Does Methylparaben Propylene Glycol propyl paraben sodium lauryl sulfate stearyl alcohol safe to your skin?

Answer 1

That's not a single compound, it's a group of compounds. We'll take them one at a time.

Parabens, including methylparaben and propylparaben, act as an effective preservatives in many cosmetics and beauty products. They are known for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties.

However, studies indicate that methylparaben applied on the skin may react with UVB to increased skin aging and DNA damage. There is also a possibility of carcinogenicity effects (cancer-causing) over the continued used of paraben-containing products.

Propylene glycol: fairly innocuous. In high enough concentrations it may cause skin irritation, and don't swallow it.

SDS (sodium lauryl sulfate ... the D is for "dodecyl," the IUPAC equivalent of "lauryl"): In pure form it's a skin irritant. In low concentrations, it's probably okay for most people who aren't exceptionally sensitive to it; it's a common ingredient in shampoos.

Stearyl alcohol: AKA octadecanol. It's about the same level of hazard as propylene glycol. Don't pour the pure stuff on yourself, but if it's in a product intended for use on skin it's probably fine.

All of these things look like they're in some kind of skin or hair care product, which has probably been extensively tested because the company making it doesn't want to get sued. Follow the directions, don't fill a bathtub with it and immerse yourself for hours at a time, don't squirt it in your eyes or swallow it, and you should be okay.