Are there alternatives to parabens in cosmetics?

As research in technology and cosmetics advances, many alternatives to parabens have been developed. Among the preservatives that have been on the market for some time are formaldehyde, quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, and dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin [1]. Formaldehyde can cause allergic reactions in some sensitive individuals [1]. For any ingredients you are curious about, you can check the websites of PubMed.

What are possible preservatives used in cosmetics to protect the products?

Other substances used for preservation purposes include: sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, benzyl alcohol, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, polyaminopropyl biguanide, phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin, benzethonium chloride, phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol, decylene glycol, and methylisothiazolinone. The list goes on, and companies continue to work to find the best and most effective preservatives.

Additionally, there are preservatives labeled as “natural.” These include grapefruit seed extract (GSE) [2], thymol derived from thyme, cinnamaldehyde, allyl isothiocyanate, citric acid, ascorbic acid, Rubus rosaefolius extract (a type of Indian raspberry), and rosemary extract [3,4,5].

While these preservatives can inhibit microbial growth, they may not provide long-term and safe preservation on their own. Therefore, studies and reviews continue to ensure that natural preservatives can effectively protect many products without other chemical preservatives.

In summary, when searching for the most suitable cosmetic product, read the ingredients carefully, research, and listen to your skin.

Dr. Ebru

Scientific Sources

1-Sasseville D. Hypersensitivity to preservatives. Dermatol Ther. 2004;17(3): 251-63.

2- von Woedtke T, Schluter B, Pflegel P, et al. Aspects of the antimicrobial efficacy of grapefruit seed extract and its relation to preservative substances contained. Pharmazie. 1999 Jun;54(6):452-6.

3- Kunicka-Styczynska A, Sikora M, Kalemba D. Antimicrobial activity of lavender, tea tree and lemon oils in cosmetic preservative systems. J Appl Microbiol. 2009 Dec;107(6):1903-11.

4-Evaluation of the preservative properties of Thymus vulgaris essential oil in topically applied formulations under a challenge test. Manou I, Bouillard L, Devleeschouwer MJ, Barel AO. J Appl Microbiol. 1998 Mar;84(3):368-76

5- Rubus rosaefolius extract as a natural preservative candidate in topical formulations. Ostrosky EA, Marcondes EM, Nishikawa Sde O, Lopes PS, Varca GH, Pinto Tde J, Consiglieri TV, Baby AR, Velasco MV, Kaneko TM. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2011 Jun;12(2):732-7

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