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Parabens and Phthalates: Hard To Say, Hard To Swallow

Before you rub that goop on your face, shouldn’t you know what’s in it? After all, letting something absorb through your skin is as easy as scrubbing it in. Many of us automatically reach for the moisturizer or deodorant or sunscreen without stopping to consider what we’re putting into - not just onto - our bodies.

It matters. The WebMD article at

https://www.webmd.com/children/features/personal-care-products notes that today’s adolescents are more likely to experiment with skincare products than are their elders. The long-term consequences of this rampant usage of ingredient-filled skincare products is not yet understood; the guinea pigs are still experimenting on themselves.

Parabens, according to the U.S. FDA at

https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/parabens-cosmetics, are preservatives commonly used in the formulation of cosmetics. Phthalates, according to GreenMatters at https://www.greenmatters.com/news/2018/05/10/knCDt/what-are-parabens-and-phthalates are compounds that make substances more durable, pliable and plastic-like.

It is true that scientific evidence of negative effects from prolonged paraben and phthalate exposure is not conclusive. However, a great many cosmetics manufacturers have voluntarily refrained from usage of parabens and phthalates in their products. One such manufacturer is Bluemercury (

Founder Barry Beck is discussed by Total Retail Magazine at https://www.mytotalretail.com/longform/retailer-of-the-year-barry-beck-bluemercury/), which opted to create a natural, paraben-free lineup of skincare products that has been readily welcomed by customers.

The fact is that moisturizing, concealing, enhancing and everything else cosmetics can do can be done without using potentially harmful ingredients. For a healthy outlook, it pays to go au naturale.