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Data: Limited

Phenoxyethanol

  • This ingredient’s score is higher if used in products that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns.
  • This ingredient’s score is higher if used in products intended for use around mouth due to increased risk of ingestion and absorption.
  • This ingredient’s score is higher if used in products intended for use on lips due to increased risk of ingestion and absorption.
  • Products with the EWG VERIFIED mark have met use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), and Occupational hazards (high)

SYNONYMS

● 2-HYDROXYETHYL PHENYL ETHER
● 2-PHENOXY- ETHANOL
● 2-PHENOXYETHANOL
● 2-PHENOXYETHYL ALCOHOL
● ETHANOL, 2-PHENOXY-
● ETHANOL, 2PHENOXY
● ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOPHENYL ETHER
● PHENOXYETHANOL
● PHENOXYTOL

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation


Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used in cosmetics and personal care products.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • MODERATE
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
foundation1688 products
moisturizer1194 products
conditioner1120 products
facial moisturizer/treatment1066 products
eye shadow1046 products
concealer1024 products
lipstick961 products
shampoo957 products
lip gloss723 products
mask705 products
hair treatment/serum651 products
serums & essences647 products
hair styling aide622 products
body wash/cleanser581 products
facial cleanser564 products
eye liner515 products
bronzer/highlighter509 products
brow liner477 products
blush476 products
mascara432 products
exfoliant/scrub421 products
daily use with SPF404 products
recreational sunscreen346 products
styling gel/lotion317 products
around-eye cream311 products
hand cream303 products
lip balm298 products
liquid hand soap248 products
hair color and bleaching245 products
makeup primer237 products
toners/astringents223 products
setting powder/spray185 products
sunless tanning153 products
makeup remover133 products
CC cream133 products
facial powder132 products
BB cream110 products
hair spray104 products
lip liner102 products
shaving cream102 products
anti-aging100 products
styling mousse/foam100 products
body firming lotion93 products
lip plumper86 products
detangler74 products
nail polish73 products
eyelash glue67 products
bubble bath66 products
baby lotion65 products
63 products
after shave59 products
antiperspirant/deodorant55 products
glitter49 products
baby wipes44 products
foot moisturizer43 products
body oil43 products
hand sanitizer43 products
bath oil/salts/soak41 products
baby sunscreen40 products
body spray39 products
baby shampoo38 products
shaving cream (men's)38 products
after sun product36 products
baby soap33 products
beard care28 products
nail treatment27 products
beard cleanser26 products
bar soap24 products
fragrance for women20 products
facial cleansing wipes20 products
skin fading/lightener19 products
damaged skin treatment19 products
body cleansing wipes19 products
foot cleansing17 products
hair-loss treatment17 products
muscle/joint soreness17 products
makeup removing wipes16 products
tanning oil15 products
eye makeup remover14 products
nail glue14 products
body powder13 products
other eye makeup12 products
pore strips10 products
foot odor control9 products
cuticle treatment9 products
diaper cream8 products
body art8 products
hair removal waxes7 products
baby bubble bath5 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)5 products
polish remover5 products
lip balm with SPF4 products
depilatory3 products
tooth whitening3 products
beard oil3 products
baby oil2 products
hair relaxer2 products
vapor rubs2 products
mouthwash2 products
oil controller1 products
fragrance for men1 products
other men's products1 products
hair perm1 products

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as irritantCPS&Q - Classification & Labelling

Occupational hazards

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low dosesCPS&Q - Classification & Labelling

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit)Japan's Standards for Cosmetics

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of nervous toxicityOpen scientific literature
Classified as toxic or harmfulCPS&Q - Classification & Labelling
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity or allergiesOpen scientific literature

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Wildlife and environmental toxicityOpen scientific literature
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
279 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemicalNLM PubMed

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List
  • CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP.
  • Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
  • Open scientific/peer reviewed literature
  • EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
  • CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
  • NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG VERIFIED® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability

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