Why No Parabens in Cosmetics? | La Fuente Mía

Q: Why are parabens used?

Parabens are effective against bacteria and fungi, inexpensive, and stable. They extend the shelf life of water-based cosmetics.

Q: How do you avoid parabens?

Choose solid products (like body bars) that don't need preservatives, or products with alternative preservation systems.

Q: Are parabens dangerous?

The EU has banned long-chain parabens (isobutyl, isopropyl, benzyl, phenyl) as a precautionary measure. Short-chain parabens (methyl- and ethylparaben) are still permitted at low concentrations. The science is not conclusive, but the precautionary principle applies.

Q: Why do you choose paraben-free?

We use no water in our formulas. Water-free products don't need preservatives, because bacteria and fungi need water to grow. No water, no preservation, no parabens.

Parabens are synthetic preservatives that prevent bacterial growth in water-based cosmetics.

Solid products like body bars contain no water. Without water no bacterial growth, without bacterial growth no preservatives needed.

We use no parabens. Not as a marketing choice, but because our water-free formulas don't need them.

What are parabens?

Parabens are synthetic preservatives used to prevent bacterial and fungal growth in cosmetics. They have been a standard ingredient in the cosmetics industry for decades.

The most common parabens in cosmetics are:

On INCI lists you recognize them by the "-paraben" suffix.

-Methylparaben
-Ethylparaben
-Propylparaben
-Butylparaben
-Isobutylparaben

Why are parabens used?

Parabens are popular in the cosmetics industry because they:

Any product that contains water (and that's most creams, lotions and gels) needs preservatives to prevent spoilage. Without preservation, these products would become unusable within days.

-Are highly effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi
-Are inexpensive to produce
-Remain stable for a long time
-Are effective at low concentrations

Why don't solid products need preservatives?

The simplest way to avoid parabens is to choose solid products. Bacteria and fungi need water to grow. No water means no microbial growth and therefore no preservatives.

Body bars are naturally solid. They consist of saponified vegetable oils and butters, without added water in the final product. That's why they don't need preservatives.

What are alternatives to parabens?

For products that contain water (like body wash or lotion) there are alternatives:

These alternatives each have their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of efficacy, stability and application area.

-Benzyl Alcohol (plant-derived) in combination with Dehydroacetic Acid
-Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate: a natural fermentation product
-Sorbic Acid / Potassium Sorbate: effective in acidic formulations

Which preservatives are on our NO-list?

In addition to parabens, other synthetic preservatives are also on our NO-list:

-Phenoxyethanol: commonly used alternative to parabens
-Formaldehyde donors: DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea
-Isothiazolinones: Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCIT)
-Triclosan: antibacterial agent

Why doesn't La Fuente Mía use parabens?

Our body bars contain no preservatives because they have a solid formula. For future liquid products (body wash, lotion) we will only use plant-based preservation systems. Never parabens, phenoxyethanol or formaldehyde donors.

View the complete NO-list and ingredients.

Last updated: 2026-03-06