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Face masks and scrubs contain water, and the problem with any product containing water, is that the product is likely to 'go off' if left on the bathroom shelf for too long. So conventional face masks and scrubs often include a bewildering range of synthetic preservatives to add to the shelf life of the product.
In an ideal world, we would use products without any preservatives. Preservatives are slightly toxic by their very nature – they have the ability to kill off living cells (bacteria, fungi, yeast and other micro-organisms) in order to keep the product 'fresh'. However, we have to be realistic about this issue and accept that in order to keep products usable, a certain amount of preservatives are a necessary evil. Having said that, some preservatives would seem to be more evil than others!
Parabens are amongst the most common preservatives used in conventional skincare products. British researchers have found traces of parabens in tissue taken from women with breast cancer, and although there is no evidence that parabens cause cancer, researchers have asked for the use of parabens in personal care products to be reviewed, as these studies suggest that these chemicals may accumulate within the body after having been applied on the skin. We have discussed parabens elsewhere on Scene Green and would advise people to avoid using any product containing them. Other preservatives that are best avoided are anything containing formaldehyde (studies suggest that it may be carcinogenic).
Face masks and scrubs are available from 'natural' skincare companies, who do not use synthetic preservatives but rely on 'natural' or plant based preservatives such as essential oils with natural anti-bacterial action, vitamins, wheatgerm oil and citrus seed extracts to prolong the shelf life of their products. Aside from the issues raised above, these will tend to be more readily biodegradable than synthetics. Another alternative to face masks or scrubs containing water are those which come in dry powder form for you to mix up with water (or some other suitable liquid such as milk) at home. Since these do not contain water, they are also less likely to contain synthetic preservatives.
Other ingredients to watch out for in conventional face masks and scrubs include synthetic colours and fragrances. Fragrances in particular can be made up of a complex mixture of chemicals, that are not legally required to be listed in the product ingredients so we would always recommend avoiding them wherever possible. According to Friends of the Earth the following ingredients should also be avoided as they 'bio-accumulate” and build up in the body, so should be replaced by safer alternatives – alkylphenols, artificial musks, bisphenol A and phthalates.
