Chloroxylenol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient functions as an antimicrobial preservative and antiseptic active, helping control bacteria and fungi in formulas such as cleansers, deodorants, and medicated personal-care products.
What does Chloroxylenol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient functions as an antimicrobial preservative and antiseptic active, helping control bacteria and fungi in formulas such as cleansers, deodorants, and medicated personal-care products.
Is Chloroxylenol clean?
This ingredient has significant clean-standard friction because it is a chlorinated phenolic antimicrobial with irritation and sensitization potential. Many clean-beauty frameworks flag this class because of restricted-list status and environmental-health concerns.
Is Chloroxylenol sustainable?
This material is synthetic and typically petroleum-derived, so it is not a renewable-feedstock ingredient. Its chlorinated aromatic structure creates more persistence concern in wastewater than readily biodegradable naturals.
Is Chloroxylenol COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic as a cosmetic preservative or antimicrobial active. Its synthetic chlorinated phenolic chemistry is a weak fit with Green Chemistry priorities such as renewable sourcing, ready biodegradability, and low environmental persistence.
How does Chloroxylenol work chemically?
The molecule is a substituted phenol with an aromatic ring bearing a hydroxyl group, one chlorine substituent, and two small alkyl groups, a structure associated with membrane-disrupting antimicrobial activity. Where allowed, cosmetic preservative use is commonly capped around 0.5%, and practical formulation depends on solubilization because water solubility is limited.
Last updated 2026-05-13