Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tuesday's Tip: Say No Thanks to Parabens

Today's tip is in no way meant to be preachy. It's something I've been more aware of these past few years, and I'd like to share what I know with all of my readers.

You may have heard of or read about an ingredient called (methyl-, ethyl, propyl-, butyl-, isobutyl) Parabens. Parabens are chemicals used as a preservative mainly in cosmetic products, lotions, shampoos, hairstyling products and toothpastes, to extend the shelf-life of these products.

Parabens are known to mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known as a contributing factor in the development of breast cancers. According to: howstuffworks.com,

     "...the paraben molecule fits into the estrogen receptor and other glands and neurotransmitters begin passing messages and making adjustments based on the presence of that 'estrogen.' Some researchers worry that Parabens could affect estrogen production or other aspects of the endocrine system." 

The FDA claims that Parabens are safe in small dosages. There have been many studies on both sides of this argument. My take on it is if there is the slightest chance of something affecting our bodies natural rhythm and flow, why not take the safe route and avoid this ingredient altogether?

Here are a few of my personal favorite Paraben-free products.


Tom's toothpaste is a great alternative to the brand name pastes. The flavor may be a little strange at first but it takes only a few days to get used to. If you use Tom's consistently for a few weeks and then try the brand name paste for a day, you will notice how much sweeter the brand name version tastes. It made me appreciate switching to Tom's even more.


I absolutely LOVE Avalon Organics facial cleanser as well as Alima Pure mineral make-up. I have to credit my good friend Sara for introducing me to these products. Thanks Sara! The best part of Avalon Organics cleanser (other than being paraben-free) is that it is so effective at cleaning make-up off without having to apply any make-up removers to your face beforehand. In just one cleansing, your face is fresh and clean! It also smells great.


For a long time, I thought Bare Minerals contained nothing but pure minerals as their ingredients. After reading all the fine print, I came to find that I was mistaken. Alima Pure on the other hand, is PURE mineral make-up. They are an online company based out of Portland, Oregon. I was a little hesitant at first to place an order for make-up online without testing it against my skin, but they have a great method in ordering and I thought it was worth a shot. You can purchase samples for $1.50 before you purchase the real product, that way you can try it out for a few days and find the right color for your skin tone. A nice perk is that you get points every time you purchase an item. When you acquire a modest amount of points you get $5 or $10 off of your next purchase. They also send you free eyeshadow, lipstick and foundation samples with your purchase! 

See you next Tuesday for another useful tip!

4 comments:

  1. Great reminders! :) We're all over the organic and preservative free stuff around here, too. It's so easy to let the stuff creep back in! :P

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  2. Great advice! I've been trying to find a solution to using bare minerals, I'll have to give alima pure a try.

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  3. Cool advice, thanks...never gave it a second thought to the toothpaste..have to look into that...all your titles/subjects are interesting...good luck..more power to you!
    SUZY

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