Not all beauty products are created equal. Not all makeup is makeup that is good for your skin. In this day and age, we as consumers are becoming more and more increasing aware of what we put into our bodies and what we put on our bodies. Don’t we all want makeup that is good for your skin? The answer is yes! Unfortunately not all makeup is considered makeup that is good for your skin. Studies have begun to show the negative effects a wide variety of chemicals that are used in our everyday beauty products such as Sulfates, Phthalates and Parabens. So what ingredients are bad? What ingredients are harmless and which are harmful makeup ingredients?
Awareness is increasing in skincare and beauty. You do not have to be a trained professional or dermatologist to recognize the word paraben. Parabens have been moved to the danger list…but what do we really know about parabens. The recent fad has been No Parabens…but what exactly are in the products if Parabens are removed. What are Parabens? Why are they included in cosmetics in the first place? Do they do harm or are these products with Parabens included considered makeup that is good for your skin.
What are Parabens?
Unfortunately I do not think most would be able to state what exactly is a paraben. We have all been swept up in the fad of excluding Parabens without actually knowing what they are.
Parabens are a preservative! Yes they are a type of preservative that was initially introduced in the 1950s. The main purpose of Parabens is to ensure a long product shelf life. Many cosmetics products use Parabens to prevent mold and bacteria to grow. About 85% of all makeup products have Parabens in them. That is a pretty astounding figure. Parabens are cheap and effective, meaning that they are meant to preserve products and they do. Parabens are chemicals, each with distinct molecular structure.
If you are perusing the labels on your favorite beauty products, you can look for these common AKAs. Usually products have a combo of a few Parabens that they use a little cocktail to preserve their product. They do so to cover all bases with the many microorganisms that exist to prevent mold and bacteria growing.
Common Names for Parabens include:
- Butylparaben
- Methylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Isobutylparabel
- Isopropylparaben
*Basically if it ends in -Paraben…ITS A PARABEN
What type of cosmetics/makeup have Parabens?
Where to start! Parabens are found in so many cosmetics…and foods and drugs!
Common places include:
- Moisturizers
- Lotions/Skin Care
- Makeup/Cosmetics
- Facial & Shower Cleansers/Scrubs
- Makeup removers
- Hair Care Products like shampoos and conditioners
- Shaving Creams/Products
- Mascara
- Foundations
How did Parabens get the bad reputation and why are they good for your skin?
Parabens extend the shelf life of the cosmetics products we own. This we know. Have you ever looked at your lipstick, eyeshadow, or favorite foundation? Some of these items have a shelf life of 12 months or more! This is due to Parabens. However once you apply these products to your face and skin, you are also letting the Parabens into your skin. Once Parabens enter the skin they can enter the tissues of the body and remain there…living on within you.
Parabens have been linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues. They allegedly disrupt hormone functions causing too much estrogen which causes tumor growth.
In 2004, cancer researchers found Parabens in malignant breast tumors proving again that Parabens are linked to breast cancer. Researchers found Parabens in 19 of the 20 breast tumors of the women that were studied. The studies showed that the Parabens were intact, showing that even after the body metabolized the paraben, it did not break it down.
Due to these findings in the 1990s and in the early 200s, many countries felt it wise to put limits on paraben amounts in products. However, they are still being used!
The real danger is that Parabens store themselves in the body. It is the dangers over time that pose the biggest health risks for us.
Yet the US Food & Drug Administration still consider Parabens safe at low levels. Parabens disrupt the endocrine system, they are chemicals that are easily absorbed into the body through the skin, blood, and digestive tract.
Studies have shown that nearly all US adults have Parabens in their system. In one study, they found that adult females and adolescents had the highest levels of Parabens in their urine verses males of similar age.
Are Cosmetics Regulated? Does the FDA even care?
Nope! There are no rules that apply to preservatives in cosmetics. No specific or unique or special rules or regulations. Other than color additives, the FDA does not need to approve any ingredients or products before they hit market. Wow, that is frightening. Under the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetics Act, cosmetic ingredients and products do not need approval of the FDA before being sold to consumers. The only rule besides color additives, is that the instructions on the product must be safe. This means that the product must be labeled correctly with proper directions. So if it says only use a pea size, it may be best to follow the directions because who knows what could happen to you if you use more than the specified amount.
Parabens Affect the Environment!
Unfortunately the actions of humans and human kind continue to negatively affect the environment. Parabens are not just bad for humans and not our bodies…but also extremely bad for the environment. Parabens have contaminated the sewage system, going into the water, and affecting the environment as a result. It is believed that when we wash these products down the drain, they contaminate the earth. Parabens are being found in animals that they were never found in before and this is due to human error and cause.
How to Choose Makeup that is Good for Your Skin
First it all begins with awareness. We are becoming more and more aware of what we put in our bodies as well as what we put on our skin. Parabens are cheap..hence why they are so readily found in products. Thankfully, Brands are stepping up and providing new, synthetic free products. These products work just as effectively so there is no longer a need to use products with Parabens and other artificial preservatives.
Be mindful! Be mindful of what you put on your skin. For body lotions or products that are used all over the body, reach for a paraben-free product. Try using oil based organic makeup that is good for your skin. Oil based meaning something like coconut oil/palm oil or a similar naturally derived ingredient. Avoid products where the main ingredient is water as that will need a preservative like a paraben. There are many safe, parabens free brands that have stepped up and created great products. You can also find organic makeup removers that are free of parabens and other harsh chemicals. Some of the most effective makeup removers use natural oils to remove makeup and leave the skin rejuvenated and protected from environmental stress. You can check out our favorite cleansing oil here.
Incredible Paraben-Free Cosmetic Companies that Create Makeup That is Good for Your Skin.
- Origin
- Affordable Mineral Makeup
- Affusion Skin Care
- Afterglow Cosmetics
- Agoo Agii
- Amurie Toxic Free Products
- Aubrey Organics
- As Naturel Botanicals
- Baan Bodycare
- Barefoot Botanicals
- Beach Organics Skin Care
- Beauty Cosmedics
- Beessential
- BienElla,LLC
- Burts Bees
- Josie Maran
- Blue Moon Herbals & Aromatics
- Botanical Skin Works
- Brightside Skincare
- Korres
- Coastal Classics Creations
- Colby Organic
- Haleys Beauty
- Crystalux Personal Care Products
- Earths Beauty Cosmetics
- Earth Science
- Evan Healy
- Ferlow Botanicals
- Garden Girl Skin Care
- Geoskincare
- Grateful Body
- Iredale Mineral Cosmetics
- Juice Beauty
- Makeup Junky
- Organic Complexion
- Organic Essentials Skincare
- Real Purity Cosmetics
If you are looking for the best organic skin care products, reviews and brands you can find them here in our full guide.
***This is not medical advice, this is an opinion. Thank you for visiting***
