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Honored Contributor
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Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Parabens, an explanation from a scientist


@itiswhatitis wrote:

@SilleeMee is right about the petrochemicals.

 

https://www.afpm.org/petrochemicals/


@itiswhatitis, Maybe I'm just tired from a sleepless night,  but yet again, I'm not seeing "parabens" mentioned in that link.

 

So far no one has cited a source that states that parabens are derived from petrochemicals. If they were, I would think it would be on at least credible site.

 

 


~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Honored Contributor
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Re: Parabens, an explanation from a scientist


@SilleeMee wrote:

I'm not here to teach organic chemistry. The information in the link I provided is what I have based my previous statements on. It was asked of me to provide something credible.  Understanding  the information is up to those who read it. And besides, I'm not a good teacher anyway.Woman Happy


Good, because I doubt any of us are here to delve too deeply into organic chemistry. We simply wanted confirmation in plain English that parabens are petrochemicals. If they are, it should be easy to cite a credible source that says so.

 

Of course, even if they were, it doesn't change the end result, which is that they have not been proved harmful in skincare.


~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Esteemed Contributor
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Re: Parabens, an explanation from a scientist

methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben.

 

These are parabens.  If you see that these ingredients contain the same thing @SilleeMee provided earlier they are petrochemicals @suzyQ3.

 

I learned something new throughout this thread.  That's why I like coming to the Q forums.

*Call Tyrone*
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Re: Parabens, an explanation from a scientist

I remember years ago MM from Isomers who is a cosmetic chemist, mentioned on air that there was no real proof that parabens were harmful and that there are other preservatives that are more harmful that are so called natural. She said the reason her company eliminated parabens is simply because that's what her customers wanted.

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Re: Parabens, an explanation from a scientist


@itiswhatitis wrote:

methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben.

 

These are parabens.  If you see that these ingredients contain the same thing @SilleeMee provided earlier they are petrochemicals @suzyQ3.

 

I learned something new throughout this thread.  That's why I like coming to the Q forums.


@itiswhatitis, you are just repeating yourself. I see no site that states any of the parabens you listed are derived from petrochemicals. If they were, it would be so easy ot find that connection clearly stated.

 

For example, if it were the case, don't you think that this wiki page on, for example, butylparaben, would at least reference that?

 

I'd be happy to say thank you if someone can cite a credible source that definitely indicates that parabens are petrochemicals. After all, I have no dog in the fight.


~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
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Re: Parabens, an explanation from a scientist

[ Edited ]

Well I guess I can make one final attempt to explain why parabens are petrochemicals.

In the link I posted earlier, this appears in the description of methyparaben:

 

Methylparaben belongs to the family of Hydroxybenzoic Acid Derivatives. These are compounds containing an hydroxybenzoic acid (or a derivative), which is a benzene ring bearing a carboxylic acid."

 

Note the word "benzene" in the description. This chemical is produced from petroleum. The word "petrochemical" is not commonly used in the industry to describe it's components. It's too broad of a term to describe a myriad of substances. Benzene, however is better used to describe the chemical nature and basic structure of a compound.

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Honored Contributor
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Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Parabens, an explanation from a scientist

You're connecting dots that don't connect.  Please read these two pages -- Benzene and Parabens -- and take note of the following from the second link:

 

Synthesis

All commercially used parabens are synthetically produced, although some are identical to those found in nature. They are produced by the esterification of para-hydroxybenzoic acid with the appropriate alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol, or n-propanol. para-Hydroxybenzoic acid is in turn produced industrially from a modification of the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction, using potassium phenoxide and carbon dioxide.[citation needed]


~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
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Posts: 97
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Re: Parabens, an explanation from a scientist

Interesting article and discussion.  I'm certainly not a chemist, but I can say that if I had to make a personal choice between a paraben and methylisothiazolinone, a synthetic preservative which in some cases replaced parabens, I'll take a paraben anytime. 

 

I obliviously used products with parabens for years with no skin problems. Then I unknowingly used products with MIT until it absolutely, literally destroyed my skin, particularly on my face and hands, to the point there were times I couldn't go out in public. I discovered the cause and cleared my home of it last July 2nd and still am healing in a few places, here in February. OP's link mentions this chemical. It is an allergen and cytotoxin. 

 

Sometimes, you take out ingredients and replace them with others that are much worse.

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Re: Parabens, an explanation from a scientist

[ Edited ]

@suzyQ3 wrote:

@itiswhatitis wrote:

methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben.

 

These are parabens.  If you see that these ingredients contain the same thing @SilleeMee provided earlier they are petrochemicals @suzyQ3.

 

I learned something new throughout this thread.  That's why I like coming to the Q forums.


@itiswhatitis, you are just repeating yourself. I see no site that states any of the parabens you listed are derived from petrochemicals. If they were, it would be so easy ot find that connection clearly stated.

 

For example, if it were the case, don't you think that this wiki page on, for example, butylparaben, would at least reference that?

 

I'd be happy to say thank you if someone can cite a credible source that definitely indicates that parabens are petrochemicals. After all, I have no dog in the fight.


@suzyQ3, I was agreeing with what Sillimee quoted up thread about petro chemicals.  

*Call Tyrone*
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Registered: ‎05-27-2016

Re: Parabens, are explanation from a scientist


@SilleeMee wrote:

While parabens may be a topic of much debate, it is only one of many petrochemicals that seems to be the most popular of them all. Some of the other petrochemicals, imo, deserve a closer look and this will again start wildfires in the world of skincare.

 

Here are some of the petrochemicals used in skincare products:

 

Propylene Glycol, Petrolatum, paraffin, Mineral oil, Anything with Methyl, Propyl, Butyl prefix. benzene, Toluene.
PolyEthylene Glycol or PEG family: PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8, PEG-80, Cocoate, Peroleate andPEG 15 Soyamide/IPDI Copolymer.
Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) family: Lauramide DEA, Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, DEA- Cetyl Phosphate, DEA Oleth-3 Phosphate, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, and TEA-Lauryl Sulfate.
Paraben family: Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben and Butylparaben preservatives.
Carbomer & Carbopol – petroleum derived thickeners.
Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Betaine, are all made using petrochemicals.


^^^^^^

*Call Tyrone*