But let’s rewind a minute, and remind ourselves why being paraben free is so important in the first place. Parabens are preservatives used to prolong the shelf life of a plethora of products. In recent years, it’s practically become a swear word in beauty industry circles, due to some studies that suggest long-term exposure to the chemicals can lead to cancer, along with other unsavory effects.

After the initial hoopla, it’s been suggested that they may not be as dangerous as originally imagined, and the FDA is still looking at the data. But we believe in erring on the side of caution—after all, our products are all about making you feel good, and how can you do that when there’s a little voice in the back of your head wondering whether all the butter you’re slathering on is going to come back to bite you?

So with that in mind, our goal is to remove parabens from all of our products by the end of 2011. But for now, a bunch of our formulas (in addition to the body butters) are already free of the controversial little buggers. Here’s the full list:

poetic waxing at-home hair removal kit
ingrown eliminating pads
problem salved
blood orange+white pepper bath+shower gel
blood orange+white pepper soapy suds
lemon+sage soapy suds
vanilla+bergamot soapy suds
fabulous foaming body wash
blood orange+white pepper sugar scrub
lemon+sage body butter lite
naked body butter lite
fatgirlscrub
fatgirlsleep (in the US)
serious seaweed cellulite soap
mammoth minty scrub soap
the youth as we know it eye cream
the youth as we know it cleanser
the youth as we know it concentrate
steep clean pore purifying mask
steep clean deep pore cleanser
peeling groovy
best of skintentions (in the US)

Pretty impressive, no? So go ahead and get worry-free gorgeous, because at Bliss, we want to make sure you’re safe, sound… and absolutely stunning.

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

*Tube is now 1.8 oz smaller.

And while we won’t pretend that all our products were plucked straight from an organic farm, there are brands that really go the whole nine natural yards. We know that lately, everyone on the beauty scene is sprouting the word “green” so you might be perplexed about what it means. That’s why we’ve identified the extent of our ec-consciousness for each product line (from “pure and simple” to “our employees only drive electric cars”).

Paraben & Phthlate-Free
Purlisse, a savior for sensitive-skinned types, this line contains soothing antioxidant-rich Blue Lotus flower, and is free of irritating harsh ingredients.
The must-have product: Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser

Environmentally Sustainable Ingredients
Cor. To get to the ‘core’ of aging issues, these products harness the properties of natural elements silver and silica.
The must-have product: Cor Silver Service Treatment for the Face

Dr Bragi Perfume-and-dye-free potions are packed with marine enzymes from the Icelandic coast and become ‘super-active’ at room temperature.
The must-have product: Dr Bragi Age Management Marine Enzyme Gel-only available at Bliss

Botanically Based, Natural Ingredients
Laboratoire Remede, featuring skin-shielding Green Defense technology, derived from stem cells of White Nymphaea without removing the flower from its natural habitat.
The must-have product: Intensive Double Serum

Euoko. This scienficially sophisticated line uses plant-based derivatives from all over the world, avoids unnecessary preservation or stabilization.
The must-have product Blueprint Resculpting Cream

100% Natural
Ren. This vegan brand has all the eco-bases covered, from their all natural formulas to their 100% recyclable and biodegradable packaging. Ren’s products are formulated without ‘skin unfriendly’ ingredients like synthetic fragrance and color, petrochemicals, sulfate detergents, animal ingredients, parabens, irritants. And, Ren donates part of their profits to environmental and social causes. In fact, Ren’s philosophy can be summed up in 5 principles: right ingredients, right science, right product experience, right environmental impact, and right attitude.
The must have product Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask

Are you a green-loving beauty queen? Tell us your thoughts!
Bliss Kisses
<3 Karen