Let’s talk about parabens and why you would want to choose to use paraben free moisturizers. During the past couple of years, I have had to change a lot of my skincare out for more natural alternatives. It wasn’t an option to keep using it as my allergies got worse. I am almost in my thirties, so honestly it was nice to find healthier options for my sensitive skin. When you are allergic to most things it’s not easy to find paraben free lotions, oils and face cream that fit your needs. It’s been a long time since I was able to wear makeup  without irritating my skin.

Where it started, the paraben problem.

Back in 2018 I started developing contact dermatitis on my eyelids, face and body. I had to completely stop using makeup and through trial and error find out what ingredients were causing the problem. Turns out that parabens and preservatives were the culprit. After further determination I decided to go for products that didn’t contain any of the allergy-causing components. For me that was phenoxyethanol. It was my main trigger. Apparently it’s a preservative that can be naturally derived so it goes under the radar most of the time. When searching for products that are clear of irritants I thought it would be as simple as looking at clean beauty but unfortunately it is still listed as a clean ingredient according to the Food and Drug Administration. Not only that but there are about 50 other names that it can go by. Why can’t they just make things easier for us? 

   Anyways, I plan to go in depth more about different kinds of parabens in the future but today we are here to talk about my favorite moisturizers that are free from all that toxic stuff. 

My top five favorite Paraben free moisturizers.

My first and second recommendation are both from GOOD MOLECULES. They make using natural products easy. I was kindly asked a couple years ago if I’d like to try their skincare line when they launched on Beautylish. I knew nothing about them but told them my skin type and concerns. They gifted me a few of their products and ever since then I have been using a couple regularly.

1. Squalane Oil from Good Molecules

The Squalane Oil is definitely my favorite at the moment. In my opinion oils are one of the best natural moisturizers. You have to be careful though, not all oils are created equal. 

You can purchase this this product here on Amazon or here on Beautylish

Watch out for certain oils.

(I’d avoid oils like olive oil, coconut oil and mineral oils though as they can clog pores.) My skin has been behaving pretty good lately and I think it may be due to adding squalene oil to my routine. Their oil is 100 percent naturally derived by plants unlike some squalane that is from sharks believe it or not. This oil has never been tested on animals and is vegan, fragrance, and gluten free. Everything is under 20 bucks on their site. They also sell through Beautylish. Good Molecules is also 100 percent cruelty free. 

2. Silicone free priming moisturizer from Good Molecules

My other favorite from Good Molecules is probably their silicone free priming moisturizer. It’s lightweight so it’s perfect as a daily moisturizer. It’s safe for applying before makeup and it’s also fragrance, alcohol, mineral oil, and silicone free. It’s not oil free as it contains shea butter and macadamia seed oil. Even if you have oily skin it doesn’t have a greasy residue. Good Molecules plan to start selling all their packages in glass instead of plastic for the environment. They are trying their best to be as transparent as they can. All ingredients are on a panel on the side of their boxes with the percentage of what’s used. They call it their nothing to hide ingredients list and it features their active ingredients.  

You can purchase this priming moisturizer here at Beautylish

Drugstore options that are paraben free.

3. Moisturizing Lotion from Cetaphil

Another brand that I discovered during all this is Cetaphil. I know Cetaphil isn’t always talked about in the best light but I honestly don’t have anything bad to say except I wish they were cruelty free. (I am still converting my skincare to cruelty free.) For my tattoos I need something moisturizing and light that’s suitable for regular use. I have tried so many brands of lotions and this is one of the few that doesn’t contain parabens. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic and non comedogenic. When trying their products out I’d recommend reading all the ingredients because some of their products contain parabens and irritants. This moisturizer is safe for all skin types and safe for use on the body and face. With vitamin E and six different moisturizers your set for the day.

You can purchase this lotion here at Amazon

Favorite products I used to use.

4. Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA from The Ordinary 

The Ordinary has an oil-free moisturizer I loved before my skin allergies. It contains phenoxyethanol so be wary but according to the FDA this product is still considered paraben free. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors plus HA has a lightweight feel and is non greasy. They list it as alcohol, gluten, oil, silicone, nuts, and cruelty free. It’s also a vegan formula. I really miss using it.

You can purchase this moisturizing factors here at Amazon or here on Beautylish

5. Daily Hydration Moisturizer from E.L.F.

Another one that contains phenoxyethanol is ELF Daily Hydration Moisturizer with cucumber extracts. It also contains aloe vera so be wary if you are allergic like me. This lightweight moisturizer absorbs into the skin and is cruelty free and vegan. Free of phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone. All skincare is also free from sulfates and is made from natural ingredients. None of those harmful chemicals. It’s great for all skin types.

You can purchase the Daily Hydration here on Amazon.

Be safe and stay away from these.

 All these recommendations are affordable and not one of them contains common parabens such as Formaldehyde, Benzalkonium Chloride, Methyldibromo Glutaronitrile, Cobalt Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Benzophenone, Potassium Dichromate, Bacitracin, Neomycin and Nickel. The top 10 common allergens that are listed previously are types of fragrance additives and preservatives. Most people don’t even realize what they are putting on their skin sometimes. Avoid these at all costs and be on the safer side.

Be smart and use websites to review ingredients.

   If you are ever curious as to find new products and have to avoid certain allergens you should definitely check out SKIN SAFE PRODUCTS. Developed by the Mayo Clinic their website uses wellness markers to make browsing their site easy and quick. It’s free to use and when making an account you can log all the allergens you are sensitive to so that it narrows down what skincare products you can use. They also have an app available on android and apple. It has been such a life-saver.  

*screencap of SKINSAFEPRODUCTS.com

Is it a paraben or are your products expired?

*screencap of COSDNA.com

   Another helpful website I use on the regular is COSDNA. On their site they offer product searches and drop down menus that let you copy and paste your ingredients into with a breakdown of each ingredient, their safety and what their function is in the product. When I was doing research on irritants it made it so easy to narrow down what ingredient was in most of the products that were giving me allergic reactions. If you are using products that you never had problems with it’s a good idea to check the shelf life to see if it just expired. With paraben free products and organic ingredients things tend to have a shorter shelf life than products with synthetic ingredients.

What’s next?

   I hope this list helps you and maybe makes your skincare routine easier on you and lighter on your checkbook. Everything listed above is at an affordable cost and nothing retails for more than 20 bucks. Please share what you think about my suggestions and if you have any others I would love to know. It’s tough trying to narrow down products to ones that don’t cause you pain. Eventually I hope to do a post about the beauty products and makeup removers that have helped me feel normal again here soon.

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