Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties. These synthetic preservatives can be most commonly found in cosmetics and personal care products like shampoos, skin creams and most commonly hair dyes. Many people have allergic reactions to parabens causing skin rashes and irritation. Needless to say, there is a great ongoing debate as to the safety of products containing parabens. Their efficacy as preservatives, in combination with their low cost, the long history of their use, and the inefficacy of natural alternatives probably explains why parabens are so commonplace. They are becoming increasingly controversial, however, because they have been found in extremely low concentrations in breast cancer tumours (an average of 20 nanograms/g of tissue). Parabens have also displayed the ability to weakly mimic estrogen (a hormone known to play a role in the development of breast cancer). All of our products are Paraben Free!