What’s all the fuss about Phenoxyethanol ?
What is Phenyoxyethanol?
Pheynoxyethanol is a synthetically produced glycol ether preservative used in cosmetic products to prolong their life. It’s pretty commonly found in natural products, particularly the cheaper priced ones.
Is it bad for us?
Well, this is where it gets confusing!
The EWG Skin Deep Database puts its hazard rating as low-medium with a number 4. There is no cancer or development/reproductive toxicity concerns. There seems to be a small concern about allergies.
There was one study which suggests it’s not so great for products used around your lips (so ingestion is no good).
The Chemical Maze Handbook says đ
“Suspected reproductive and developmental toxicity; effects from exposure may cause headache, tremors, eye irritation and central nervous system depression; mild irritation on sensitive skin; absorbed by the skin, toxic to the kidneys, the nervous system and the liver; safe as used up to 5%”
The International Journal of Toxicity says in their report on the safety of phenoxyethanol “It is concluded that Phenoxyethanol is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use and concentration.”
The Material Safety Data Sheet on phenoxyethanol says;
It’s hazardous in case of eye contact, skin contact, ingestion and inhalation. Â “The substance is toxic to kidneys, the nervous system, liver. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated or prolonged inhalation of vapors may lead to chronic respiratory irritation”
Keep in mind that the MSDS is for phenoxyethanol in its pure 100% form. In cosmetic products, the amount of phenoxyethanol might have 0.5% or 1% of the substance.
What’s the issue?
Initially it seemed this preservative was a great substitute for parabens and embraced by the natural cosmetic companies. Since new information and research has come to light, some cosmetic companies are reformulating their products to remove it and replace with something safer.
Perspective
While phenoxyethanol may sound pretty bad, I think you have to look at it in context. 0.5 – 1% is a pretty small amount of it in your product. Cosmetics need preservatives to avoid bacteria growing in them and the addition of phenoxyethanol helps to keep natural products reasonably priced. As the Chemical Maze pointed out, it has been declared safe in amounts under 5%.
We quite probably encounter more toxic chemicals in our environment, in the air we breath and in a hundred places you would not think.
For those that are sensitive to products, have allergies or any sort of intolerance to products, it might be an issue for you and it’s probably best to steer clear.
For those that are on a budget and can’t afford the expensive natural products, you may want to settle for a bit of phenoxyethanol in your products. Perhaps limiting those products with phenoxyethanol to ones that are washed off rather than left on your skin is a compromise.
It’s pretty much a personal choice.
I know I can get a little paranoid about all the nasties, so sometimes its good to just take a step back and put it all into perspective.
How to avoid phenoxyethanol
Look for products that are certified organic. They should not contain phenoxyethanol.
Read labels. Phenoxyethanol can also be listed under fragrance, Phenoxytol, Phenoxethol, Rose ether, Phenyle cellosolve, and Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether.
Some brands that don’t contain phenoxyethanol:
Brands that do contain phenoxyethanol are usually at the cheaper end of the natural skincare ranges like Sukin and Australia Pure Beauty by Nature’s Organics.
You might also like to read:
The Best Natural Skincare Brands
The Best Natural Makeup Brands
What are parabens and should we avoid them?
Does phenoxyethanol bother you? Do you look for it on labels?
Thanks NNAM for a sensible, informative post. It is so important to be aware of what we are putting into and onto our bodies. I use a lot of everyday, pantry items as skin care, but do buy some products and that includes brands like Sukin sometimes. I think it’s easy to be alarmed when hearing the scientific name of ingredients. But even the most benign compounds can have “scary” sounding names. Thanks for your insight, I’m going to look into this one a bit further. Even though the brands including this preservative are using safe levels, I wonder if it has a cumulative effect or if it leaves the body.
Thanks Jasmine. There is so much to worry about these days! The cumulative effect and also the synergy of combining chemicals never seems to get spoken about!
Thanks for this post. It’s always good to know a bit about what we are putting on our skin/in our bodies.
Thanks for dropping by Mahdi!
Hey Sonia
I agree its a personal choice, do I use it? Nope but I know people who do use in their skincare and they love it. Its great cheaper preservative when paired with something like potassium sorbate and you said its much better to have a little Phenoxethol than the disturbing consequences that can come from a incorrectly preserved product.
another great one thanks!
Cheers Erica
Yeah I am not going to tell anyone not to use it! It has to be a personal choice based on your priorities! đ
For some of us these chemicals can be very harmful, I find it annoying that I have to put up with ‘fragrance’ that wafts from other people even when I walk past them, it irritates my sinus and makes me feel nausea if I am around it too long. I would love to see a ban on them in skin care products, deodorants and washing powders all which linger on people and add to the cumulative effect of too many chemicals in our food and environment.
I would like to think this will eventually happen as more and more of the general public realize they don’t want them and stop buying them!
Great, sensible post Son! I use very little body care / beauty products but living in Outback Australia, I do use sunscreen. I use a physical sunscreen (zinc oxide) but it still has Phenyoxyethanol in it. I choose to wear it as being fair, I get burned in 5 minutes in summer here. That’s burnt at every school pick up or even just ducking outside to hang out the washing, even with a hat and covering up as much as possible!!
The trick is for more and more people to become aware of what’s in their products so they can reduce their overall chemical load. đ
Yes, it’s a balancing act isn’t it. Less toxins overall is the goal!