Phenoxyethanol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a preservative used mainly to control bacteria in water-containing formulas. It is often paired with boosters or organic-acid preservatives to improve yeast and mold coverage.
What does Phenoxyethanol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a preservative used mainly to control bacteria in water-containing formulas. It is often paired with boosters or organic-acid preservatives to improve yeast and mold coverage.
Is Phenoxyethanol clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is accepted by many mainstream safety frameworks at regulated levels, but it has friction with stricter natural standards because it is synthetic. It has relatively low sensitization rates, though it can cause stinging or irritation for some users, especially near the eyes or in leave-on baby products.
Is Phenoxyethanol sustainable?
This material is typically petrochemical-derived, which limits its renewable-sourcing profile. It is considered readily biodegradable and has low bioaccumulation potential, so its main sustainability tradeoff is feedstock origin rather than environmental persistence.
Is Phenoxyethanol COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not permitted in COSMOS-certified natural or organic formulas, so its COSMOS alignment is weak. From a Green Chemistry lens, its ready biodegradability is a plus, but synthetic petrochemical sourcing and conventional processing keep it in a compromised category.
How does Phenoxyethanol work chemically?
The molecule is an aromatic ether alcohol, giving it both water compatibility and enough lipophilicity to disrupt microbial cell membranes. It is commonly used at about 0.3% to 1.0%, with 1.0% as the EU maximum, and it is broadly stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges.
Last updated 2026-05-13