| Many Cosmeceuticals companies (including | | | | to on a daily basis has been called into question. It |
| Bellanina) have been making the transition to | | | | is the responsibility of the government and |
| paraben free formulas in their product lines and | | | | individual companies to frequently re-evaluate the |
| proudly announce "paraben-free" on their labels. | | | | chemicals used in products and determine any |
| To someone with a background in cosmetics and | | | | potential risks to a person from exposure. |
| chemistry this statement may have a | | | | |
| tremendous influence on their purchase but how | | | | Many studies have been conducted to evaluate |
| does the elimination of paraben's affect the | | | | the safety of parabens in the Cosmeceuticals |
| average consumer? Understanding what | | | | industry. It has been found that, in small quantities |
| something is and its potential negative effects on | | | | (up to 25%), parabens can be used in cosmetics |
| your health and your body is the first step | | | | and other skin care products with no ill effects to |
| towards making an informed decision as a | | | | the human body. Most products available today |
| consumer. To understand why paraben's were | | | | use between 01 to .3%. If any type of paraben is |
| used in most cosmetics in the first place, it is | | | | used in manufacturing process, that product must |
| important to understand what they are. | | | | include the type used on the ingredients label for |
| | | | | consumers to check. Many products produced |
| What is a paraben? | | | | without parabens will be labeled as "Paraben-Free". |
| A paraben is a type of preservative that has | | | | |
| been used in many products such as make up, | | | | You may be wondering why many companies are |
| lotions, hair care products and pharmaceuticals for | | | | changing their formulas to remove the need for |
| years. The most common parabens used in the | | | | parabens if they are so harmless. This is a good |
| cosmetics industry are methylparaben, | | | | question and is the result of recent questions |
| ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben | | | | regarding a link between the use of parabens and |
| The paraben is made up esters of the | | | | breast cancer. In 2004 a study was presented |
| para-hydroxybenzoic acid and these can be found | | | | that noted higher levels of parabens in breast |
| in nature or more commonly produced | | | | cancer tumors. This was thought to be the result |
| synthetically. Parabens are added to reduce the | | | | of the ester-bearing form of some parabens. |
| chance of microbial growth which will protect both | | | | Despite the results of this study however, the |
| the consumer and the product. | | | | American Cancer Association has not found any |
| | | | | definitive link between the development of breast |
| How Does a Paraben Impact You? | | | | cancer and the use of parabens. |
| | | | | In an effort to recognize our consumers |
| Parabens are considered to be well tolerated by | | | | concerns as well as protect the integrity of our |
| the human body. Although parabens exist in | | | | skin care products, we are updating product |
| several food products and can enter the body via | | | | ingredients when capable to paraben-free |
| ingestion, the major concern in most studies is | | | | formulations. Though not every Bellanina product |
| absorption through the skin. Since many skin care | | | | is paraben-free, we do have a wide range of |
| products use parabens in some form, the | | | | products with this option such as our new Jojoba |
| increased amount the average person is exposed | | | | Exfoli-Cleanser. |