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Scientists have already proven that parabens are safe, and we have already realized that the life of cosmetics without them tends to zero. But some online sources continue to intimidate users with the harmful properties of parabens. Let’s see which side is the truth.
What are parabens and where are they used?
Parabens are literally everywhere now: in face cream, in cough mixture, in barbecue sauce. It’s time to discuss how justified the talk about their harm, and even more so the horror stories that frighten consumers with potential diseases. By the way, do you know what parabens are?
Parabens, also known as esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, are known as super-powerful preservatives that have been used in the beauty, pharmaceutical and food industries for over 50 years.
Technologists have fallen in love with parabens for their antiseptic properties: these substances effectively resist the growth of fungi in food, cosmetics, and medical preparations.
Functions of parabens
When asked why parabens are needed, there are several answers at once. For example, they prevent the development of harmful microflora: mold and other fungi, as well as bacteria. In addition, they are used to stabilize the formula and correctly mix all its components.
Parabens are an excellent preservative
Parabens are preservatives that are widely used to protect food, medicines and cosmetics from microbiological contamination (bacteria and fungi).
For cosmetic formulas, synthesized parabens are used, but they are also found in nature:
in some plants (red fruits, vanilla, carrots, onions) and in food prepared from them;
in some types of cheese;
in bee products (propolis, royal jelly);
in the human body.
Types of parabens
There are two types of parabens: ordinary and specific (this is determined by the type of alcohol that interacts with para-hydroxybenzoic acid).
If you want to know if there are parabens in the formula of a cosmetic product, read the ingredients on the label. The list of ingredients usually includes one or more of the following items.
Ordinary parabens:
methylparabens (E218);
ethylparabens (E214);
propylparabens (E216);
butylparabens;
benzylparabens.
Parabens have antifungal activity
Specific parabens:
isobutylparabens;
isopropylparabens;
benzylparabens.
Benefits of Parabens
There are two main advantages of parabens over other preservatives:
low cost;
extremely high efficiency against bacteria.
None of the universally approved preservatives can be compared in terms of their bactericidal properties with parabens.
Potential risks
There have been discussions about parabens in cosmetics for several years now. These substances are able to bind to estrogen receptors in vitro, so it was suspected that they can affect reproductive function, provoke estrogen-dependent forms of cancer (for example, breast cancer).
Parabens have powerful antibacterial effects
However, the affinity of parabens for the estrogen receptor is about 1 million times weaker than that of estrogen (17-beta-estradiol) present in the human body. And so far there is no official evidence of the negative effects of these preservatives on our health.
During the experiments, it was found that parabens are practically non-toxic and are quickly excreted from the body. A direct relationship between cancer and the use of cosmetics with parabens in the course of studies has not been established.
Alternative means
For a long time, formalin producers were used as preservatives in cosmetics, now banned in many countries due to their toxicity and potential carcinogenicity.
Formalin was the first preservative used in the beauty industry, it was replaced bronopol, DMDM-hydantoin and other substances from this group. Over time, it turned out that all of them, when decomposed, give formaldehyde, with some degree of probability – carcinogenic.
These substances could be replaced chloromethylisothiazolinone и methylisothiazolinone. But clinical trials have shown that these components can cause an allergic reaction and become a catalyst for contact dermatitis.
They have a clear, but weak bactericidal property compared to parabens. ethylhexyl-glycerin и S5-S8 1,2-glycols. Usually these substances are added to their products by manufacturers of so-called eco-brands.
It can also be used as a very weak preservative. tea tree oil и grapefruit seed extract.
Parabens are used in the manufacture of various beauty products, from deodorants to lip gloss.
Parabens in cosmetics
Parabens are used in cosmetic formulas that contain water, from deodorant to lip gloss. Here they are responsible for the long shelf life and long-term operation of all active substances.
Even in low concentrations, parabens prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi, are resistant to heat and act in combination with other groups of preservatives.
In this group, ethylparabens and methylparabens are most often used, sometimes in combination. Less often – butylparaben and propylparaben.
It is parabens that should be thanked for the fact that our favorite cream is kept open for at least six months, and does not deteriorate after a week, like cosmetics made by hand in the kitchen.
Not so long ago, scientific experts from various international health authorities analyzed the toxicological data on four parabens (ethyl-, methyl-, propyl- and butylparabens) that are used in the beauty industry.
Scientists have confirmed that consumers can use them without any health risk. In this case, the concentrations for each paraben were adjusted.
Parabens serve as an essential microbiological protection for cosmetic formulas
L’Oréal’s position on the use of parabens in cosmetics is as follows.
We do not accept any compromise in terms of product quality and safety. Microbiological protection is one of the essential elements of product quality and safety.
We have been using parabens in certain categories of cosmetic products for decades. We include them in the formula only when necessary to guarantee effective protection against pathogens.
Our products primarily contain ethyl and methyl parabens, which have an exceptionally positive safety profile.
We carefully calibrate the concentrations of parabens to ensure the optimal level of microbiological protection for this product in strict accordance with international standards and guarantee their absolute safety for the consumer.
We have developed an innovative strategy to create special packaging systems and new formulas that are much less susceptible to microbiological contamination and thus limit the content of preservatives, including parabens.