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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 | 1272 products |
| eye shadow | 990 products |
| lipstick | 815 products |
| concealer | 661 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 456 products |
| mask | 428 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 422 products |
| moisturizer | 417 products |
| serums & essences | 358 products |
| conditioner | 346 products |
| eye liner | 340 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 338 products |
| blush | 284 products |
| lip gloss | 257 products |
| shampoo | 253 products |
| facial cleanser | 230 products |
| mascara | 223 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 223 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 194 products |
| brow liner | 179 products |
| facial powder | 155 products |
| makeup primer | 153 products |
| hair styling aide | 115 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 105 products |
| lip balm | 102 products |
| makeup remover | 102 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 99 products |
| toners/astringents | 90 products |
| around-eye cream | 88 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 84 products |
| hand cream | 83 products |
| liquid hand soap | 75 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 75 products |
| body firming lotion | 73 products |
| lip liner | 61 products |
| BB cream | 55 products |
| shaving cream | 41 products |
| glitter | 33 products |
| baby shampoo | 28 products |
| anti-aging | 26 products |
| sunless tanning | 26 products |
| hair spray | 26 products |
| bubble bath | 24 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 23 products |
| baby soap | 23 products |
| CC cream | 23 products |
| baby lotion | 22 products |
| eyelash glue | 22 products |
| detangler | 21 products |
| baby wipes | 20 products |
| after shave | 20 products |
| foot moisturizer | 20 products |
| other eye makeup | 17 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 17 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 17 products |
| lip plumper | 17 products |
| eye makeup remover | 16 products |
| baby sunscreen | 15 products |
| body spray | 13 products |
| beard care | 13 products |
| oil controller | 12 products |
| after sun product | 12 products |
| diaper cream | 10 products |
| hand sanitizer | 8 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 8 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 8 products |
| 7 products | |
| makeup with SPF | 6 products |
| baby bubble bath | 6 products |
| bar soap | 6 products |
| beard cleanser | 6 products |
| fragrance for women | 5 products |
| nail polish | 5 products |
| nail treatment | 5 products |
| hair relaxer | 5 products |
| body oil | 5 products |
| foot cleansing | 4 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 4 products |
| fragrance for men | 3 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 3 products |
| cuticle treatment | 2 products |
| pore strips | 2 products |
| beard oil | 2 products |
| foot odor control | 1 products |
| depilatory | 1 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 1 products |
| polish remover | 1 products |
| other men's products | 1 products |
| body art | 1 products |
| baby oil | 1 products |
| body powder | 1 products |
| nail glue | 1 products |
| vapor rubs | 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
