April 10, 2018
First, I'd like to mention the fact that THERE ARE NO EFFECTIVE AND SAFE BROAD SPECTRUM ALL-NATURAL PRESERVATIVES AVAILABLE! There are purists that believe substances such as grapefruit seed extract (GSE), certain essential oils, or potassium sorbate are options for all natural preservatives that will safely and effectively protect a product against the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast. This is NOT true. None of these substances alone will effectively protect against the growth of the majority of the "beasties" in a body product.
Water based products (or water containing products) must be preserved with an effective BROAD SPECTRUM preservative (may be a combination of natural and/or synthetic ingredients). There are a few that are considered to be all "natural" but most are synthetic. The benefit of using a product that is properly preserved is safety. And most preservatives are used as less than 1% of the total volume of the product. Just because you cannot SEE microbial growth does not mean it is not present. By using products that are not properly preserved with a broad spectrum preservative you are risking infection that could potentially be deadly.
Now, on to the topic of Parabens. While I do not believe the hype media has created concerning the use of parabens in personal care products, I do recognize that many people are concerned with them. My products are completely Paraben-Free, for this reason alone. Products that I produce specifically for our furry little family members are also Paraben-free.
The studies that have been done have been in small focus groups. These studies were not conclusive and failed to show a direct connection between the use of products containing parabens and an increased risk of cancer (specifically, breast cancer). The levels of usage of paraben type preservatives is so low that the FDA's official stance on the subject is that they are safe and no need for consumer worry. The FDA does, however, continue to research and evaluate the use of parabens and other chemicals.
Yes, there are other preservatives available. However, parabens have been used and tested over a much longer period of time (used for nearly 100 years) and are found to be most effective. Many of the newer preservatives on the market today have not been used and proven safe over the long-term timeframe that parabens have.
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