Are skin care products containing preservatives not good products?

Not really

There are some common misconceptions and rumors about preservatives in skin care products. First, let’s be clear: just because skin care products contain preservatives doesn’t mean they are bad or unreliable.

In fact, preservatives play a very important role in skin care products. They can prevent microbial contamination, ensure the safety and stability of the product, extend the shelf life of skin care products, and prevent the product from spoiling within a short period of time after opening. Skin care products without preservatives are more susceptible to contamination by microorganisms such as bacteria and mold, which may pose a greater threat to skin health.

Common preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and methylparaben have undergone extensive safety testing and are safe for the human body when used within the prescribed concentration range. These ingredients cause little to no skin damage to most people.

Although, in some cases, some people may be allergic to certain types of preservatives, causing adverse reactions such as redness and itching on the skin, this does not mean that all products containing preservatives are unreliable. The modern cosmetics industry has developed many new preservatives that can provide effective protection while having less irritation and allergy risk to the skin, and are suitable for consumers with different skin types.

Also note that some skin care products that claim to be "paraben-free" are not necessarily safer than products that contain preservatives. These products may replace preservatives by adding other ingredients (such as high concentrations of essential oils or alcohols), which may be more irritating to some sensitive skin.

Therefore, when choosing skin care products, the most important thing is to understand your skin type and needs, pay attention to the ingredients and safety of the products, and choose reputable brands and products, rather than simply avoiding preservatives.

Author: Tang Jiaoqing, MD, attending physician of dermatology

Review | Feng Jun, deputy chief physician of the Dermatology Department of Sinopharm Tongmei General Hospital