The ads may be good to see but all the skin-care products you see on them are not good for you. In a world where we are conscious about food we eat similarly we should be aware and conscious about the food we give to our skin.
Everyone is talking about parabens as a threat now. Advertisers, product reviewers, skin consultants, and even our friends advise us to look at the ingredient list to see if parabens have been added. But do you know what paraben is, why it is used in products mainly in cosmetics and why it is said to be avoided? Here, in this article, we will tell you all about parabens in an easy and crisp way that a common buyer should be aware of.
"Paraben" is not the name of any particular thing, but it is a category or group of preservative ingredients used in cosmetics, personal hygiene products, food products, and industrially in oils, fats, shoe polishes, textiles and glues and pharmaceuticals. For the first time use of parabens started in 1950. They are used to prevent the growth of fungi, bacteria, and yeast that can possibly spoil the product. By extending the products' shelf lives and making them safe for the families who use them, they thereby directly contribute to the quality of the items.
Types of Paraben
Parabens are derived from esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA), also called as parahydroxybenzoates. PHBA is also naturally formed in the human body by the breakdown of some amino acids? Many of the producers use parabens in cosmetics that are identical to those found in nature, and the human body quickly changes them into natural PHBA and eliminates them.
Some of the broadly used parabens are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben, and isobutylparaben may be used in products such as makeup, moisturizers, and hair care products. In order to safeguard consumers and keep the integrity of the product, preservatives like parabens may be used in cosmetics to inhibit microbiological growth.
Did you know some fruits, such as blueberries, contain parabens as a naturally occurring preservative. When reading the label of your skin care product, whether it's a moisturizer, a serum, or stretch mark cream, you need to keep an eye out for three parabens that are most frequently used are butylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben.
Why are parabens thought to be bad?
In recent years, there have been growing concerns about the use of parabens in self-care products. A British study found 19 out of 20 women studied had parabens in their breast tissue (Source: Elle e-magazine). It showed that the parabens in self-care products don't just sit on the skin but can penetrate our body’s tissues. Some data and studies even speculate that parabens could potentially lead to cancer formation, disrupt hormones, affect fertility and reproductive organs.
In some cases, parabens can also commonly cause skin sensitivities and allergies. possibly affect the sensitivity and immunity of the skin.
Stretchmarks cream is applied on a wider space compared to any other skin care products. Stretch Mark is a sensitive and emotional topic for many. Our experts say, for effective results stretch marks creams should be used in advance and even after getting the scars. It makes it easier to lighten the marks. Since stretch mark cream market is not so aggressive compared to other skin products and on the other hand it is used for an extensive time period for promising results, manufacturers use preservatives/paraben to the product.
Therefore, while deciding a stretchmarks cream you need to see the ingredients carefully and whether the product is safe to use, whether tested and if its paraben free.
Here are some of the common issues with paraben plus products:
The use of paraben can make the skin go dry
Through the use of paraben, the skin can get brittle, swollen, develop rashes and several other problems
It may even result in contact dermatitis
Parabens may cause the skin-aging faster
How to make an educated decision before buying a skincare product
With consumers demanding transparency in beauty labels and their formulations, with an eye on safety and sustainability, It's important to check that the percentage of preservative in a formulation is generally very small or best if its paraben-free/preservative free.
When people choose convenience and low-priced alternatives flooding the market, they have to compromise on the quality of the product too. And, as a wise and educated consumer, you would not choose something that is inexpensive but harmful in the long run. However, due to increasing awareness all around, people are starting to realize the long-term harmful effects of chemicals and paraben-laden products.
When it comes to stretch mark cream, let's not be casual. Stretchmarks can come on any area of your body, like your abdomen, thighs, arms, chest, and waist-lines. Stretch-mark creams are used for pre and post-tenure, where you need to be very careful while selecting a stretchmarks cream. Lifezen’s Inostretch stretchmarks cream is paraben free, dermatologically tested and clinically tested. Which assures you of safe topical usage.
It's not just checking out the ingredient and whether any paraben is used in the product but you must check the certifications and testing.