Phenoxyethanol. A-Lister: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a preservative used to protect water-containing formulas from microbial growth, with especially useful activity against bacteria. It is often paired with booster preservatives to broaden coverage against yeast and mold.
What does Phenoxyethanol. A-Lister: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a preservative used to protect water-containing formulas from microbial growth, with especially useful activity against bacteria. It is often paired with booster preservatives to broaden coverage against yeast and mold.
Is Phenoxyethanol. A-Lister: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is accepted by many conventional and clean-leaning brands but has friction because some standards and retailers restrict it. It is generally well tolerated at regulated levels, though sensitive skin and eye-area formulas can see stinging or irritation in some users.
Is Phenoxyethanol. A-Lister: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene sustainable?
This material is usually synthetically made from petrochemical feedstocks, so its sourcing is not strongly renewable. It is used at low levels and is generally considered biodegradable with low bioaccumulation concern.
Is Phenoxyethanol. A-Lister: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene COSMOS-approved?
This ingredient is not permitted under COSMOS-organic or COSMOS-natural standards. Its Green Chemistry fit is mixed, with efficient low-dose preservation and biodegradability on one side, and nonrenewable feedstocks on the other.
How does Phenoxyethanol. A-Lister: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene work chemically?
The molecule is a small aromatic ether alcohol with moderate water solubility, which helps it partition between the water phase and microbial cell membranes. Typical use is about 0.5 to 1.0%, with 1.0% as the common regulatory ceiling in many markets, and it is stable across a broad formulation pH range.
Last updated 2026-05-13