Beauty Product Labels and the Meaning Behind Them

Updated: February 6th, 2010 | We Wanna Hear from You

I’ve always been interested in reading labels to find out what goes in and on my body. But more and more, companies are proudly advertising what’s not in their products rather than what’s in it. Here are a few phrases and what they really mean.

Paraben-Free: Parabens are the most commonly used preservatives in cosmetic products. Their safety has been called into question in light of some evidence that they mimic estrogen. The FDA maintains that parabens have less estogenic activity than the body’s own estrogen and are safe. In products that do have them, they are also called methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben.

No Synthetic Fragrances: Nearly all cosmetic fragrance contain fragrances. But some people are sensitive to synthetic scents. Synthetic blends are more likely to contain phthalates.

Phthalate-free: Phthalates are used to make plastics flexible and stabilize fragrances They are also suspected of disrupting the endocrine system. Certain phthalates have been banned in the European Union, and health groups in the US are calling for that too. Last year, Congress banned the use of phthalates in products for young children.