When our Founder Shoned began to explore the formulation of sunless tanning, she had a wish list of ingredients that she didn’t want before her focus came to reality in the creation of Tanya Whitebits.
Shoned wanted to create paraben and alcohol-free products. This also meant that they had a shorter shelf life than conventional products (six months to a year).
Shoned didn’t want Alcohol ingredients which can cause dryness, irritation and breakouts, so she was firm that there was no place for this ingredient in her products either. She wanted the products to be vegan friendly and cruelty free containing natural and organic ingredients.
If you’re not sure what the implications of using these ingredients on your skin are, we have gone into more detail below.
What are parabens?
Parabens are a type of preservative, first introduced in the 1950s. They’re used to prolong shelf life in many health and beauty products by preventing the growth of mould and bacteria within them.
What are parabens used for?
Parabens allow products to survive for months, even years, in our bathroom cabinet; however when you use these products, they can also enter your body through your skin.
What do the studies suggest?
In 2004, a British study found traces of five parabens in the breast tissue of 19 out of 20 women studied. The study didn’t prove that parabens can cause cancer but identified that the parabens were able to penetrate the skin and remain within tissue.
Parabens are believed to disrupt hormone function by mimicking oestrogen. Too much oestrogen can trigger an increase in breast cell division and growth of tumours, which is why paraben use has been linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues.
Which products may contain parabens?
As mentioned, Parabens are preservatives used in a wide variety of personal care products and foods to prevent the growth of microbes. They can be found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, facial and shower cleansers and scrubs and pretty much any Beauty Product.
What should I look out for on the labels?
Ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, other ingredients ending in –paraben
How do I avoid parabens?
Look for products labeled “paraben-free” and read ingredient lists on labels to avoid products with parabens.
Hope that clarifies our stance on paraben and alcohol and why we’re proud to be free of these ingredients in our products.
Safe and happy tanning,
S x
