Phenoxyethanol 0.8% ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a preservative used to control microbial growth, especially bacteria, in water-containing formulas. At 0.8%, it sits in the common preservation range and is often paired with boosters for broader coverage.
What does Phenoxyethanol 0.8% do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a preservative used to control microbial growth, especially bacteria, in water-containing formulas. At 0.8%, it sits in the common preservation range and is often paired with boosters for broader coverage.
Is Phenoxyethanol 0.8% clean?
This ingredient is widely accepted in conventional and many clean frameworks when kept at low levels, with a common regulatory ceiling of 1%. The clean-standard friction is mostly about potential eye stinging or sensitivity in reactive skin, not broad incompatibility.
Is Phenoxyethanol 0.8% sustainable?
This material is usually synthetically made, often from petrochemical feedstocks, although bio-based routes exist. It is generally considered biodegradable and is not known for high environmental persistence in rinse-off or leave-on product use patterns.
Is Phenoxyethanol 0.8% COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards, so its alignment is partial rather than strong. From a Green Chemistry view, its strengths are effective low-dose preservation and biodegradability, while its weaker points are synthetic sourcing and limited renewable-feedstock alignment.
How does Phenoxyethanol 0.8% work chemically?
The molecule is an aromatic ether with a terminal alcohol group, giving it enough water compatibility to preserve emulsions while also partitioning into microbial membranes. It is typically used around 0.3% to 1.0%, works across a broad pH range, and is often combined with chelators, organic acids, or booster solvents to round out preservation.
Last updated 2026-08-18