The most commonly found ingredient/chemical in our cosmetics, paraben, is a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, toothpaste, and etc.

Parabens has the great effects for breast cancer. Because parabens can imitate the effects of oestrogen on a weak basis, which is of particular significance to women; lack of oestrogen can lead to menstrual problems and fertility problems, on the other hand too much oestrogen can have a negative effects. Thus, doctors try to decrease the levels of oestrogen in the body during breast cancer treatment so that the tumour does not get extra encouragement in its growth.  Study found that out of 20 breast cancer patients, 18 of them had parabens presence in their breast tissue; but the studies evidences are not strong enough to make a proven results of parabens can cause breast cancer.

Parabens have been proven to penetrate the skin and can be traced in the blood minutes after application, it is theorized that they may have adverse effects on the body. It is thought that the parabens entered through the skin by the application of paraben-containing anti-perspirants. Because the cosmetic used involves penetration into body tissues without going through the digestive process, the chemical remain intact in the tissue. 

Parabens can be found in virtually any of the cosmetics and toiletries products, however, there are several others options, where there are many company now offering parabens-free cosmetics (especially deodorants).