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Delivering premium products that are completely safe through effective preservation while limiting chemical exposure is job one here at The Pampered Panda!  More and more options are becoming available to help us deliver "self-preserving" formulas to you, however the developments are far from perfect at this point.  Oil-based formulas (massage oils, body oils, etc) are far easier to deliver as "self-preserved", and the dangers lie more in water-based formulas (lotions, creams, etc.) because of water's propensity for bacterial and fungal growth.

You will see several of our products contain trace amounts of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (Trademark name: parabens - derived from Parahydroxybenzoic acid and gum benzoic).  Parabens are extremely effective preservatives and have been widely used since the 1920s.  Judi Vance, well known speaker, author and publisher of the Cosmetic Heath Report,  has this to say about parabens in her book Beauty to Die For (toExcel Press, 2000):

"These ingredients...may be irritating to the skin if more than 5 percent is used in a formula.  Many commercially made cosmetics contain a higher percentage.  Most health conscious manufacturers use .015 of 1 percent.  Check to see where it is on the label...Effective against bacteria, fungus, yeast and mold." (pg. 215)  

Here at The Pampered Panda, our formulas contain the lowest preservative amount possible to deliver a safe, well preserved product to you (typically 0.025%).  If parabens are still of concern to you, our all natural products (marked as such in the catalog) are a great solution.

In summary, commercial skin care and cosmetics manufacturers typically add parabens at 5% or greater, dramatically increasing any potential health risks after prolonged exposure.  We will always keep the use of parabens only at levels required to ensure your safety, and there is no scientific evidence to support any health risk claims at these trace amounts.