And the argument that parabens are safe and that many parabens are legitimate isn’t very interesting in the age of clickbait. “‘Parabens are probably safe’ is less appealing than ‘parabens in breast cancer tumors,'” Dobos says.
“Alternatives to parabens are less tested and less effective.”
Because microorganisms thrive in dark, moist environments, beauty products usually require a preservative system. For example, a cream in an opaque tube. And parabens are a kind of unicorn preservative. Firstly, it is very effective in protecting milk powder from various microorganisms, even at very low concentrations. That means you don’t need them as much to enjoy its benefits. Plus, “it’s affordable,” Plescia says.
They are also very easy to handle and perform well in both high and low pH environments. This is not a common characteristic of preservatives. Take off your foundation. If you want a paraben-free formula, use benzoic acid instead, Dobos says. However, this foundation may contain ultramarine blue, a pigment used to extend the range of shades to suit different skin tones. Ultramarine blue does not perform well in acidic environments such as those produced with benzoic acid. That’s because the combination can produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which “smells like rotten eggs.” A foundation that smells like farts? Not a great marketing strategy.
Due to their versatility, parabens have long been used fairly universally in beauty products, especially water-based products such as moisturizers, foundations, body lotions, and liquid concealers. And simply replacing them with alternative preservatives was not so easy. For example, you might be willing to accept a foundation that smells like farts, but the reality is that “parabens have replaced them…they’re newer and less tested.” [for both safety and efficacy]and they don’t work well,” Romanowski says. For example, one alternative is a mixture of sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, which are pH-limited ingredients. It is only effective against microorganisms in acidic environments, such as those found in vitamin C serums and facial peels. Alkaline formulas (those with high pH levels), such as hair removal creams and some cleansers, won’t help. Another alternative to parabens may be benzyl alcohol, which “is a known allergen for about 4 to 5 percent of the population,” Romanowski says. When it comes to consumers responding to products, this is a very high percentage.
Not just benzyl alcohol. Few of these new preservatives are as benign as parabens. the study It was found to be one of the least sensitizing categories of preservatives. In fact, “one of the biggest problems created by the avoidance of parabens is that sensitization to alternative preservatives is becoming more widespread,” says Dr. Sadegpur. “They have sparked an epidemic of allergic contact dermatitis around the world.” In fact, the European Union has banned two common paraben substitutes, methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone, from being included in leave-in products such as moisturizers.
Source: Allure – www.allure.com
