Is Sulfate & Paraben-Free Truly Worth It?

What Are Parabens?

A paraben is a preservative often used in many beauty products as it prevents the growth of bacteria and fungus in shampoos, conditions, and some makeup. They are water-soluble chemicals that are the most utilized preservative packaged in cosmetic products. The different types of parabens include butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and isobutylparaben. They can also be tricker to notice compared to sulfates when it comes to reading labels, as some parabens can have alternative names without the word 'paraben' in it, such as Alkyl parahydroxybenzoates. Generally, a product will contain as little as 0.15 to 0.3 percent of a paraben by weight.

The use of parabens in cosmetics has been used for approximately seventy years. However, scientists have recently begun to question their safety and effects on human health, as it is believed parabens might be a carcinogen, but further research is needed to prove this theory.