Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bacteriocidal and fungicidal properties. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives.Their efficacy as preservatives, in combination with their low cost, their long history of safe use and the unproven efficacy of natural ingredients like grapefruit seed extract (GSE),probably explains why parabens are so commonplace.