Parabens are a group of chemicals that are often added to men's skin care products. The most common parabens used in men's shaving creams and aftershaves are methyl-paraben, butyl-paraben, ethyl-paraben, isobutyl-paraben and propyl-paraben.
The reason they are added to these products is because they have anti-bacterial properties that reduce the risk of infection due to cuts or nicks while shaving. However, studies have shown that these chemicals can actually cause skin irritations and lead to an increase in cancerous tumours such as prostate cancer.
Most men's shaving creams contain these ingredients under their "fragrance" label so it is difficult to know exactly what you are putting on your face every morning.
However there are more ingredients that should be avoided in your skincare routine. Read our article on 5 Ingredients to Avoid in Your Shaving Products.