Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives, and that’s why they are found in so many products. They are used to fight bacteria and fungus, are widely available, and cost very little to manufacture and use. Nearly all of the parabens used as preservatives are man-made and not naturally occurring. Parabens Dangerous? Colby College's Clean Makeup website reports that parabens can mimic estrogen and disrupt the body's hormone system. Cornell University