Parabens are among the most well-known and widely used cosmetic preservatives, and they’ve been keeping products safe from spoilage for more than 50 years. Found not only in cosmetics but also in food, medicines and household items, parabens have an excellent safety track record - and are even naturally present in plants like blueberries and green tea.
Parabens are preservatives - ingredients added to products to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, mould and fungi. Without preservatives, many cosmetics could quickly become unsafe to use. Some members of the paraben family are approved for use in cosmetics under the UK Cosmetics Regulation, which sets out strict conditions for both safety and use.
Only parabens that have passed rigorous scientific safety assessments can be used. These assessments consider how the product will be used in real life, including how often and where it’s applied, and who is using it. Parabens are also approved as food additives in the UK and EU, further demonstrating their widespread safety record.
Are parabens safe in cosmetics?
Yes. Regulatory authorities in Europe, the UK and worldwide, including the independent Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), have reviewed parabens multiple times and consistently confirmed their safety when used at approved levels.
The reason some types of parabens are not authorised in cosmetics is not because they have been found to be unsafe, but because they have not been reviewed. Major health organisations, including Cancer Research UK, the NHS, and the American Cancer Society, all agree that there is no evidence linking parabens in cosmetics to cancer.
Can parabens cause cancer?
No. Claims that parabens are linked to cancer stem from a single small study published in 2004. That study looked at tissue samples from 20 breast tumours and detected traces of parabens - but it also found parabens in blank samples that contained no tissue, and crucially, did not compare cancerous tissue with healthy tissue. The study did not conclude that parabens cause cancer, and its findings have since been widely criticised and misinterpreted.
In the two decades since, extensive research has failed to show any credible link between parabens and cancer. Parabens remain approved for use based on this strong scientific consensus.
Are parabens endocrine disruptors?
The idea that parabens might interfere with the endocrine (hormonal) system is another common concern. This is based on the fact that parabens can exhibit very weak oestrogen-like activity under lab conditions. However, this activity is millions of times weaker than natural oestrogen in the body and thousands of times weaker than compounds naturally found in foods like soy, garlic and coffee.
Moreover, parabens are rapidly broken down by the body into inactive compounds that have no hormonal effects. In short, while parabens may show very weak oestrogen-like behaviour in isolated laboratory studies, they do not act as endocrine disruptors at the tiny levels used in cosmetics.
Do parabens cause skin allergies?
Parabens are very unlikely to cause skin reactions or allergies. In fact, they are among the least sensitising of all preservatives used in cosmetics. So much so that in 2018, the American Contact Dermatitis Society awarded parabens their “Contact Non-Allergen of the Year” title, recognising their low potential to cause allergic responses.
The bottom line
Parabens are safe, effective preservatives that play a vital role in keeping cosmetics fresh and hygienic. Despite persistent online myths, there is no evidence that parabens cause cancer, disrupt hormones, or trigger allergic reactions when used in cosmetics. Their continued approval by global safety experts and health authorities reflects a strong, science-based understanding of how they work and how safe they are.
