Are You Aware That Your Beauty Products Have This Toxic Ingredient?
Do you have that one friend who pursues a healthy lifestyle? A friend who is conscious of everything they eat, buy, use and discard? Well, I have not one but many such friends. It was sometime back that I noticed that people around me were shifting towards a better way of living.
They prefer using chemical-free products, question the presence of specific ingredients in products, advocate the need to go chemical-free and give various ideas and alternatives.
After listening to them, I tried giving it a shot and, believe me, it has been great. This has made me mindful of what we use and consume and how it affects us. The main thing that got my attention was the heavy usage of chemicals in all our self-care products. I found that many products contain Parabens which is considered as an essential ingredient in many products by the beauty industry. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that parabens are the most utilised preservative in cosmetic products. Hair colourants too have lots of parabens in them.
With so many products having parabens, we need to understand why they are used and the kind of effects and risks that we face due to the constant exposure to parabens daily.
Do you know what parabens are?
Most of us use packaged products for various purposes every day. These products make our lives easier and are generally mass-produced to increase production and meet needs. The products are meant to last longer bearing in mind factors such as the process and time involved for manufacturing and transporting the goods through different geographies to reach the final consumer. To keep them fresh for longer preservatives such as parabens are added.
Parabens are synthetic chemical compounds which were commercialised in the 1950s and are being used as preservatives since then. They are used in products to prevent the growth of bacteria and microbes. Parabens are affordable when compared to others. Their effectiveness as broad-spectrum preservatives and ready availability in the market are other reasons for their widespread use.
Some home products that you never thought would have parabens
Parabens are mainly found in topical pharmaceutical preparations. They are also found in:
- Cosmetics such as foundations, concealers, powders, blushes, bronzers, lipstick, eye-liners, shadows, mascara, makeup removers, etc.
- Hair products such as hair colours, shampoos, conditioners, serums, etc.
- Pharmaceutical or self-hygiene products such as eye, ear and nose drops, soaps, creams, moisturisers, deodorants, sunscreens, toothpaste, etc.
- Food products such as salad dressings, frozen dairy products, processed vegetables, fruit juices, soft drinks, jams, candies, etc.
Be aware of these in the ingredient list
The different types and names of parabens used include:
- Ethylparaben
- Methylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Benzylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Isobutylparaben
- Alkyl para hydroxy benzoates
The many dangers of continuously using parabens
Parabens were considered safe up until the 2000s. It was thought that they were ousted from the body through urine and sweat. But, research conducted in recent years proves that parabens stay back in the body and their presence leads to grave diseases.
Understand how parabens jeopardise your health
Beauty care products usually contain parabens. When we apply or use these products, parabens in them are absorbed into our body through our hair and skin. This is a matter of concern. Doctors, after many years of research, established the presence of parabens in the urine and bloodstream of people. This shows the toxic nature of parabens and how it is unnecessary for the human body.
It has been proved time and again by various studies that parabens have properties similar to estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone found in women that causes breast cells to grow and divide. The continuous exposure to parabens could eventually interfere with reproductive and brain functions because it will disrupt the hormonal balance in the body.
The Journal of Applied Toxicology has even reported findings that parabens have been found in human breast cancer tumours.
While it affects us in so many issues internally, the damage parabens causes can be visible on the outside as well. Ask people with sensitive skin to understand it better. And, if you colour your hair with dyes that contain parabens, the side-effects can be scarring.
Think twice before using hair dyes containing parabens
- Parabens, due to their toxic content, cause definitive damage to the hair and scalp. Itchy and dry scalp, fading of the hair colour and hair loss are some of the problems that we, as users, face when using hair colours with parabens.
- Parabens have properties to instigate allergic reactions and aggravate certain skin conditions
- Hair dyes that contain parabens can start off contact dermatitis in users.
- Parabens can easily have adverse effects on the immune system, as well as upset the developmental and reproductive systems because of its toxicity.
Regrettably, despite the many evidence of the harm that parabens can cause, they are still commonly used in many products. After reading up and witnessing first-hand the damage that parabens cause, I have stopped using paraben-containing products, and so can you. It requires some conscious efforts and concentrated buying, but it is not impossible.
Paraben-free products — A win-win for brands and consumers
If you think from a company’s perspective, using parabens increases the shelf life of their products. The expiry date can be extended considerably. Their idea is to produce items that last-longer and be an economical buy for the consumer. But, at what cost? I guess you will also agree that our overall health is more important.
With that being the case, brands will also slowly start producing and establishing a paraben-free product range as a response to increasing public concern and regulatory actions.
The process has already started. Effective alternatives to parabens are looked up for this. Some brands have realised that the shorter shelf life of products doesn’t matter anymore. They have realised that preservative-free or paraben-free products, when used regularly, are likely to be finished within the recommended time. This will create a steady business for them.
Easy ways to adopt a paraben-free lifestyle
In case you still hesitate to opt for paraben-free products, here is a simple logic. There is so much doubt and debate around parabens, so it is best to avoid using them until they are proven to be safe.
If you think it will be a sudden shift to abandon all the products on your shelf as they contain parabens, then the solution is moderation. Do some homework by comparing the options available in the market and find the best alternatives. If not overnight, then slowly and gradually move to paraben-free products. You can look for products that have natural ingredients and are paraben-free.
Also, start making it a habit to thoroughly check the product label before purchasing the item.
Products without parabens are marketed well with a paraben-free sign written in bold. Since it is the USP, brands ensure that it is well visible in the packaging so that people notice and pick the product. I have made the shift and currently use a paraben-free hair colour which is absolutely brilliant. The product is without any trace of paraben, ammonia, resorcinol, PPD, SLS and silicones. In addition to that, it helps make my hair softer, shinier and smoother, as it contains argan oil, jojoba oil, cocoa oil, and keratin.
Additionally, when choosing paraben-free or preservative-free products, remember to look for airtight packaging. This minimises the exposure of the product to open air and helps limit bacteria growth. Also, keep an eye out on the expiry day and throw out the product the day it expires.
I hope you will now be pretty convinced of eliminating parabens from your cosmetic shelf and mainly, from your hair products.
