What it is
Phenoxyethanol (also called 2-phenoxyethanol) is a preservative that prevents the growth of bacteria and yeasts in cosmetic products. A 2019 safety review (PMID: 31588615) notes it has been widely used in cosmetics for decades. It belongs to the glycol ether family and is made by reacting ethylene oxide with phenol (Cosmetics & Toiletries).
Why it is a concern
- Made with ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide, the raw material used to make phenoxyethanol, is classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) (IARC, 1994), and California lists it as causing cancer and developmental and reproductive toxicity (OEHHA, Proposition 65). Because phenoxyethanol is made through a reaction with ethylene oxide, contamination with ethylene oxide or 1,4-dioxane is theoretically possible (see Ethoxylated ingredients). However, phenoxyethanol is not among the ingredients the FDA flags as associated with 1,4-dioxane (FDA), and we did not find published testing showing contamination in phenoxyethanol itself.
- Risk to infants if swallowed. In 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to use a nipple cream containing phenoxyethanol, explaining that phenoxyethanol can depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants (News-Medical, 2008). The FDA had not received any reports of injury but issued the warning because of the potential harm (News-Medical, 2008). This is one reason to avoid it in products applied where babies may ingest them.
- Considered safe at low concentrations. For balance: the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety considers phenoxyethanol safe as a preservative at a maximum concentration of 1.0%, including for children (SCCS, 2016). The 2019 review adds that harmful effects in animal studies appeared only at exposures around 200 times higher than what consumers receive from cosmetics, and that phenoxyethanol rarely causes allergies (PMID: 31588615). Note that the SCCS assessment does not account for exposure from sources other than cosmetics (SCCS, 2016), so people using many phenoxyethanol-containing products may receive more than the assessment assumes.
Where it can be found
Phenoxyethanol is used primarily in cosmetics and medications (News-Medical, 2008). In personal care, it commonly appears in wash products, shampoos, hair conditioners and tonics, wipes, sun care and moisturizers, and makeup such as blushes (Cosmetics & Toiletries). It is especially common in products labeled “paraben-free,” where it is often the replacement preservative.
Label tip
Look for “phenoxyethanol” or “2-phenoxyethanol” in the ingredient list (SCCS, 2016); it usually appears near the end, since it is used at 1% or less. Don’t assume “paraben-free” means preservative-free: check the list for phenoxyethanol. For baby products and nipple balms, choose formulas without it.
References
- Safety review of phenoxyethanol when used as a preservative in cosmetics. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019;33 Suppl 7:15–24. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31588615/
- Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. Opinion on Phenoxyethanol (SCCS/1575/16). 2016. https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/phenoxyethanol_en
- News-Medical. Bliss Nipple Cream warning from FDA. 2008. https://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/05/25/38616.aspx
- International Agency for Research on Cancer. Ethylene Oxide (Summary & Evaluation, Volume 60). 1994. https://inchem.org/documents/iarc/vol60/m60-02.html
- California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Ethylene Oxide – Proposition 65. https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/chemicals/ethylene-oxide
- US Food and Drug Administration. 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetics: A Manufacturing Byproduct. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/potential-contaminants-cosmetics/14-dioxane-cosmetics-manufacturing-byproduct
- Cosmetics & Toiletries. Phenoxyethanol as a Safe and Important Preservative in Personal Care. https://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/research/literature-data/article/21836322/
- PubChem. Phenoxyethanol (CID 31236). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Phenoxyethanol