Phenoxyethanol is one of those chemicals that when you look up the information about it, it makes you scratch your head and wonder why its even put into our products. Phenoxyethanol can also be known as
ETHANOL, 2-PHENOXY-; ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOPHENYL ETHER; 2-HYDROXYETHYL PHENYL ETHER; 2-PHENOXYETHANOL; 2-PHENOXYETHYL ALCOHOL; PHENOXYTOL; 2-PHENOXY- ETHANOL; ETHANOL, 2PHENOXY; 1-HYDROXY-2-PHENOXYETHANE; 2-FENOXYETHANOL (CZECH) ; 2-PHENOXYETHANOL
It is turning up in everything, from cosmetics to baby products to insect repellents and even a lot of cosmetics that are considered a “greener” alternative. This is partly due to the fact that as companies are moving away from the preservative parabens, they are turning to Phenoxyethanol.
So what exactly is Phenoxyethanol? Phenoxyethanol is a glycol ether or a solvent. It can be found in just about everything….dyes, inks, perfumes, skin care, paint, lacquer, baby wipes and can also be used as an insect repellent. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative and is a better alternative to the formaldehyde releasing preservatives that have been used in the past, however it is still harmful to us.
The MSDS or Material Safety Data Sheet for Phenoxyethanol is quite scary. It is a skin and eye irritant and can be harmful if swallowed or inhaled. It also states that it can cause reproductive damage. Of course this is what the chemical can do at 100% concentration but even at smaller dosages it has been known to cause harm. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data sheet shows that Phenoxyethanol can cause genetic mutation, chromosomal changes, and reproductive interference in test rodents. It has also been linked to kidney and bladder damage. Japan has put a restriction on what concentrations of this chemical is used in their products. The European Union has also classified this as a skin irritant. Even the FDA has issued warnings about this chemical in the past. I don’t know if any of you remember in 2008 the cream Mommy Bliss? It was a cream that nursing mothers were using. The FDA went so far as to warn that Phenoxyethanol can cause vomiting, contact dermatitis, and even shut down of the central nervous system.
I have been finding this ingredient a lot so please be sure to read the labels. I myself return the product back to the shelf even if all the other ingredients are stellar and on point. Which can be disappointing if you find something you really want to try. Just because it is a replacement for parabens or past preservatives, doesn’t mean its any safer.
https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/704811-phenoxyethanol/
