New EU rules on the use of Butylpara­ben and Propyl­par­aben in cosmetics products

In addition, cosmetic products designed for children under three that contain these parabens and are placed on the market after today should bear a mandatory warning that these products should not be used on the nappy area. This helps to protect infants, as the skin of the nappy area is more vulnerable to irritations due to the fact that the occlusion and penetration of products may be enhanced.

The group of chemicals known as parabens make up an important part of preservatives which can be used in cosmetics. In addition to Propylparaben and Butylparaben, other parabens like Methylparaben and Ethylparaben, are also safe, as repeatedly confirmed by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). They are also some of the most efficient preservatives avaliable.