Expectations...
- paraben-free -
doesn't contain parabens
and reality...
Parabens are a group of molecules (part of the larger chemical group known as esters) which kill bacteria and fungi. They are also very cheap, so are commonly used as preservatives. However, scientists are dubious about their safety. Two parabens in particular - propyl and butyl paraben - have been linked to breast cancer by a limited amount of research. But, the ‘paraben-free’ label is potentially very misleading as companies may be using even more dangerous preservatives instead. The FDA has confirmed that at the moment there isn’t enough evidence to be concerned about cosmetics containing parabens - so there is no need to look for products with this label!