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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 | 950 products |
| eye shadow | 721 products |
| lipstick | 572 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 513 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 504 products |
| concealer | 435 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 424 products |
| mask | 372 products |
| moisturizer | 370 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 333 products |
| serums & essences | 319 products |
| conditioner | 281 products |
| eye liner | 263 products |
| shampoo | 208 products |
| blush | 186 products |
| facial cleanser | 184 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 177 products |
| mascara | 167 products |
| lip gloss | 164 products |
| brow liner | 135 products |
| facial powder | 121 products |
| body firming lotion | 107 products |
| makeup primer | 107 products |
| lip balm | 92 products |
| BB cream | 92 products |
| makeup remover | 81 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 80 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 77 products |
| around-eye cream | 77 products |
| hair styling aide | 77 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 66 products |
| hand cream | 64 products |
| toners/astringents | 62 products |
| lip liner | 61 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 60 products |
| liquid hand soap | 57 products |
| makeup with SPF | 54 products |
| baby sunscreen | 53 products |
| Facial Sun Care | 47 products |
| shaving cream | 35 products |
| anti-aging | 30 products |
| CC cream | 27 products |
| sunless tanning | 24 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 23 products |
| baby soap | 22 products |
| baby shampoo | 22 products |
| baby wipes | 21 products |
| hair spray | 20 products |
| detangler | 19 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 18 products |
| baby lotion | 17 products |
| bubble bath | 16 products |
| other eye makeup | 16 products |
| lip plumper | 16 products |
| glitter | 15 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 15 products |
| foot moisturizer | 15 products |
| after shave | 14 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 14 products |
| oil controller | 12 products |
| body spray | 11 products |
| eye makeup remover | 11 products |
| after sun product | 8 products |
| diaper cream | 7 products |
| beard care | 7 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 6 products |
| baby bubble bath | 6 products |
| eyelash glue | 6 products |
| nail treatment | 5 products |
| Oils & Serums | 5 products |
| body oil | 4 products |
| bar soap | 4 products |
| foot cleansing | 3 products |
| hand sanitizer | 3 products |
| Tanning Sprays | 3 products |
| tanning oil | 2 products |
| hair relaxer | 2 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 2 products |
| body powder | 2 products |
| nail polish | 2 products |
| beard oil | 2 products |
| pore strips | 2 products |
| foot odor control | 1 products |
| baby oil | 1 products |
| vapor rubs | 1 products |
| depilatory | 1 products |
| polish remover | 1 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 1 products |
| other men's products | 1 products |
| beard cleanser | 1 products |
| skin fading/lightener | 1 products |
| cuticle treatment | 1 products |
| fragrance for men | 1 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 1 products |
| nail glue | 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
