Ingredient glossary / Preservative
Methylparaben
On the label: Methylparaben · Preservative
What it is
The smallest paraben, used since the 1920s; well studied and allowed in the EU and US. The 'paraben-free' trend followed studies on larger parabens and oestrogen-like activity in cells; regulators have not banned the small ones.
Preservatives: Preservatives stop bacteria and mould growing in a product that contains water; every water-based product needs one.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q229987 →
In the research
233 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Dispersive Micro-Solid-Phase Extraction of Some Parabens From Fruit Juice Using Yolk-Shell ZIF-8-based Material (ZnO@SiO(2)@C/Ni) · Journal of separation science, 2026
- Methylparaben and ethylparaben exposure through breast milk in the first six months of lactation: A Taiwanese cohort study with estimated daily intake for breastfed infants · Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the Britis, 2026
- Association between urinary paraben concentrations and skin cancer among US Adults · Cancer epidemiology, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
2 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USAOther preservatives
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