Should you avoid honeysuckle flower extract in cosmetics?

Honeysuckle, a flower that blooms in Japan

Honeysuckle is a creeping plant that grows wild in the fields and mountains of Japan, and can be found not only in Japan but also in Korea and China.

The leaves, stems, and flowers have been used as herbal medicines, traditional Chinese medicine, and folk medicines because they have diuretic, detoxifying, and antipyretic effects. They are also used in many cosmetics because of their anti-inflammatory and preservative effects.

Honeysuckle extract is similar to parabens

Honeysuckle has sweet fragrance and white, pretty flowers. Some people may expect that if it is used in Chinese medicine, it must be good for the skin too!

However, honeysuckle actually contains a substance called "parahydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA)." Paraben, a synthetic preservative, is made from PHBA . In other words, the same substance as paraben is also contained in honeysuckle extract. Therefore, there is a controversy over whether honeysuckle extract has the same endocrine (hormone) disrupting effect as paraben.

Studies on PHBA have shown that it works in much the same way as parabens. Its molecular structure is said to be similar to the parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben). They are not exactly the same, and methylparaben is considered more potent than PHBA. However, both are considered endocrine disruptors .

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of "potential endocrine disruptors" includes various parabens as well as honeysuckle. PHBA is also found in plants other than honeysuckle. Therefore, the following plant names are also included in the list:

• Mulberry (Mulberry leaf extract, Mulberry fruit extract)
• Licorice (Licorice Root Extract)
• Sophora japonica flower buds (Sophora japonica flower extract)
• Frangipani
• Self Heal

Why is it scary if it's similar to parabens?

Parabens mimic the hormone estrogen, which is secreted in the human body. As a result, they may:

• Effect of propylparaben in urine on egg quantity and quality
• Relationship between menstrual cycle length and variation and urinary paraben concentrations
• Butylparaben concentrations in maternal urine and umbilical cord blood are associated with preterm birth and reduced neonatal birth weight

Additionally, parabens have been shown to accumulate in breast cancer tissue, and because the PHBA in honeysuckle is very similar to parabens, it may act in the same way.

Should I avoid honeysuckle extract and parabens?

Although parabens accumulate in breast cancer tissue, they are not known to directly increase the risk of breast cancer. For this reason, some people believe that there is no high risk associated with using parabens. Furthermore, some people believe that there is almost no risk associated with plant extracts .

However, it is true that both honeysuckle extract and parabens are recognized as endocrine disruptors. Even though they are not carcinogenic, it may be prudent to be cautious about exposing yourself to parabens and PHBA more than necessary.

"It looks good because it's natural."
"It's natural, so it's safe"

If you are choosing cosmetics based on that image, why not start by paying attention to what ingredients are used in the cosmetics?