Why We Avoid Phthalates and Parabens

Welcome to the Topic “Why We Avoid Phthalates and Parabens”

Clean beauty is on the rise, and with good reason. We often come across many chemicals in our daily lives that cause us harm without us even noticing. Phthalates and Parabens are one of them. Although, they are used for many purposes. The fact remains that they are potentially harmful compounds and should be avoided. Here’s why:

Interference with body hormones

Phthalates interfere with the body's hormones disrupting the endocrine's gland normal functioning. Extensive research has been carried out to understand the impact of phthalates on male hormones. The results showed that male sex organs do not develop properly in males exposed to phthalates.

Disorders caused by Phthalates and Parabens

Extended exposure to phthalates can also cause terminal illnesses such as cancers. They can also cause fertility problems by decreasing the sperm count. Phthalates also result in insulin resistance.

Although phthalates and parabens are harmful, they are still used in various routine products. From our cosmetics to our shampoos, each contains these chemicals. But if parabens and phthalates are so harmful, why are they used widely? The answer is that they are potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents. That means they can preserve products for longer periods. Not only that, but they also soften products. It is commonly believed that if your shampoo lathers beautifully and leaves your hair feeling silky, it may contain phthalates.

How much exposure is terrible?

Often, it so happens that we are exposed to chemical compounds over a long time, and they leave an impact on our bodies. But it is difficult to determine how much exposure is appropriate and when it becomes harmful. At this point, scientists can’t agree on how much exposure is dangerous. FDA believes there's o reason to be wary of parabens in your beauty products, but research continues. The easier thing to do is to avoid phthalates, as prevention is always better than cure. There are certain families that you should be on the lookout for. These are: Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, and Sodium Butylparaben. Similarly, in 2008, the use of certain parabens in toys was banned in the United States due to rising concern about their toxicity.

How to avoid Phthalates and Parabens?

If you're ready to adopt a toxic-free lifestyle and jump on the clean beauty bandwagon, here are a few ways to achieve that.

Make sure to read the labels.

Go for products that are labeled as phthalate and paraben free. Because otherwise, there is no way of finding out whether a product contains these chemicals as they can be listed under the term fragrances.

Avoid plastic

Phthalates are present in soft plastic. Going for plastic packaged products might not be a good idea if you're looking to cut off phthalates completely.

Adopt a DIY lifestyle!

There is no better way to know the ingredients of a product than to make it yourself. Making your shampoos and soap bars is not a difficult task. In fact, many entrepreneurs are starting their businesses selling handmade soaps and shampoos. You can certainly make them too!