Parabens are tiny things when you look at them individually. They are so small that no one even mentioned them a few years ago. They are very inexpensive preservatives used in cosmetics. Parabens keep products from “going bad”. That wouldn’t be such a bad thing except that they are a little controversial. This little, tiny ingredient likes to hang out with methyl and ethyl. Together they have a bit of a reputation. Parabens can closely mimic estrogen. That wouldn’t be so bad, but too much estrogen can be linked to breast cancer. Are you following me? There is no finite link between Parabens and cancer, but there are a lot of signs that say “use at your own risk.” So why not err on the side of caution? That is what many skin care and makeup lines are doing these days.
While some products market themselves as “safe”, “natural”, “organic”, etc., please take a few moments to read the ingredients on the label. Since the evidence against Parabens is not conclusive, the labels may be misleading. So what does that have to do with your skin care? Everything!
How many products do you use in a day? At first you may think that you don’t use that many. So let’s start from the beginning. 1.toothpaste 2. mouthwash 3. bodywash 4. shampoo 5. conditioner 6. hair spray/gel 7.face wash 8.toner 9. serum 10. moisturizer 11. sunscreen 12. body lotion.—and you still haven’t put on any makeup at all. Let’s keep it simple 13.foundation 14. concealer 15. blush 16. eye shadow 17. eyeliner 18. mascara 19. lip moisturizer 20. lipstick
Didn’t seem like a big deal at first. But, if each one of these products has at least one Paraben ingredient, look how many Parabens will enter your blood stream on a given day. That is not even mentioning the products that we reapply throughout the day like hand lotion and lip moisturizer.
There is a reason its important to be green when it comes to your skin care. It’s not only about how your skin looks, but it’s also about taking care of your entire body! Choose wisely when it come to your products, every little thing adds up.
[Editor’s Note: to check Parabens in your product ingredient lists go to http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/]
