Chances are you’ll have heard of ‘Parabens’ and about their use in a multitude of products, most notably cosmetics, toiletries and make-up. Parabens are a kind of chemical which are used as a preservative in these kinds of products – they prevent and inhibit the growth of microbes. Unfortunately it is known that parabens can be absorbed through the skin, blood and digestive system and research has shown that there are health risks associated with them, most notably that they can disrupt hormone function. The effects of this can be very dangerous and there is plenty of research that you an look into should you wish.

As a result of this, it’s highly understandable that more and more people are looking to only use products that are paraben-free. Here at Half Moon Wholefoods we have an ever-expanding range of such products within our toiletries selection. Of course as well as knowing where to get paraben-free products, it’s also good to know how to avoid parabens!

How to find out if a product contains parabens: this is thankfully very straightforward! On the label, simply look for any of the following:

• Ethylparaben
• Butylparaben
• Methylparaben
• Propylparaben
• or any other ingredients ending in –paraben

At this time of year we’re delighted to stock paraben-free hampers, including this Relaxing Tisserand Hamper – it makes the perfect gift for those that are careful and considerate about the products that they use.