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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 | 946 products |
| eye shadow | 745 products |
| lipstick | 596 products |
| concealer | 467 products |
| mask | 389 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 389 products |
| moisturizer | 372 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 356 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 334 products |
| serums & essences | 329 products |
| conditioner | 288 products |
| eye liner | 277 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 224 products |
| shampoo | 217 products |
| blush | 198 products |
| facial cleanser | 192 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 180 products |
| lip gloss | 173 products |
| mascara | 172 products |
| brow liner | 147 products |
| facial powder | 123 products |
| makeup primer | 121 products |
| lip balm | 89 products |
| makeup remover | 85 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 81 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 80 products |
| hair styling aide | 80 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 76 products |
| around-eye cream | 76 products |
| toners/astringents | 70 products |
| hand cream | 61 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 61 products |
| lip liner | 61 products |
| liquid hand soap | 60 products |
| body firming lotion | 58 products |
| BB cream | 51 products |
| shaving cream | 38 products |
| anti-aging | 28 products |
| sunless tanning | 25 products |
| baby shampoo | 25 products |
| baby soap | 23 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 23 products |
| CC cream | 23 products |
| baby wipes | 21 products |
| bubble bath | 21 products |
| hair spray | 21 products |
| detangler | 21 products |
| baby lotion | 20 products |
| after shave | 16 products |
| foot moisturizer | 16 products |
| other eye makeup | 16 products |
| glitter | 15 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 15 products |
| baby sunscreen | 15 products |
| lip plumper | 15 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 14 products |
| body spray | 13 products |
| oil controller | 12 products |
| eye makeup remover | 12 products |
| after sun product | 8 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 8 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 8 products |
| diaper cream | 8 products |
| beard care | 7 products |
| baby bubble bath | 6 products |
| eyelash glue | 6 products |
| nail treatment | 5 products |
| hair relaxer | 5 products |
| foot cleansing | 4 products |
| body oil | 4 products |
| bar soap | 4 products |
| makeup with SPF | 3 products |
| hand sanitizer | 3 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 2 products |
| nail polish | 2 products |
| beard oil | 2 products |
| pore strips | 2 products |
| foot odor control | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 1 products |
| baby oil | 1 products |
| vapor rubs | 1 products |
| depilatory | 1 products |
| body art | 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 |
| body powder | 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
