Why Using Paraben Free Hair Products Is So Important

Why Using Paraben Free Hair Products Is So Important

When it comes to terms associated with natural cosmetics, “paraben free” is at the top of the list. Paraben free hair products, makeup, skincare, and body care are certainly nothing new. But it’s still important to know why you don’t want these synthetic ingredients in your products, how to make sure you aren’t using them, and what they are doing there in the first place.

What are Parabens, Anyway?

Parabens are a type of synthetic preservative used in cosmetic products. Preservatives are super necessary for certain formulations, like water-based formulas, to ensure the product doesn’t grow bacteria. 

There are several types of parabens: ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben. When in doubt, look for words ending in “paraben”.

The Problem With Parabens

Preservatives are often necessary for keeping a product stable. But there are problems with parabens. Research published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology stated that parabens can be absorbed through the skin without breaking down, and have been found in human tissues and urine. This research also stated that parabens may have estrogenic effects in the body and are considered a potential hormone disruptor. Another study published in the journal reported a potential increase of UV-induced damage to the skin with the use of methylparaben. 

A 2020 study by The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety concluded that parabens are safe for cosmetic use at low concentrations of 0.8% (with the exclusion of benzylparaben, which has insufficient data to support its safety). This is why these ingredients are still so prevalent in cosmetics. 

But you have to ask yourself why use parabens at all? There are natural ingredients and preservation methods – like certain vitamins and essential oils, production methods, and packaging – that are effective in maintaining product stability.

What Does Paraben Free Mean?

Ah, the slippery slope that comes with conventional cosmetic marketing. While the phrase “paraben free” on a product label would lead you to believe the product is made without synthetic preservatives (or even that the product is free from ALL synthetics), this isn’t always the case.

For a product that requires preservation, a manufacturer can’t simply remove synthetic preservatives and have the formula remain stable. They would have to reformulate the product with the use of natural preservation methods. Reformulation is an expensive and time-consuming task. And you’d better believe they’d want you to know about it with more than a mere slapping of “paraben free” on the product label. What does this type of advertising usually mean when it comes to conventional products? Typically, that a brand has substituted parabens with a different synthetic preservative, like methylisothiazolinone (MIT).

When a health-conscious brand creates a product that is paraben free, they most often back that up by also saying their products contain natural preservatives or by sharing their natural preservation methods.

To be truly paraben free, a product should contain no parabens, it’s true. But you should always investigate a claim of “paraben free” on a product label unless you are familiar with the brand’s ingredient commitment. Flip the product over and check to see if there are any synthetic preservatives in the ingredient listing.

ST. TROPICA: Paraben Free and More

At ST. TROPICA, we are dedicated to creating our products with the highest quality natural and organic ingredients we can find. But we don’t stop there. It’s also of the utmost importance that our products are free from nasty ingredients and contaminants that affect their performance and safety. This is why we are committed to producing formulas that are paraben free and free from any synthetic ingredients with potential health risks. 

When you shop the stellar ST. TROPICA product line-up, you can trust that all of our products are entirely paraben free, cruelty free, vegan, drug free, and made with natural ingredients and earth friendly and recyclable materials whenever possible. Virtually all of our products rank #1 on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database. We source our ingredients locally wherever possible, and each ingredient we use is cross checked for safety and tested for full efficacy. 

We believe in true transparency. Just take a look at any of our product ingredient listings and it’s all there. Ingredients and formulas you can trust every time.