Decoded Korea

"Paraben-free" is one of the most common claims on skincare packaging. It is on drugstore moisturizers, high-end serums, and K-Beauty toners. The message: parabens are bad, and this product does not have them. But if parabens are so dangerous, why has no country banned them outright? We queried our regulatory database covering 10 countries and found that not a single one prohibits all parabens. What parabens actually are Parabens are a family of preservatives derived from para-hydroxybenzoic acid. They prevent bacteria and mold from growing in cosmetic products. Without preservatives, a jar of moisturizer would become a petri dish within weeks. The most common parabens in cosmetics are Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, and Butylparaben. These four have been used in cosmetics for decades. There are also less common variants — Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and others — that have a different regulatory status. The concern around parabens started with a 2004 ...