Parabens
*Originally published January 0f 2020, updated September 2023.
Parabens are routinely used as antimicrobial preservatives in everyday products from cosmetics, skincare, and household products to pharmaceuticals and food and beverage processing.
Why You Should Avoid Parabens
Our exposure to parabens is real. Parabens were detected in 99% of 2,548 urine samples in a 2010 CDC study. (Samples were taken from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included people age 6 or older in the US.) [1] Personal care products and products are one of the largest contributors to our exposure of parabens. A 2018 study showed that adolescent girls who wear makeup daily have 20 times the amount of propylparaben detected in their urine versus those who do not or rarely wear makeup.
Adverse Health Effects of Paraben Exposure
Parabens are endocrine disrupting chemicals which means they interfere with the production of hormones and hormone receptor sites. For example, studies indicate that parabens may mimic estrogen in the body. [2][3] Other findings from studies on parabens indicate the following:
Parabens may stimulate tumor cells
Parabens in products are associated with early puberty markers
Parabens may enable characteristics of cancer
Prenatal paraben exposure may increase risk of childhood obesity
Recently, a study showed that reducing exposure to parabens reverses accumulation of cancer associated phenotypes. Specifically in this study, subjects’ exposure to parabens and phthalates were reduced through substituting conventional products with paraben and phthalate-free products and pro carcinogenic gene expression profiles were reversed. A Study from the University of California Berkeley found an earlier onset of puberty in girls associated with higher paraben levels.[4]
““A 2023 study showed that reducing exposure to parabens in products reverses the accumulation of cancer associated phenotypes.””
How To Avoid Parabens
Reduce your exposure to parabens by first reading the ingredient label on the back of product packaging. Look for words ending in “paraben” such as methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, and isopropylparaben and avoid products containing these.
Products within all price ranges contain parabens, even those considered “luxury” beauty brands with high price tags. Some products I have come across that contain parabens include:
Cerave SA lotion
Maybelline Great Lash mascara
Lancome Definicils mascara
Revlon ColorStay liquid eyeliner
Stila Stay All Day liquid eyeliner
Chanel Vitalumier Aqua foundation
Laura Mercier Invisible Pressed setting powder
Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow
Parabens References & Resources
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20056562
[2] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jat.3027
[3] https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.1409200
[4] https://news.berkeley.edu/2018/12/03/prenatal-exposure-to-chemicals-in-personal-care-products-may-speed-puberty-in-girls/
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653523002813?via%3Dihub#sec3
