Question 1

What does Phenoxyethanol. 134004 do in a cosmetic formula?

Accepted Answer

This ingredient is a broad-spectrum preservative used to protect water-containing formulas from microbial growth, especially bacteria. It is often paired with other preservative boosters to broaden coverage against yeast and mold.

Question 2

Is Phenoxyethanol. 134004 clean?

Accepted Answer

From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is widely accepted by conventional safety regulators at capped levels, but it has friction in stricter clean frameworks because it is synthetic and can be a mild irritant for sensitive skin. It is commonly limited to 1% in finished cosmetics in major markets.

Question 3

Is Phenoxyethanol. 134004 sustainable?

Accepted Answer

This material is typically made from petrochemical feedstocks, so its sourcing is not strongly renewable. It is generally expected to biodegrade, but its fossil origin and manufacturing route keep its sustainability profile moderate rather than strong.

Question 4

Is Phenoxyethanol. 134004 COSMOS-approved?

Accepted Answer

This ingredient is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic certification. From a Green Chemistry lens, it performs efficiently at low levels, but its synthetic petrochemical sourcing and limited certification alignment are drawbacks.

Question 5

How does Phenoxyethanol. 134004 work chemically?

Accepted Answer

The molecule is an aromatic glycol ether, which gives it useful solubility across water-rich and oil-containing systems. It is typically used up to 1%, remains effective across a broad pH range, and is often combined with chelators, humectant boosters, or organic acid preservatives for a more complete preservation system.