You’ve probably heard that parabens in skin care may be harmful to your health.
But what about the environment?
With Earth Day around the corner, it’s common to think twice about our choices, from what we eat to what we buy to what we put on our skin.
If you aren’t already avoiding parabens for health reasons, read on. We explain why these ingredients are also harmful to our planet and how consumers can help pressure manufacturers to eliminate them for good.
What Are Parabens in Skin Care?
Parabens are a group of synthetic compounds widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, personal care products, and even some foods and pharmaceuticals. They were first introduced in the 1920s to help prevent the growth of bacteria and mold in products with water-based formulas.
Their antimicrobial properties make them effective at extending shelf life, but recent research has cast doubt on their safety, particularly when used daily or on a near-daily basis.
Why Are Parabens in Skin Care?
Parabens are inexpensive, easy to formulate, and effective at keeping products stable and free from contamination, which makes them an easy choice for many personal care and cosmetic manufacturers. They’ve been a staple in makeup, moisturizers, hair care products, shaving products, face and skin cleansers, deodorants, toothpaste, sunscreens, and more for decades.
Recent studies have raised alarms, questioning the safety of parabens. To this day, however, they are still widely used and considered legal by regulatory agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As the agency says on its website, “FDA doesn’t have special rules that apply only to preservatives in cosmetics. The law treats preservatives in cosmetics the same as other cosmetic ingredients.”
That means that under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, don’t have to have FDA approval before they go on the market.
It is against the law to market a cosmetic if it is “adulterated,” meaning cosmetics must be safe for consumers when used according to directions. However, this doesn’t take into account the potential cumulative effects of using these products over and over again for decades.
Are Parabens in Skin Care Harmful for Humans?
Though authorities have long considered parabens safe, more recent research has cast doubt on that belief.
A 2004 study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology found parabens in breast tumor tissue, raising concerns about their potential link to breast cancer. This study didn’t establish that parabens caused cancer, but it did highlight how they can accumulate in the body over time.
A 2021 study on girls 6-17 years reported that exposure to parabens was associated with reduced concentrations of circulating reproductive hormones, “suggesting that these chemicals could alter the development and function of the endocrine system in girls.” A later 2023 study also found a connection between parabens and breast cancer in Black women.
This concern is based on the fact that parabens are endocrine-disruptive chemicals (EDCs), which means they can alter hormone function in the human body. In a 2022 study, researchers noted that parabens may negatively interfere with some hormone targets relevant to breast cancer.
A 2024 study on parabens noted that parabens can alter hormone and immune function, and have been linked with hypersensitivity, obesity, and infertility. Another similar study found that parabens were “significantly associated with high blood pressure risk and blood pressure level changes,” suggesting that environmental exposure to parabens may increase the risk of high blood pressure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tested parabens in humans and found evidence of “widespread exposure” among Americans. In addition, females had several-fold higher concentrations of two parabens—methylparaben and propylparaben—than males. The CDC noted these results “likely reflect the greater use of products containing parabens.”
Yet the CDC and the FDA still maintain that human health effects from exposure to parabens are “unknown.” The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) looked into the issue in 2006 and determined, together with the FDA, that there was no need to change the basic rules that “parabens are safe for use in cosmetics.” The FDA also allows manufacturers to add single or multiple parabens to food or food packaging to avoid spoilage.
How Do Parabens in Skin Care Harm the Environment?
It’s not only human health that may be harmed by exposure to high levels of parabens. Recent research also suggests that these chemicals may be harmful to the planet.
Parabens don’t disappear after we rinse off our face or shampoo our hair. They enter the water system, where they can persist in the environment and affect wildlife—particularly aquatic species.
A study published in Science of the Total Environment noted that parabens are widely present in water sources worldwide, mainly because of their use in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and food. Investigators have found concentrations of parabens exceeding 100 micrograms per liter in wastewater treatment plants and surface waters. Even drinking water sources “typically exhibit concentrations below” 6 micrograms per liter.
Parabens in water systems interfere with aquatic organisms’ hormonal systems, impacting growth and development. They can also mix with chlorine in water treatment systems to create chlorinated parabens, which are even more toxic and pose increased risks to animal and human health.
Scientists publishing in Scientific Reports noted that parabens “pollute the environment, penetrate into living organisms and adversely affect various internal organs.” In another study, scientists found that over 93 percent of dairy cows tested showed evidence of parabens in their hair.
Parabens “may penetrate the natural environment,” the scientists wrote, “and due to their widespread use in the industry, they are often found in surface and tap water, soil, air and dust on all continents, even in Antarctica.” They went on to state that parabens easily penetrate humans and animals through the digestive tract, respiratory system, and skin.
In 2021, researchers published another study raising the alarm about parabens in the environment and human health. They tested levels in products, humans, and the environment and found detection rates were “high” while levels varied greatly by country (higher in the U.S. and EU countries) and paraben type. They also found that pregnant women had higher concentrations of parabens than the general population did.
How Can I Help?
The good news is that, because of consumer pressure, many companies are already avoiding parabens and using other alternatives as preservatives in their products. That means that you can make a difference!
Small, daily changes in your personal care routine can help reduce not only your exposure to parabens but also the amount released into the environment. Over time, we can continue to influence beauty companies to be more conscientious about the ingredients they use.
Here’s how you can help:
Read Your Labels
Check the ingredient lists on all your products for the presence of parabens. Look for anything ending in -paraben (methylparaben, propylparaben, etc.). If you see ingredients like that, consider switching to a safer alternative.
Tip: All CV Skinlabs products are free of parabens and other potentially irritating and toxic ingredients! Read about our commitment to safe ingredients here.
Choose Paraben-Free Products
Look for products that are specifically paraben-free or display clean beauty certifications. Shop with companies that care about what ingredients they use. CV Skinlabs is one of them—all our products are free from parabens, synthetic fragrances, harsh chemicals, and known irritants.
Support Clean Beauty Brands
Choose companies that prioritize transparency, non-toxic ingredients, and eco-friendly practices. Many brands also use sustainable packaging, cruelty-free formulations, and environmentally responsible sourcing.
Limit Product Waste
Buy only what you need, use products completely before throwing them away, and recycle containers when possible. (All CV Skinlabs product containers are recyclable!) Less waste equals fewer chemicals entering the environment.
Educate and Share
Spread the word to friends and family about the importance of avoiding harmful chemicals for your health and the planet. Earth Day is a great day to start the conversation.
Are you conscious of whether there are parabens in your skincare?
Featured image by Polina Tankilevitch via Pexels.