Phenoxyethanol preservative exposure review
Review of phenoxyethanol exposure, tolerability, and preservative safety considerations in topical formulations.
- beauty
- cleaning
Phenoxyethanol
CAS 122-99-6 · 70/100 · High conf.
Concern score
70/100High concern informed by published safety evidence.
High confidence
Phenoxyethanol in plain language
Also known as 2-Phenoxyethanol
Used in cosmetics as a preservative. Restricted preservative in cosmetic products.
- Preservative
- High concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is restricted in EU cosmetics.
Why it's flagged
Evidence-backed safety profile updated from 1 supporting studies.
RestrictedEU CosIng — Restricted
The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.
Regulation
Restrictions first, then routine listings from published regulatory sources.
- Restricted in concentration
- View source →Restricted
EUCosIng
Restricted preservative in cosmetic products.
EUECHAReviewedRegistered substance with public hazard and use data.
- Registered substance with public hazard and use data.Source →
Expert safety opinions
No expert opinion on file for Phenoxyethanol. These are the independent scientific bodies that assess ingredients like this one; we show an opinion only when a record we hold cites it.
SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
Evidence & sources
The graded studies and structured signals behind this record.
Where this comes from
Evidence snapshot
- 91%
SafetyRisk 9
1 docs / 1 studies
Extracted claims
Structured claim signals pulled from linked ingredient research.
preservative exposureSafety
Review notes dose-dependent exposure considerations for phenoxyethanol in leave-on formulations.
88%Narrative review
Suitability
Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.
Food use
Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.
The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.
Fragrance avoidance
No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.
This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.
Found in these products
Cosmetic and personal-care products that list Phenoxyethanol are shown first. Their ingredient lists include Phenoxyethanol; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.
- moisturising creamCeraVe · Baume Hydratant
- CeraVe Schuimende ReinigingsgelCeraVe · Beauty
- Foaming cleanserL'Oréal,Cerave · Non Food Products
- Nivea softNivéa · Cosmetic Products
- CeraVe Hydraterende ReinigingscrèmeCerave · Beauty
- Johnson'sjohnsons · Cosmetic Products
- idéal soleilVichy · Non Food Products
- nivea SoftNivea · Open Beauty Facts
- Cream pure urea 10%Deliplus · Body
- CeraVe Hydraterende ReinigingscrèmeCeraVe · Face
- Gel 92 % Aloe veraBetty's nature · Gel Corps
- CeraVe Hydraterende MelkCeraVe · Beauty
- NottregonaNeutrogena · Open Beauty Facts
- gel nettoyantLa Roche-Posay · Face Cleansing Gel
- CeraVe Hydraterende MelkCeraVe · Bodylotion
- body lotionNivea · Beurre De Cocoa
- JohnsonNon Food Products
- Cocoa RadientVaseline
- CeraVe Hydraterende CrèmeBeauty
- ToallitasDodot
- Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser for Oily SkinAlani · Face
- neutrogena creme mainNeutrogena, Freeos · Plant Based Foods And Beverages
- Anti-transpirantNarta
- pantine pro-vpantine · Open Beauty Facts
Often appears with
Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Phenoxyethanol in the catalog.