How great it is to finally take a break from our demanding daily routines to unwind, relax and take on new adventures. Vacation season means island hopping, scuba diving, biking, mountain climbing or doing anything outdoors and having fun under the sun.
Our excitement seeps throughout months of preparations. We set itineraries, religiously hit the gym to gain that summer body and excitedly shop for those handy and trendy outfits, travel kits and accessories.
And there’s that one necessity we never ever dare to forget to pack. It’s our ultimate ally in skin care that protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation that can damage and prematurely age our skin, or worse, cause skin cancer. We are talking about our best summer buddy—sunscreen.
Unsafe suncreens
With the right amount of Sun Protection Factor (SPF), we go out and feel confident of our skin’s health and safety. However, did you know that some sunscreens might actually cause you more harm than the sun? You might have to check if the product you use contains ingredients known as Parabens. These are easy to spot on the product labels because it all ends in “paraben”.
These are preservatives inhibiting the growth of bacteria, yeast, and molds to extend the shelf life of products. These are also used in other cosmetic and personal care products such as shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, toothpastes, facial and shower cleansers, body scrubs, and different kinds of lotions.
Since the 1950’s, Parabens have been used for cosmetic and personal healthcare. Through various research studies, it was then known that this kind of chemical can penetrate and be absorbed through the skin which has been linked to cases of endocrine and reproductive problems, developmental disorders, skin irritation and even some types of cancer.
Banned by FDA
Good thing is that the Philippines promote “paraben-free” products. Through the 21st ASEAN Cosmetic Committee Meeting in 2014, it has been decided and acted upon by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research (CCRR) to ban selected parabens that may be found in cosmetic products.
According to the FDA Advisory No. 2016-032, the banned parabens are Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Benzylparaben, Phenylparaben and Pentylparaben.
Since January 2016, products with any of the five identified parabens are not to be sold, or placed, in the Philippine market, though there are still some products in the market that may contain these harmful ingredients.
Check your sunscreen
It is important to practice to check the label, go through the list of ingredients and watch out for any of the FDA-banned parabens when buying or before applying sunscreen.
When unsure of the product, you may always refrain from using it yourself or any of your loved ones. We know, it is better to be safe than sorry.
If you find a product that contains the banned parabens, you may directly report this by sending an email to report@fda.gov.ph or contact the FDA CCRR Customer Service Hotline at (02) 857-1984.
SGS offers cosmetic and personal care testing services that will meet regulatory requirements and ensure product safety. Its cosmetics testing portfolio includes physical and chemical testing, microbiological tests, stability studies, toxicological testing, ecotoxicology studies, product performance testing and packaging performance test.
For more inquiries about the cosmetics and personal healthcare testing services, you can send an email to sgsphilipppines@sgs.com or like and drop a message on its official Facebook page @SGSPhilippines.