch, ‘In recent years there have been growing concerns about the use of parabens in self care products. A British study found 19 out of 20 women studied had parabens in their breast tissue. This has caused concern as it showed that the parabens in self care products don’t just sit on the skin but they can be integrated and remain into our bodily tissues.
From such data it has been speculated that parabens could potentially lead to cancer formation. ‘There is also some evidence that parabens can mimic the effect of oestrogen, which has again in turn been linked to cancer formations and infertility. Parabens can also commonly cause skin sensitivities and allergies.
The skin sensitivities and allergies occur by repeated exposure of parabens to the skin, and then the immune cells in the skin slowly but significantly mounting an immune response to when parabens subsequently come into contact with the skin.’ Why are parabens bad for the environment? Parabens aren’t just bad for humans, they impact the environment too. 
Courtesy of Press Office So should we stop using parabens ASAP? Don’t panic. It’s important to note that the percentage of preservative in a formulation is generally very small. But, as Dr Veraitch concludes,’I would not use or recommend using skincare products that contain parabens, and the beauty industry needs to start paying more attention to what we are recommending consumers put on their skin.
Does lipstick contain parabens?
PARABENS – Parabens are a group of compounds commonly used as a preservative in cosmetics to increase their shelf life. In fact, more than 80 percent of common beauty products contain parabens, from lotions and lipsticks to skin creams and shampoo. Parabens have been linked to tumors, breast cancer, weight gain, birth abnormalities and even depression. 
Are paraben-free products better?
Parabens are a category of chemical preservatives that have been used in beauty products since the 1920s, The beauty industry has long relied on parabens to increase the shelf life of products such as:
shampoosconditionersskin care productssoaps
But over the past decade, the side effects of long-term exposure to parabens have become a cause for concern. While nearly all beauty products use some kind of preservatives to make their products last longer, paraben-free cosmetics may be safer to use.
Are paraben-free products good?
5 Reasons to switch to paraben-free products – 
A paraben-free skincare product may be better for your health than a product that contains harmful chemicals. Parabens are chemicals found in cosmetics, body washes and lotions, They are preservatives that prevent bacteria and fungus from growing in products. Lidocaine is also a topical numbing medication containing parabens. There are many reasons to switch to paraben-free products:
Parabens are chemicals commonly found in cosmetics. Although the FDA asserts that they pose no health risk, some scientists believe long-term exposure may cause cancerous growths. Parabens can disrupt the human endocrine system and cause hormonal imbalances. Products with parabens may cause allergic reactions in some people. Some experts believe that parabens may adversely affect pregnant women. Parabens are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can affect your hormones and metabolism.
Which is more harmful sulfate or paraben?
Why Shift To Sulfate – Free And Paraben – Free Soaps And Shampoos The latest trend in the world of personal grooming is “pareben-free and sulfate-free” shampoos and soaps. These products are often labelled as “natural”. They are much more expensive than regular products that we normally use.
And, to top it all, they don’t even lather properly! But, what are parabens and sulfates? And, why are all shopping apps telling us to invest an arm and a leg in them? Here’s all you need to know about parabens and sulfates in shampoos and soaps, and whether it is important to shift to chemical-free products.
What are sulfates and parabens Sulfates and parabens are chemicals used in soaps and shampoos. Sulfates are basically surfactants – they are the cleansing agent. In other words, they amplify the cleansing effect of the product and strip away oil, grime, etc.
- Parabens, on the other hand, are chemicals used to increase the shelf-life of the products and prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.
- Basically, they are used as a preservative in water-based grooming products such as soaps and shampoos.
- Why are sulfates and parabens harmful? Sulfates can leave your skin and hair feeling really dry, as they take away all the natural oils.
They can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, or scalp. They can cause hair fall. Long-term use can also cause problems in the lungs. It is also to be noted that sulfates are derived from petroleum, and hence, its use is harmful to the environment. Parabens, on the other hand, can cause allergic reactions or can make dermatitis worse, especially in children.
- They can cause hormonal disruption in the body as an endocrine disruptor.
- As a result, they can even lead to breast cancer.
- In fact, paraben concentrations have been found in breast tumours, especially the malignant ones.
- How to recognise them? If your shampoo or soap lathers, then it contains sulfates.
If you want to be absolutely sure, the ingredients list should reveal if it contains any sulfate compound. The two main sulfates are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Apart from these, any other ingredient with the word, “sulfate” in it is an obvious way to recognise it.
- To recognise parabens, the only thing to depend on is the ingredients list on the label of your shampoo or soap.
- Parabens are marked as propylparaben, butylparaben, and methylparaben.
- But, be careful.
- It’s not just words with “paraben” in They may also be present in your products as Alkyl parahydroxy benzoates.
What products to use? To get rid of sulfates, look for products that use natural cleansers derived from fruits and vegetables. Milder chemical alternatives in cleanser can be glucosides, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, disodium laureth, isethionates, and betaines, though some people may be allergic.
To stir clear of parabens, you can select products that contain ethylhexylglycerin, derived from plants, or phenoxyethanol, made from ether alcohol. These are used as alternatives of parabens in shampoos, soaps and, and other cosmetic products. Conclusion: So, to sum it up, it is a good idea to take a little time out and find soaps and shampoos that are sulfate-free and paraben-free.
There are several brands, including drugstore brands at reasonable prices, that offer shampoos, soaps, and cosmetics that are safe to use.
Are parabens worse than sulfates?
Below are some of the reasons we’ve decided to make sure that everything in the hair care line is free of parabens and harmful sulfates (among other -free things). – It’s most likely been a common thing in your routine for a while to pick up something you’re buying for dinner and mull over the ingredient list.
The ingredient-conscious consumer has existed in the food realm since the hippy movement began (or the beginning of Whole Foods). It seems now the beauty industry has started taking notice of their consumers carefully reading ingredient lists on everything from mascara to shampoo. There are tons of labels now marketed as “paraben-free” or “free of harmful sulfates”.
So now thanks to the major campaigns against these types of ingredients, we know that they are “harmful”. but do we really know why they’re harmful (and harmful in what way)? Is it passing fad or are these things something we should take more seriously? So what are parabens and sulfates? Why are they used so frequently in products? Parabens are the most frequently used chemical in personal care products to preserve them from growing fungus, bacteria or microbes.
- Sulfates are the chemicals in a product that cleanse and causes the great lathering experience used in body washes, shampoo, toothpaste etc.
- We hear you “but I love the feeling of my shampoo lathering” “I don’t want bacteria in my products, parabens don’t seem so bad!” What kind of harm are we talking about? Well, there are many studies that have shown that parabens have a slight ability to mimic estrogen which can cause problems in the body’s cells and parabens have even been found in breast cancer tumors.
Sulfates have been linked in studies to leave residue in the heart, lungs and even the brain. While there haven’t been any conclusive studies that link these chemicals to cancer, there are researchers that feel there should be cause for concern. The conversation will continue to expand as more research is done on the possible causes of breast cancer and other harmful effects. 
products made with only good stuff free of parabens, gluten and harmful sulfates — always Beyond potentially causing internal problems, sulfates are also bad for your hair (something we definitely don’t want!). Sulfates can irritate your scalp, fade your color, dry your hair out and in some cases aid in hair loss.
While sulfates are the cleansing agent that helps to rid your hair of build-up, make sure to look for products that have alternatives. BAD NEWS: These ingredients are really common and could potentially cause you harm however GOOD NEWS: there are natural alternatives to these chemicals that companies can start using now that consumers are demanding it.
Verb Shampoos still lather and don’t grow bacteria because we’ve made it a goal to use a natural alternative to these chemicals in all our products. 
shampoos whether you want body, hydration, texture, or a mild cleanser, we’ve got a shampoo for you We love the lathering process, feeling like your hair is getting clean in the shower is important to us so we decided to use sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSA) as an alternative. hair care made easy Salon-quality hair care without the cost.
Does CeraVe have parabens in it?
Sulfate-free. Paraben-free. Introducing two new ways to gently cleanse with CeraVe® Eczema Soothing Body Wash and CeraVe® Hydrating Body Wash. Susan Yvonne and 128 others like this.