Parabens are a group of chemicals that have been shown to have oestrogenic (hormonal) properties. Most of the other major cosmetic company formulas use Parabens in their products. Any substance that has the potential to raise the oestrogen level in the body is to be discouraged.

Parabens are the most frequently used cosmetic preservative. You may see them as methylparaben, propylparaben, etc. We have chosen not to use them because they are strongly suspected to be linked with breast cancer. Recommended reading: "State of the Evidence," the 2004 report from the Breast Cancer Fund. - top -

Parabens are chemical preservatives added to personal care products for extending shelf life, and widely used in tens of thousand types of cosmetic products today. Four main parabens are in use: methyl, ethyl, propyl and butylparabens; many products will have 2 or more of these chemicals as part of a preservative system. Even the definition of parabens is scary, as it states, "..

Health-and-Fitness:Beauty] Judging by the number of anti aging skin products that contain parabens, you'd have to think they contribute in a big way in protecting the skin from aging. Well this isn't quite true.

I am looking into making your own cosmetics and skincare products from natural ingredients and can see why parabens are used. (although there is still no excuse for them and their toxic effects) When using water (aqua)or milk in a skin care product such as a face cream, preservative needs to be used to avoid dangerous micro-organisms from multiplying within the product.

Parabens are a class of preservatives (ingredients that help to prevent microbial contamination) that have been used in a wide variety of foods, drugs, and cosmetics to keep products safe. Parabens have a long history of use in these products, and have been specifically recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel reviewed their use in cosmetics and concluded that they were safe.

The paraben system of preserving personal care products is one of the most common methods used in our industry today. As some question has been raised recently within the medical community about whether parabens should continue to be used, derma e? Natural Bodycare has chosen to use alternative preservative systems recognized by the natural health industry as safe and effective.

A Any product containing a mixture of oils and water must have preservatives to prevent the growth of mould and harmful bacteria. In our opinion and that of our manufacturers, at this moment in time, parabens remain the most effective preservatives for the job. A great deal of research has been done into the long-term safety of parabens and until such time as a viable, natural alternative is available we will continue to use these products.