Parabens
You can easily recognize these preservatives by the suffix “-paraben,” for example methylparaben or benzylparaben.
Parabens are hormonally active chemicals and are often used as preservatives in cosmetics. Yet although they do extend shelf life, they are also suspected of causing hormonal changes.
Pregnant women (and growing children) are therefore advised not to use products containing parabens. Parabens are also associated with hormone-related cancers. Paraben compounds are not permitted in certified natural cosmetics such as those from UND GRETEL.