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While preservatives help to extend the longevity of skincare products, they’re also said to speed up skin ageing. ANNIE TAN finds out more from the experts at Fancl.

Just as the rest of your body absorbs whatever you eat, your skin does the same with the ingredients in your beauty products. Most contain beneficial vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients. However, experts from Fancl, which doesn’t use preservatives in its products, believe that many also contain the skin equivalent of junk food in the form of preservatives and other harmful additives.

“Applying skincare with preservatives is like eating instant noodles every day. Studies show that their effects accumulate within the skin, causing harm in the long run,” says Candy Chan, head of communications, product research and development at Fancl.

“On average, one woman uses 18 to 20 products daily, including cleansing, skincare and hair products, and makeup. Can you imagine the amount of preservatives accumulating in your skin over a month?”

ACCELERATING SIGNS OF AGEING 

According to studies by the Fancl Research Institute and Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, methyl paraben, one of the most common preservatives in skincare, can cause your skin to age more rapidly than normal.

Constant exposure to it increases skin sensitivity and hinders cell renewal and repair. When its protective layer is formed with damaged cells, it is less able to defend itself against external aggressors such as UV rays, pollution and friction, explains Candy.