methylparaben

[meth-uhl-par-uh-ben]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a common paraben, C 8 H 8 O 3 , widely used in cosmetics and food: methylparabens may be synthetic or occur naturally, especially as insect pheromones, including those produced by queen honeybees.

Word History and Origins

Origin of methylparaben¹

First recorded in 1940–45; methyl- + para- ¹ + ben(zoic acid)

Example Sentences

Of the 21 parabens, the four most commonly found in cosmetic and skin-care products are methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and ethylparaben.

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Checking the effects of sunscreen on the environment requires getting familiar with chemicals including oxybenzone, octinoxate and methylparaben.

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Some hormone disruptors – including methylparaben, which is in concealer and face wipes the ACS is giving to cancer patients – have been shown in a lab to interfere with Tamoxifen, a common hormonal breast cancer treatment.

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If the product you are using contains methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben, it has parabens.

Read more on Scientific American

Parabens are listed on ingredient labels—as methylparaben, propylparaben, or other words ending in -paraben—so it’s easy to choose products that don’t contain them, says Dr. Donofrio, or to limit your exposure by keeping their use to a small amount of skin area.

Read more on Time