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What is a Paraben...that is the question?

 So as a beauty educator, salon owner and a "Beauty Geek", I get asked this question alot. So I decided to put my thoughts, ideas and research down as a blog for you make your own minds up and come to your own personal conclusions.

Should I avoid them?

So you may have heard rumours that parabens should be avoided and they are bad for you? You may have never heard of them? It does seem to be the buzz word at the moment. With the power of the internet and beauty journals and such like. Its important to read up on these researches and judge for yourselves. But know enough to explain them to clients, customers and anyone that may mention them.
I found, once you start to look into ingredients in skincare, beauty products and the likes. Its amazing how you view things alittle differently.

What is a paraben? Where can they be found?

Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives, and that’s why they are found in so many products, to give them a longer shelf life.
They are used to fight bacteria and fungus, are widely available, and cost very little to manufacture and use. Nearly all of the parabens used as preservatives are man-made and not naturally occurring.


Parabens can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, cleansing gels, personal lubricants, topical pharmaceuticals and toothpaste, while they are also used as food additives. A large percentage of the products we buy for everyday use contain some form of paraben, so it can be difficult to find products that do not use them.

Why may they be bad for you?

There have been studies and write ups in beauty journels that say that they are potentially dangerous and that they have linked parabens to cancer, I have chosen to take the precautionary route and not use products containing them when I can help it. Whether or not they are as bad as some say they are, I would always rather err on the side of safety when it comes to my body and health.

Parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancers. Researchers have found parabens in breast tumors and believe there is a relationship between parabens and tumors. As these are found in a wide range of underarm deodorants...its worth thinking about when you next buy your persoanl hygiene products...take a look at the ingredients and see what exactly they contain.
So the jury is still out. Draw your own conclusions from this information. There are paraben free products available out there on the high street. Whilst we know it hasn't been confirmed to be a definite link to cancer, if in doubt its worth knowing that you can take precautionary measures if you have concerns.

Till next time......look after yourselves. Caroline  The Beauty Geek, X

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