Parabens and Phthalates: What They Are and Why We Avoid Them

Let’s discuss Parabens and Phthalates. Everyone talks about them. But very few people go into detail about the health risks associated with them.

What Are Parabens?

Parabens are synthetic preservatives found in a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products, as well as in some foods. Parabens are used to prevent bacteria, mold, and fungal growth in products with a higher water content. These products include shampoos, conditioners, lotions, creams, facial cleansers, and body soap.

Seems like a reasonable product, right? Unfortunately not. Parabens are known endocrine disruptors and mimic estrogen. The concern is not the use of a single product containing parabens. It’s the accumulation of products over time.

According to an article published by the Cleveland Clinic, Parabens can potentially affect female reproduction by possibly causing preterm births, affecting your menstrual cycle, resulting in fertility complications, may affect fetal development when transferred from the mother to the fetus, and may cause puberty to occur earlier.

There are also fertility concerns for men due to parabens mimicking estrogen. Studies show that higher levels of parabens are associated with reduced sperm concentration, count, and motility.

Parabens also raise other health concerns due to endocrine disruption, including gestational diabetes, obesity, and thyroid function

The good news? Parabens are metabolized in the liver and excreted in the urine within 24-48 hrs of exposure. You can easily avoid parabens going forward and allow your body to naturally eliminate current toxins.

Identify Parabens in Personal Care Products and Food/Drinks.

Many cosmetic companies have developed healthier alternatives to parabens and have eliminated them from their product lines. These products are generally labeled “Paraben-free.” However, I always recommend reading the ingredients list regardless. Below is a list of parabens to watch for on your product labels. Note, they all end in -paraben.

• Butylparaben
• Ethylparaben
• Isobutylparaben
• Isopropylparaben
• Methylparaben
• Propylparaben

You can find more information about Parabens and Cosmetics on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website by clicking here.

 

What Are Phthalates?

Phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates) are "plasticizers". They are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more durable and flexible. In personal care products, they ask as solvents or fixatives. I discuss this more in a later section.

The most troubling part is how difficult it can be to spot these on a label. These little monsters are hiding everywhere. Often times hiding in labels behind the term "fragrance" or "Parfum". Although some phthalates are restricted by the FDA, there is not currently a ban on using Phthalates in cosmetics and body care products. 

According to the FDA, the primary phthalates used in cosmetics are Dibutylphthalate (DBP) used as a plasticizer in products like nail polish, Dimethyphthalate (DMP) used in things like hairspray, and Diethylphthatate (DEP) which is used as a fixative and solvent in fragrances. According the FDA, DEP is the most common and DBP and DMP are rarely used.

Where Are Phthalates Found?

• Perfumes & Colognes: They act as a fixative, slowing down the evaporation of scent molecules so the perfume lasts all day instead of disappearing in an hour.

• Nail Polish: Dibutylphthalate (DBP) is used as a plasticizer to make the polish flexible once it dries. This prevents the polish from becoming brittle and cracking or chipping easily.

• Hairspray: They create a flexible film on the hair, allowing for "hold" without the hair becoming stiff or "crunchy."

• Lotions & Creams: They help the product penetrate the skin and act as a solvent to ensure the fragrance oils blend smoothly with the lotion base.

• Deodorants: They help the scent adhere to the skin and prevent the formula from becoming too crumbly.

2. Laundry & Home Care

Have you ever pulled a shirt out of your drawer or closet and it still smelled like "April Showers" a week after it's been washed? Phthalates are likely the reason.

• Laundry Detergent: They serve as fragrance carriers that survive the rinse cycle, ensuring the scent "sticks" to the fabric fibers.

• Fabric Softeners: Phthalates are used to stabilize the emulsion and help the softening agents (and scents) coat the fibers evenly, reducing static and increasing "fluffiness."

• Liquid Cleaners: They are often used to mask the chemical smell of the cleaning agents themselves, making the chore feel more "pleasant."

Take note of how you're feeling the next time you do laundry. When doing several loads of laundry with phthalate heavy materials, its not uncommon to feel sluggish or even have a headache due to the chemicals being heated and released into the air.

Phthalates are potentially present in other items around your home. Vinyl flooring, PVC, shower curtains, plastic packaging, children's toys, plastic meal containers, and foods wrapped in plastics.

3. Candles & Air Fresheners

These products are designed specifically to disperse chemicals into the air you breathe.

• Scented Candles: Phthalates are mixed into the wax to improve "scent throw" (how far the smell travels) and to help the fragrance oil bind to the wax so it doesn't "bead" or separate.

• Plug-ins & Sprays: They act as binding agents that help the scent molecules stay suspended in the air longer rather than falling immediately to the floor.

• Reed Diffusers: They help the fragrance oil travel up the reeds more efficiently and evaporate at a consistent, slow rate.

The most important take-away from this is that you're not having 1 phthalate exposure at a time. Depending on your skin care routine, products used in your home, and the foods you are eating, you can have multiple exposures at once. 

What Phthalates Can Do To the Body

Like Parabens, the primary reason people avoid phthalates is that they are known endocrine disruptors.

Your endocrine system is like a delicate radio frequency; phthalates act as "interference" that can scramble the signal. Here is how that impacts the body:

• Hormonal Imbalance: They can mimic or block natural hormones, particularly estrogen and testosterone.

• Reproductive Health: Studies have linked exposure to developmental issues in infants and reduced fertility in adults.

• Respiratory Issues: High exposure has been connected to increased risks of asthma and allergies, especially in children.

• Metabolic Impact: Emerging research suggests a link between phthalate exposure and obesity or insulin resistance.

Avoiding Phthalates

A lot of companies that are specializing in natural products have been able to make their products Phthalate-free. Always look for those "Phthalate-Free" labels.

If you don't trust that a company will be honest about their ingredients, opt for Essential oil-based scents instead of synthetic "fragrance." Or choose a scent-free option. 

Switch to using glass or stainless steel food storage to avoid plastic leaching. Use wooden or bamboo utensils instead of plastic. Even some silicones can be harmful to choose these carefully. 

We will NEVER be 100% Phthalate-free. That simply isn't logical with how prevalent it is within our environment. The point is to decrease the toxic load in every way possible to limit exposure. It's often the repeated abuse to the body that results in these negative outcomes. 

At Dawning Wick and Root, we take parabens and phthalates very seriously. You will notice (with some products) that we use Fragrance oils (or Fragrance). We CAREFULLY source these oils to ensure that each fragrance is phthalate-free and of the best quality.

We also have several Essential Oil options for those who choose to avoid synthetic fragrances altogether.