What are Paraben's?

[SadieBoo]

Hi Guys,
I have just recieved samples of Aviva express. The rep was keen to tell me about it having less ingredients than others sunless tans.BUT reading through the igredients that it does have, i noticed that it contains paraben's which i can recall someone saying that they are not a good thing. Please can anyone tell me what they are? and how are they not a good thing?
Cheers
Sadie xxxxxx

 

[Ruth Mills]

I seem to remember that they are esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid. As well as being potentially allergenic to people who are sensitive to aspirin, I think they have been suggested as possible carcinogens.
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[Ruth Mills]

Parabens will be used as a preservative in the tanning solution though.
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[SadieBoo]

Thanks Ruth, but I'm a Little bit more confussed now, cause the attraction was that it is Hypoallergenic "formulated specifically for hypersensitive skin".

 

[Ruth Mills]

I will need to investigate further; it may only be an issue if the product is ingested (if a person is sensitive to aspirin). As I have heard of the preservative sodium benzoate (found in some fizzy drinks) causing problems for people with aspirin sensitivity and some asthmatics. With sodium benzoate and the parabens all being benzoic acid derivatives.
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[pure]

Have a read of this thread - http://www.salongeek.com/skin-geek/62690-parabens-cosmetics.html
You should find it very informative. :hug:

 

[TJReiki]

Hi Sadie
there has been, and continues to be extensive research on this subject - and various TV documentaries have been shown giving differing, but unbalanced views on their use, and their effects on us.

There are quite a few myths, and some scaremongering via the media, for example: One common beauty "myth" is srouded in scaremonger stories of no substance. There are concerns over the use of propylene glycol in beauty products because it is not so natural and is also used in antifreeze (so is water, by the way). However, propylene glycol is actually a food grade ingredient that has been used in skincare for a number of years, mostly for its humectant properties. It’s also to be found in many medicines such as ‘flu remedies and children’s cough syrups. Whilst large volumes of this paraben "may" not be particularly good for you, most skincare ranges containing this ingredianet use very small quantities.

Obviousely, this is just one example - but there are many more.

There are concerns that Sodium Lauryl Sulphate will strip the skin,.stripping the oil on your face and it can be irritating to sensitive skin. However, sodium lauryl sulphate is derived from plant oils such as coconut oil and palm kernel oil and can be made milder by introducing a petrochemical element and many companies use this milder version, therefore making it excelent for the mostsensitive skin.

There are many articles on the internet etc about all of this

Anyhow, hope this has been a little helpful?

Terry

Hi Guys,
I have just recieved samples of Aviva express. The rep was keen to tell me about it having less ingredients than others sunless tans.BUT reading through the igredients that it does have, i noticed that it contains paraben's which i can recall someone saying that they are not a good thing. Please can anyone tell me what they are? and how are they not a good thing?
Cheers
Sadie xxxxxx

 

[daisyl]

Hi Sadie
there has been, and continues to be extensive research on this subject - and various TV documentaries have been shown giving differing, but unbalanced views on their use, and their effects on us.

There are quite a few myths, and some scaremongering via the media, for example: One common beauty "myth" is srouded in scaremonger stories of no substance. There are concerns over the use of propylene glycol in beauty products because it is not so natural and is also used in antifreeze (so is water, by the way). However, propylene glycol is actually a food grade ingredient that has been used in skincare for a number of years, mostly for its humectant properties. It’s also to be found in many medicines such as ‘flu remedies and children’s cough syrups. Whilst large volumes of this paraben "may" not be particularly good for you, most skincare ranges containing this ingredianet use very small quantities.

Obviousely, this is just one example - but there are many more.

There are concerns that Sodium Lauryl Sulphate will strip the skin,.stripping the oil on your face and it can be irritating to sensitive skin. However, sodium lauryl sulphate is derived from plant oils such as coconut oil and palm kernel oil and can be made milder by introducing a petrochemical element and many companies use this milder version, therefore making it excelent for the mostsensitive skin.

There are many articles on the internet etc about all of this

Anyhow, hope this has been a little helpful?

Terry

Great post, based on relevant research. The word 'natural' is often banded about without any relevance or meaning. Great to see some balance.

 

[collin]

Great post, based on relevant research. The word 'natural' is often banded about without any relevance or meaning. Great to see some balance.

Couldnt agree more...fantastic posting :hug:

 

[gillian w]

Hi Sadie
there has been, and continues to be extensive research on this subject - and various TV documentaries have been shown giving differing, but unbalanced views on their use, and their effects on us.

There are quite a few myths, and some scaremongering via the media, for example: One common beauty "myth" is srouded in scaremonger stories of no substance. There are concerns over the use of propylene glycol in beauty products because it is not so natural and is also used in antifreeze (so is water, by the way). However, propylene glycol is actually a food grade ingredient that has been used in skincare for a number of years, mostly for its humectant properties. It’s also to be found in many medicines such as ‘flu remedies and children’s cough syrups. Whilst large volumes of this paraben "may" not be particularly good for you, most skincare ranges containing this ingredianet use very small quantities.

Obviousely, this is just one example - but there are many more.

There are concerns that Sodium Lauryl Sulphate will strip the skin,.stripping the oil on your face and it can be irritating to sensitive skin. However, sodium lauryl sulphate is derived from plant oils such as coconut oil and palm kernel oil and can be made milder by introducing a petrochemical element and many companies use this milder version, therefore making it excelent for the mostsensitive skin.

There are many articles on the internet etc about all of this

Anyhow, hope this has been a little helpful?

Terry

Yes very good i could have done with you a few days ago :lol:

 

[Jolicatellas]

Ruth is right they are para-hydroxybenzoic acid, see attached Paraben - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The issue with parabens, propylene glycol and SLES is that the big companies manufactor these synthetically, based on the plant derivative b/c synthetic is cheaper (and also better for the environment b/c plants are not culled to make the stuff - how's that for irony?). But as mentioned above they really are derived from plants.

To be honest... there is little proof that these chemicals are carconagenic & just b/c they are found in cancerous tissue doesn't necessarilty mean they caused the cancer - they could have just congregated to the area b/c it was more accepting to synthetic foreign bodies... who knows

Still, personally, I like to avoid them :green:

 

[Ruth Mills]

To be honest... there is little proof that these chemicals are carconagenic & just b/c they are found in cancerous tissue doesn't necessarilty mean they caused the cancer - they could have just congregated to the area b/c it was more accepting to synthetic foreign bodies... who knows

Absolutely! Makes me think of the "controversy" around a chemical sometimes known as "DHMO (dihydrogen monoxide)"... Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division - dihydrogen monoxide info :green:

 

[Jolicatellas]

There are quite a few myths, and some scaremongering via the media, for example: There are concerns over the use of propylene glycol in beauty products because it is not so natural...

There are concerns that Sodium Lauryl Sulphate will strip the skin,.stripping the oil on your face and it can be irritating to sensitive skin.
Terry

That (scaremongering) being said; there are children's bubble baths on the market that have warning labels on the back stating not to prolong exposure to product b/c it causes urinary tract infection. You have to wonder what they're putting in it to have that warning label?

Also as nailzoo said in the Parabens in Cosmetics link: I think it's something you may have to take into consideration, more and more research is being done into apparently everyday chemicals and their effects on us, it maybe something worth considering.

Is is stated that there over 1000 chemicals banned in the use of cosmetics and beauty products in Europe, only 10 of which are banded in the US, UK & Oz - and that purchasing Revlon over there is not the same Revlon you're purchasing here.

Keep in mind too that 'over exposure' doesn't just apply to nail enhancements. There are a growing number of the population who are experiencing O.E. from using beauty products. Ask around, you may be surprised to find you'll hear people say: I was using a particular moisturiser for years and years then all of a sudden I couldn't use it any more b/c every time I did my skin broke out in a rash. So I changed to another moisturiser only to have the same thing happen all over again. Or: whenever I use mascara I get conjuntivitis. Or: I have children with eczema and even a hint of shampoo or soap on their skin and their skin becomes red and itchy.

It maybe the majority of people are ok using every day products... but paraben, prop glyc and SLES FREE products are a must for many other people. :green:

 

[SusanEvian]

And they are also a marketing gain that companies are using to get ahead of the rest, that facts maybe true about them. But at the current time they are a marketing buzz word. Keep that in mind.


Su x

 

[number1kitty]

Some parabens are harsh and some are very safe. If you drink them or apply them in high quantities to your skin daily and you use products that penetrate the skin then the risk would be slightly higher than if they didnt. Tan solutions and most cosmetics do not penetrate the skin, although tiny traces have been found in urine and the blood stream etc.

Parabens are far safer in water based ingredients than the nasties than can breed in the product and cause problems with your skin anyway!

The alternatives to Parabens are far worse but have not yet really hit the media headlines. For example DMDM Hydantoin which is in many tan solutions as a replacement to Parabens releases Formaldahyde into the solution, and this is far worse than a paraben!

At the end of the day any cosmetic can cause some reaction or some risk but they are often really minute.

I think something else will probably kill me before a Paraben does!!! I use several tan products of which one claims to be 95% natural which has DMDM Hydantoin in and one which is Hypoallergenic that contains parabens.

If you feel your client is at risk of an allergic reaction to any ingredient you should patch test them in the first instant.

Kate