Phenoxyethanol. E-00140 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a broad-spectrum preservative used to protect water-based formulas from bacterial growth. It is often paired with organic acids or other preservative boosters to strengthen mold and yeast coverage.
What does Phenoxyethanol. E-00140 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a broad-spectrum preservative used to protect water-based formulas from bacterial growth. It is often paired with organic acids or other preservative boosters to strengthen mold and yeast coverage.
Is Phenoxyethanol. E-00140 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is accepted by many mainstream safety frameworks at low levels, but it appears on some restricted lists because of sensitization and irritation concerns in leave-on products. The common regulatory ceiling is 1% in finished cosmetics.
Is Phenoxyethanol. E-00140 sustainable?
This material is typically petrochemical-derived, which gives it a weaker sourcing profile than renewable preservatives. It is generally considered readily biodegradable and is not known as a high-persistence ingredient in normal cosmetic use.
Is Phenoxyethanol. E-00140 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted for COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic certification. Its Green Chemistry profile is mixed, with useful low-dose preservation and biodegradability, but nonrenewable feedstock and synthetic processing keep it from strong alignment.
How does Phenoxyethanol. E-00140 work chemically?
The molecule is an aromatic ether alcohol, which helps it partition between water and oil phases and disrupt microbial cell membranes. It is commonly used up to 1%, performs best below roughly pH 10, and is frequently combined with chelators or preservative boosters for broader coverage.
Last updated 2026-05-15