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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 | 2389 products |
| eye shadow | 1439 products |
| lipstick | 1368 products |
| concealer | 1271 products |
| moisturizer | 1210 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 1004 products |
| conditioner | 952 products |
| mask | 950 products |
| lip gloss | 774 products |
| shampoo | 707 products |
| facial cleanser | 660 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 593 products |
| mascara | 587 products |
| serums & essences | 587 products |
| blush | 563 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 539 products |
| eye liner | 525 products |
| brow liner | 489 products |
| daily use with SPF | 473 products |
| lip balm | 466 products |
| hair styling aide | 450 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 446 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 414 products |
| recreational sunscreen | 353 products |
| makeup primer | 308 products |
| hand cream | 305 products |
| facial powder | 258 products |
| around-eye cream | 252 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 249 products |
| toners/astringents | 237 products |
| liquid hand soap | 228 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 211 products |
| makeup remover | 203 products |
| setting powder/spray | 199 products |
| lip liner | 135 products |
| body firming lotion | 127 products |
| BB cream | 126 products |
| CC cream | 106 products |
| sunless tanning | 96 products |
| shaving cream | 91 products |
| anti-aging | 86 products |
| hair spray | 80 products |
| 77 products | |
| glitter | 75 products |
| bubble bath | 74 products |
| detangler | 72 products |
| lip plumper | 68 products |
| baby lotion | 67 products |
| foot moisturizer | 62 products |
| eyelash glue | 61 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 58 products |
| after sun product | 58 products |
| hand sanitizer | 57 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 54 products |
| baby wipes | 53 products |
| baby sunscreen | 53 products |
| baby shampoo | 49 products |
| beard care | 44 products |
| body oil | 43 products |
| after shave | 40 products |
| body spray | 39 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 36 products |
| baby soap | 34 products |
| eye makeup remover | 30 products |
| foot cleansing | 26 products |
| bar soap | 19 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 19 products |
| beard cleanser | 19 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 17 products |
| nail polish | 16 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 16 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 15 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 13 products |
| baby bubble bath | 13 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 13 products |
| oil controller | 12 products |
| body powder | 12 products |
| skin fading/lightener | 11 products |
| diaper cream | 11 products |
| tanning oil | 11 products |
| cuticle treatment | 10 products |
| nail treatment | 10 products |
| other eye makeup | 9 products |
| foot odor control | 8 products |
| pore strips | 8 products |
| body art | 6 products |
| fragrance for women | 5 products |
| beard oil | 5 products |
| hair relaxer | 4 products |
| baby oil | 3 products |
| polish remover | 3 products |
| nail glue | 3 products |
| hair removal waxes | 2 products |
| depilatory | 2 products |
| fragrance for men | 2 products |
| vapor rubs | 2 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 |
|---|---|
| Limited evidence of nervous toxicity | Open scientific literature |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity or allergies | Open scientific literature |
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 |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
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.
- 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.
- 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
