Paraben who-be whattie?

Take a stroll through the beauty section of  your local drugstore and it's not difficult to happen upon new "paraben free" formulations of lotions, shampoos and conditioners, sunscreens, shaving creams, and makeup. But what are they, why are they in products, and is it even necessary to avoid them?

Parabens are in cosmetics and moisturizers, and have been for decades, because they have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. That is, they keep your pots of face cream from becoming host to the various organisms off your fingers as you double-dip, as well as other environmental bacteria or fungi it may come in to contact with.

Companies are starting to remove them from their products as public awareness grows of a 2004 study that revealed the presence of parabens in 18 out of 20 breast cancer tumours in women. While the study does not prove that parabens cause breast cancer (parabens, absorbed mostly from body products, in fact exist and are stored in tissue throughout the whole body, not cancer tissue alone), other studies have shown that parabens mimic our body's natural hormone, estrogen - and disruptions in estrogen activity have been related to upwards of 80% of breast cancers. Messing around with your body's hormones -the endocrine system- is really just not a good idea. It may also raise your 'brow to learn that Europe has restricted the amount of parabens that are allowed to be used in European beauty products; North America as yet does not have any such regulation.

Since our skin absorbs much of what we put on it, and because products which contain parabens commonly contain other ingredients which enhance the penetration of the product (so now these questionable ingredients will not just absorb regular-style, but with super powers!) you gotta get reading those beauty labels! Picking apart the ingredient list on your deodorant or antiperspirant might be an exceptionally good place to start, considering the proximity to your breasts. The most common types/names of parabens are: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and isobutylparaben.

For the greatest benefits, search out not only paraben-free, but weird-chemical-in-general -free  products, at whichever health food store is convenient for you. Online shopping is always good too:). My favourite moisturizers, face care, and deodorant are from Rocky Mountain Soap Company, and my favourite makeup is from Cheeky Cosmetics (& both are Canadian companies - bonus!:)