Synthetic preservatives, most commonly seen as parabens, are bad for humans and they are bad for the environment.
In 2004, a British study found traces of five kinds of parabens in the breast tissue of 19 out of 20 women. This means that the study proved that parabens are able to penetrate the skin and remain within the body.
Parabens disrupt the hormone function by mimicking oestrogen. Too much oestrogen can trigger an increase in breast cell division and growth of tumours, which is why parabens have been linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues.
But parabens aren’t just bad for humans, they impact the environment too. A study of marine wildlife shows that parabens can be found in the bodies of animals such as dolphins, whales, seals, polar bears and otters. The researchers behind the study believe that these parabens come from products we have used, washed into the sewage and released into the environment.
Because of these reasons, we recommend to always avoid parabens in your cosmetics.
Some people think that natural preservatives are not as effective as parabens, but that is simply not true. There are a lot of different synthetic-free preservatives on the market that are just as effective. So, we don’t see the need to use preservatives that are dangerous to your health and the environment just because they are cheaper than the good stuff.