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PHENOXYETHANOL
Score:
Data: Limited
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), and Occupational hazards (high)
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| foundation | 1657 products |
| eye shadow | 1139 products |
| lipstick | 937 products |
| concealer | 761 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 608 products |
| moisturizer | 577 products |
| mask | 541 products |
| conditioner | 533 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 520 products |
| serums & essences | 470 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 444 products |
| shampoo | 382 products |
| eye liner | 376 products |
| facial cleanser | 341 products |
| blush | 333 products |
| lip gloss | 321 products |
| mascara | 295 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 282 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 271 products |
| brow liner | 250 products |
| hair styling aide | 228 products |
| makeup primer | 217 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 198 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 185 products |
| facial powder | 181 products |
| body firming lotion | 173 products |
| makeup remover | 133 products |
| lip balm | 133 products |
| around-eye cream | 131 products |
| toners/astringents | 126 products |
| hand cream | 124 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 117 products |
| liquid hand soap | 102 products |
| setting powder/spray | 90 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 87 products |
| BB cream | 75 products |
| lip liner | 73 products |
| shaving cream | 57 products |
| anti-aging | 52 products |
| baby lotion | 46 products |
| hair spray | 44 products |
| detangler | 44 products |
| baby shampoo | 44 products |
| baby wipes | 44 products |
| sunless tanning | 42 products |
| 42 products | |
| glitter | 35 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 33 products |
| foot moisturizer | 32 products |
| baby soap | 31 products |
| after sun product | 31 products |
| CC cream | 30 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 29 products |
| lip plumper | 29 products |
| bubble bath | 28 products |
| baby sunscreen | 27 products |
| after shave | 25 products |
| eye makeup remover | 25 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 25 products |
| beard care | 23 products |
| eyelash glue | 22 products |
| body spray | 17 products |
| other eye makeup | 17 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 15 products |
| oil controller | 12 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 11 products |
| diaper cream | 10 products |
| body oil | 10 products |
| bar soap | 9 products |
| foot cleansing | 8 products |
| baby bubble bath | 8 products |
| hand sanitizer | 8 products |
| beard cleanser | 8 products |
| pore strips | 7 products |
| nail treatment | 6 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 6 products |
| hair relaxer | 6 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 6 products |
| fragrance for women | 5 products |
| nail polish | 5 products |
| foot odor control | 3 products |
| cuticle treatment | 3 products |
| baby oil | 3 products |
| fragrance for men | 3 products |
| tanning oil | 3 products |
| depilatory | 2 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 2 products |
| beard oil | 2 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 1 products |
| body powder | 1 products |
| polish remover | 1 products |
| nail glue | 1 products |
| other men's products | 1 products |
| vapor rubs | 1 products |
| body art | 1 products |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Classified as irritant | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
Occupational hazards
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
Use restrictions
| 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)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Can have adverse effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems. | National Library of Medicine, HazMap database http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/category-details?id=1901 |
| Classified as toxic or harmful | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as a low human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Phenoxyethanol is linked to allergic contact uritica and dermatitis. | Heidary N, Cohen DE Hypersensitivity reactions to vaccine components. Dermatitis. 2005 Sep;16(3):115-20. |
Data gaps
| 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 product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 279 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data Sources
- 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.
- National Library of Medicine, HazMap database http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/category-details?id=1901
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- Heidary N, Cohen DE Hypersensitivity reactions to vaccine components. Dermatitis. 2005 Sep;16(3):115-20.
- 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.
- 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.
ABOUT THE SKIN DEEP® RATINGS
EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Beyond providing Skin Deep® as an educational tool for consumers, EWG offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria. Before a company can use EWG VERIFIED™ on such products, the company must show that it fully discloses the products' ingredients on their labels or packaging, they do not contain EWG ingredients of concern, and are made with good manufacturing practices, among other criteria. Note that EWG receives licensing fees from all EWG VERIFIED™ member companies that help to support the important work we do. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
