Let me explain what is paraben. Simply put it is a synthetic product preservative. The purpose of a paraben is to make the product last longer on the shelf.
Kinds of Parabens
Please note this: There are many kinds of parabens. To name a few: methylparaben, isoparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, etc. Beware of any ingredient that ends in -paraben.
Parabens are not included in safe skin care products. Companies that care about your health will not put any kind of paraben in their product. There are other safe ways to preserve a skin care product.
For a product to be really natural it will not have any synthetic ingredients in it. Parabens are synthetic and are potentially harmful. They are not necessary in any skin care product. Avoid them please.
Here are some steps you can take BEFORE you buy a product.
1. If you are in a store, you can just read the label.
I suggest very strongly to not buy any over the counter skin care products, especially in expensive high end department stores. They may not tell if parabens are in their product. Makers of cosmetics are required to list their ingredients unless it is fragrance and that is exempt as a "trade secret." Beware of any product that list "fragrance" as an ingredient.
2. If you are now using a skin care product you should see if the company has a website. If it does, do they list the ingredients? Look for parabens and fragrances.
3. Ask the company if they use parabens and why do they? Ask if parabens are dangerous? (They are at least highly suspicious.)
If your cosmetic company or any company won't give you a straightforward answer, you may want to buy from some company who is responsive and responsible. That's what I did and I found one that not only answered my questions but had a full disclosure of its ingredents plus a ton of helpful information. For more information on parabens see: http://www.AHealthyRadiantSkin.com
Paraben free products are the future trend of safe skin care. Companies will be forced by health minded customers to take the natural and safe approach in making their products rather than the cheap and easy way.
In conclusion please note that any product that has parabens in it is probably not in your best health interest. Use a product from a company that has paraben free products. I'd be happy to help you find such a company. -Margaret Bell
