About Paraben-Free Moisturizer

Paraben-free moisturizers do everything a moisturizer is supposed to with the added bonus of being free of a potentially hazardous ingredient. You could say that paraben-free really means worry-free. Parabens are used as preservatives. They increase the shelf-life of a product while fighting against microorganisms. Even though more than 85 percent of cosmetics include parabens on their ingredient list, an increasing number of brands are offering paraben-free products based on consumer concerns.

Potential

Even though parabens are considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some studies raise red flags, or at least bring up questions. For instance, a 2004 study conducted by the "Journal of Applied Toxicology" discovered parabens in cancerous breast tissue of several women suffering from breast cancer. Paraben may be an endocrine disruptor that acts like estrogen. When the body gets too much estrogen, cancer may develop.

Identification

Paraben can be called by different names. If you want to be completely sure that your moisturizer is paraben-free, check the ingredients and make sure it doesn't contain any words with "paraben" as the suffix, such as propylparaben, ethylparaben or butylparaben. If you are unsure about certain ingredients, call the manufacturer. Many products today that don't contain paraben will clearly advertise themselves as "paraben-free."

Function

Simply put, moisturizers hydrate dry skin. Dry skin is especially prevalent in cold climates because skin is constantly exposed to harsh conditions like freezing weather and forced heat. Technically, dry skin happens when the top layer of skin lacks moisture and the oil glands are producing an insufficient amount of oils and lipids. Some moisturizers double as a sunscreen and others claim to reduce wrinkles and tone skin. These natural products contain natural preservatives and ingredients that easily replace parabens. Grapefruit seed extract, vitamin E, and oils of tea tree, lavender and eucalyptus can be distilled and used as natural preservatives.

Types

The demand for paraben-free products is growing and there are already many brands to choose from, with a wide range of prices. Juice Beauty's Nutrient Moisturizer contains organic grape juice, carrot juice and essential fatty acids to nourish skin and replenish moisture. Bosica Recharging Night Moisture contains jojoba leaf, an antioxidant, hydrolyzed yeast, which promotes the production of skin cells, and soybeans to balance skin changes due to hormones. Yes to Carrots Moisturizing Body Scrub Dead Sea mud and orange fruits that are rich in beta-carotene. Paraben-free moisturizers can be natural enough to eat or still contain some artificial ingredients.

Where to Buy

You can purchase paraben-free moisturizers online, at specialty makeup stores or even at mainstream drugstores. Many brands are unveiling new lines of products free from parabens to counter the ever-popular green market.

Resources

• FDA Factsheet on Parabens
• Ulta Paraben-Free Products