Preservatives play a vital part in the cosmetics industry and their core job is to protect against the growth of bacteria and to prevent formulas being altered or contaminated throughout the shelf life.

In short, they work to keep the products we’re using on our faces and bodies safe and effective – but some preservatives are better than others.

Parabens are one of the main types to avoid – while there are concerns around the fact that using them could possibly disrupt hormones and potentially be linked to breast cancer, it’s more the environmental impact they have. Studies have shown that they’ve been found inside sea creatures and it’s believed they can damage and kill coral, too.

Formaldehydes are another example of preservatives often found in cosmetics, and while the levels used in most cosmetic products are low enough to not be deemed dangerous, it is an ingredient that a lot of people can be sensitive to and it can often cause redness, blotchiness, itching and peeling of skin.

However, it’s not all bad and since preservatives are a vital part of any formulation, the ones to look out for include propanediol, phenoxyethanol in concentrations of 1% or less and phenoxyethanol.

How do our beauty choices *actually* impact the world?

How do our beauty choices actually impact the world?