Parabens are the most widely used preservative in cosmetics and in fragrance. They can be found in soaps, shampoos, lotions and many other skin care products. Parabens easily penetrate the skin, bypass the metabolic process, and enter the blood stream and body organs. They have been detected in human breast tumors.
Parabens can influence the function on the immune system, and disrupt the endocrine system. Because parabens can mimic estrogen, they can throw off body’s hormonal balance.
Methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben are some of the most common parabens in cosmetics.