"Sodium' means the element sodium, 'butylparaben' the substance 'butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate'. Butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate has estrogen-like properties.
Sodium butylparaben is a substance which is used in cosmetic preparations where it acts as a preservative. A preservative is defined as a substance which is used in cosmetic preparations as a preservative; inhibits the growth of microorganisms (the general conditions for preservatives which may be used in cosmetics are defined in the EC Cosmetics Regulation - 1223/2009 - Annex V).