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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Good

Phenoxyethanol

  • Products with this ingredient are allowed for use in EWG VERIFIED but must meet use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in product forms that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns. The score is lower if used in product forms that have lower risk of inhalation (e.g., solids, liquids)
  • This ingredient's score is higher if used in products that may not meet industry safety guidelines or U.S. and international government requirements. The score will be lower if used in products that meet these safety guidelines and requirements.

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low_moderate), Ecotoxicology (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), and Occupational hazards (moderate)

SYNONYMS

● NSC-1864
● STR04582
● TOX21_202111
● TOX21_111002
● TOX21_113532
● PHENOXYETHANOL, EUROPEAN PHARMACOPOEIA (EP) REFERENCE STANDARD
● Z426194440
● PHENOXYETHANOL, UNITED STATES PHARMACOPEIA (USP) REFERENCE STANDARD
● 2-PHENOXYETHANOL, PHARMACEUTICAL SECONDARY STANDARD; CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIAL
● ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOPHENYL ETHER, SAJ FIRST GRADE, >=95.0%

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used in cosmetics and personal care products.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • MODERATE
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
facial moisturizer/treatment2167 products
anti-aging244 products
around-eye cream592 products
conditioner2402 products
shampoo1867 products
styling gel/lotion734 products
hair spray255 products
after shave106 products
hand cream613 products
antiperspirant/deodorant103 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)18 products
body firming lotion464 products
bronzer/highlighter1293 products
foundation5083 products
makeup primer565 products
setting powder/spray387 products
concealer2686 products
hair treatment/serum1247 products
moisturizer2392 products
foot moisturizer107 products
body wash/cleanser1171 products
exfoliant/scrub871 products
mask1817 products
facial cleanser1225 products
eye makeup remover41 products
after sun product114 products
shaving cream209 products
sunless tanning282 products
baby shampoo112 products
baby soap78 products
baby wipes114 products
damaged skin treatment32 products
makeup remover330 products
shaving cream (men's)77 products
hair styling aid1377 products
styling mousse/foam237 products
hair-loss treatment34 products
hair color and bleaching499 products
CC cream164 products
Hair Styling Gel69 products
brow liner1000 products
lip gloss1549 products
eye shadow2685 products
tanning oil20 products
facial powder458 products
mascara1167 products
BB cream198 products
eye liner1213 products
lip balm936 products
lipstick2761 products
toners/astringents447 products
skin fading/lightener26 products
Putties, Puddings & Clays7 products
blush1106 products
body spray97 products
liquid hand soap508 products
oil controller20 products
serums & essences1362 products
detangler183 products
body oil80 products
bubble bath150 products
nail treatment32 products
hair relaxer11 products
muscle/joint soreness29 products
daily use with SPF688 products
cuticle treatment25 products
Beard Soaps3 products
Eye Shadow Primers5 products
Other Hair Care Preparations11 products
Under Eye Concealers28 products
nail polish111 products
body art19 products
glitter145 products
Blotting Paper1 products
lip liner249 products
body powder19 products
polish remover11 products
recreational sunscreen310 products
hand sanitizer92 products
Bath and Body Wipes31 products
eyelash glue128 products
Lip Stain31 products
foot cleansing34 products
beard care72 products
Oils & Serums68 products
lip plumper209 products
Exfoliants26 products
beard cleanser41 products
Face Wipes11 products
Beard Conditioners9 products
pore strips25 products
Moisturizing Socks4 products
bar soap44 products
baby sunscreen34 products
baby lotion128 products
diaper cream15 products
foot odor control19 products
bath oil/salts/soak93 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders14 products
other eye makeup40 products
baby bubble bath22 products
baby oil7 products
Fragrance Lotion or Cream2 products
vapor rubs4 products
fragrance for men4 products
nail glue20 products
depilatory9 products
beard oil8 products
Nail Creams and Lotions1 products
fragrance for women27 products
Novelty Makeup1 products
hair removal waxes10 products
Facial Sun Care35 products
tooth whitening2 products
lip balm with SPF4 products
Wipes17 products
Preshave Preparations10 products
other men's products2 products
acne treatment8 products
hair perm1 products
Nail Art and Jewelry1 products
toothpaste2 products
scar treatment1 products
Decollete and Neck Creams2 products
Facial Cleansing Water7 products
chemical peel1 products
Fragrance Powder1 products
baby powder1 products
exfoliant/scrub - large particle2 products
Tanning Sprays1 products
Massaging Preparations2 products
Eczema OTC1 products
Baby Hair Conditioner1 products
mouthwash1 products

Allergies/immunotoxicity

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity or allergiesHypersensitivity reactions to vaccine components(2005-09-01)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of nervous toxicityHazMap database(2012-01-01)
Classified as toxic or harmfulEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Wildlife and environmental toxicityEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as any irritantEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes

Occupational hazards

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low dosesEU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes

Data gaps

Expand content Collapse content
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 productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Persistence and bioaccumulation

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Use restrictions

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit)Japan Ministry of Health
  • Hypersensitivity reactions to vaccine components(2005-09-01)
  • HazMap database(2012-01-01)
  • EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
  • Environment Canada
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Japan Ministry of Health

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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