Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Availability Of Paraben Free Skin Care Products

By Karina Frost


The cosmetics market is full of skin care products of different types and forms. Both natural and artificial compounds are used in the synthesis of these products. Preservatives are known to extend the life of industrial goods including cosmetics. Most of the preservatives used belong to a group known as parabens. However, controversy surrounds the use of this compound in cosmetics and as a result; paraben free skin care products have been made.

Preservatives are important in skin care products to prevent overload with bacteria, mold and other organisms. Light and air also cause disintegration of some components in cosmetics products. Without preservatives, many cosmetics can be fatal. In addition, some of them have been known to cause allergies, while in others toxicity.

Paraben metabolites have been found in small deposits in the breast cancer tissue of cancer patients. The study that made these findings links the resulting cancer to the use of these metabolites. In addition, they are thought to be able to penetrate the skin barriers and accumulate in tissues. Other scientists have concluded that they cause organ toxicity. For some other studies, this toxicity is only revealed when large quantities are applied.

Some parts of the body are absolutely sensitive to parabens. The mucous membranes of the eyes are extremely sensitive to such chemicals and therefore eye make up removers should not contain this compound. Eye creams with parabens are known to cause irritation when they get to the eyes. In addition, facial cleansers and moisturizers that lack the compound are recommended for sensitive skins.

Industries have resulted to alternatives for parabens despite a lack of consensus on its implication. One of these is grape fruit seed in other names Citrus Paradisi. Other alteratives that have found their way into industries are phenoxyethanol and benzyl alcohol. Other manufacturers prefer essential oils such as cinnamon, tea tree and lavender.

Another chemical that has been often used for preservation is organic acids. When organic acids dissociate, they form an acidic salt which has antimicrobial activity. With an increase in pH, acid salt is slowly formed from the acid. When the salt form is combined with another preservative such as diazolidinly urea, the result is an even more effective preservative. However, the preservative only works for acidic formulations.

These alternatives are a safe bet despite the fact that their safety studies are inconclusive. When one is not sure about the product to use, cosmetics based on oil are commercially available. They do not need preservation like the water based counterparts. However, use may be challenging as they have to be used in a dark room using a pump. This is to prevent disintegration as a result of air or light.

When shopping for cosmetics, always look for those with paraben free label. Labels that read all natural or safe does not always guarantee safety. A consumer always needs to look at the ingredients list and try to get more information about them. There are online databases where one can check a particular compound listed on the ingredients list and its toxicity record.




About the Author:



No comments: