The issue of parabens and cancer is definitely not as simple as it may seem. Parabens are some of the most common preservatives used in personal care products, prescription drugs and even food. Beginning in 1998, studies in rats began to uncover that parabens had estrogenlike properties. Even though the findings uncovered a weak form of estrogen, it was there.¹ This resulted in an avalanche of media attention.

The Darbre study. The research study that originally raised the issue of parabens’ possible link to breast cancer.³ Phillipa Darbre’s findings demonstrated, in a study of 20 subjects, that parabens can be found intact in the human breast.³ But the researchers themselves noted the following crucial facts: The study was small, there were no controls, normal breast tissue was not studied to determine comparative data, no other parts of the body were studied, and the source of the parabens was not identified.

Darbre is currently more circumspect with the results of her small study and nowhere do the original researchers reach the conclusion or state that parabens in cosmetics are cancer-causing, but they do provide the warning that the issue needs additional study.

Are parabens safe?

Parabens are found in greater concentrations than cosmetics in a myriad of consumables, including fruits, vegetables and drinks. Some everyday items replete with parabens and endocrine disruptors include soybeans, carrots, peanuts, corn, strawberries, blueberries, black tea and green tea, to list only a few. Many of the parabens found naturally in foods do have an estrogenic effect when tested. Yet, parabens found in cosmetics are 100,000 times weaker than estradiol, the estrogen naturally produced by the body. 

Because of the fire storm brewed by the Darbre study, many respected organizations—government and otherwise—have released findings supporting the idea that parabens in topical cosmetics are not a danger to consumers.

The ACS. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has concluded, based on its research findings, that there is not good science to support a claim that the use of parabens in cosmetics can increase an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer.

The FDA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began studying the effects of parabens in response to the outcry of their potential estrogenic effect and link to breast cancer.  The FDA states that parabens are safe for use in cosmetics, and it also says that, based on the weight of all the current scientific evidence, there is no reason for consumers to be concerned about the use of products containing parabens.

The CIR. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), an organization that reviews and assesses the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics in an open, unbiased and expert manner, consolidated more than 265 studies in The Journal of Toxicology that noted a women’s daily cosmetic regimen using products that contain parabens caused no adverse reproductive effects and confirmed the safety of parabens.

By: Carol and Rob Trow

Posted: June 30, 2010, from the July 2010 issue of Skin Inc. Magazine.

The majority of the strange ingredients being used in skincare and anti-aging products today may seem completely useless on their own but when added to the right mixture of a skincare product, you’d be surprised by the potential they hold and what it can do for your aging complexion. Probably one of the most disgusting ingredients being used in products today is snail slime - and not just any kind of snail slime - purified snail slime. Some skincare companies are actively using this ingredient to create special skin creams that claim to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks and acne. Additionally, purified snail slime is said to make aging skin smoother and softer. So how can something so icky make you beautiful? Dermatologists say it could be due to the allantoin that is secreted by snails. Allantoin is a substance that works to product the skin and shell of the snail and helps with regeneration.

Want a healthy complexion? Then you may be interested in an up and coming skincare ingredient that is being hailed by some to be better for the skin than vitamin E: sperm. You read right, sperm. While this ingredient’s prospects are still in the early development stages, skincare insiders say the potential of sperm in facial products can be huge. Companies researching this ingredient believe the small crystals extracted from seminal fluid are more potent than vitamin E and can keep skin healthy, vibrant and soft.

If the thought of putting moisturizer containing sperm on your face may seem crazy, then maybe opting for a product with bee mucus extract will be more appealing. Skincare companies in China are turning to bee mucus extract as its latest must have ingredient in skincare and anti-aging products because of its ability to eliminate and prevent wrinkles, as well as restore a healthy balance to the complexion’s natural oils, which can be stripped or lost over time. Bee mucus extract isn’t the only byproduct of an animal that is being tapped into for anti-aging and other skincare items. Snakes are also being added into the mix, namely snake venom peptide. Anti-aging products in particular are looking into snake venom peptide as a means of reducing the appearance of wrinkles, specifically deep wrinkles, on the face. The idea of using snake venom peptide to treat wrinkles is along the same lines as the use of Botox on the signs of aging.

Botanical Ingredients can Help Brighten and Lighten Skintone

A common concern today with both women and men is how to brighten and lighten freckles, age spots and discolorations and restore a more youthful, radiant glow to the skin. Specialty products that address these issues are available in both prescription form and over the counter, but confusion over which product is more effective or is more appropriate is an even larger concern.

Most people have heard about hydroquinone, the ingredient that has been proven to lighten freckles and age spots. Dermatologists offer hydroquinone in formulas with 4%, while over the counter allows only up to 2%. Hydroquinone works by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme which jumpstarts the production of melanin, the naturally occurring dark pigments that affect skin color. While hydroquinone has been used for approximately 15 to 20 years for patients, it is currently undergoing further investigation by the FDA since doctors are not sure of its long- term effects. Also, hydroquinone may possibly once again be available only in dermatologists’ offices.

In lieu of using hydroquinone, there are various botanical extracts that have also proven to be effective in lightening and brightening skintone but without the uncertainty of using hydroquinone. Some of these botanical ingredients include:

· Mulberry

· Bearberry

· Blueberry

· Raspberry

· Strawberry

· Licorice

· Vitamin C

· Kojic Acid – derived from Japanese mushrooms

As with hydroquinone, these botanical ingredients inhibit tyrosinase production and are found in both facial serums and moisturizers. Even more botanical (and all natural) are lemon and peach slices – when applied once a week on clean, dry skin for 20 minutes, they can help reduce discoloration and lighten freckles and age spots. Glycolic acid, an alpha hydoxy acid, can help with the lightening and brightening process to a certain degree since it exfoliates the outer layers of the skin and helps create the look of more even toned skin.

However, as with any skin care treatment results will vary with each individual skin type. In order for one to determine which is the right product, always try a sample first of a botanical facial product to check for any irritation or reactions. Always follow product directions accordingly and follow a smart sun care routine (use SPF daily, wear protective clothing and avoid the sun during its hottest hours) to protect newly brightened and lightened skin.

In other words, naturally occurring ingredients which are known to be safe for human use.

The classic definition of natural skin care is based on using botanically sourced ingredients currently existing in or formed by nature, without the use of synthetic chemicals, and manufactured in such a way to preserve the integrity of the ingredients.

Some examples of natural skin care ingredients include jojoba, sunflower oil, rose hip seed oil, shea butter, beeswax, witch hazel, aloe vera, tea tree oil, and chamomile. All of these natural ingredients and more are found in the Votre Vu skin and body care line.

Why is it so important to use "natural" products on your skin and hair?

There is nothing worse for your skin and hair then an unnecessary chemical ingredient. Any naturally grown product or ingredient must be produced without any chemicals, which includes any fertilizer or pesticides. Natural pesticides and fertilizers may be used, however, no toxic chemicals are used on the plants at all, at any time.

The best manufacturer of natural skin care products has a commitment to using only naturally occurring ingredients that are both safe for human use and also effective.

It's important to at least know the worst offenders when shopping for nontoxic skin care.

The below ingredients have been found to be the most troublesome not only for your own safety but also for the effect using petroleum ingredients have on the environment.

Phthalates (Dibutyl and Diethyl):
An ingredient typically used in hair spray, nail polish and some fragrances as a plasticizers providing flexibility. Considered high hazard on Skin Deep for it's various potential health problems.

Synthetic Colors:
FD&C and D&C followed by a number. These artificial colors are coal tar based and some of them are known to be carcinogen.

Synthetic fragrance:
Fragrance is often the ingredient in a product that will cause an allergic reaction. The word fragrance tells us nothing and could mean all kinds of different ingredient.

Diethanolamine, Triethanolamine (TEA, DEA):
These ingredients help to stabilize the ph of a product. They act as foaming agents in cleansers and are considered irritating and possibly toxic.

Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea:
These are used as preservatives and have been found to cause contact dermatitis. They also release formaldehyde which can be toxic.

Petroleum based ingredients:
Sodium Laurel Sulfate/SLS: A cheap degreasing chemical used in shampoos, face and hand soaps. Can be very irritating and cause allergic reactions. (This chemical also will strip the color from your salon treated hair).

Propylene glycol PEG and PPG (usually used in the synthetic form can cause a variety of allergic reactions)

PVP PVA copolymers (used in hair products can be toxic if inhaled)

Petrolatum-petroleum jelly (used to help retain moisture in the skin but has been found to do just the opposite)

Stearelkonium chloride
Used in hair conditioners and creams maybe even in your fabric softener, can be very irritating and considered toxic.

1,4-dioxane While not an ingredient but a by-product of other chemicals, it has been found in many of our personal care products and is linked to cancer.