Preservative phenoxyethanol – a common preservative
Preservative phenoxyethanol is one of the most commonly used preservatives in the cosmetics industry. It is valued for its antimicrobial properties and can be found in a wide range of products, from creams and serums to shampoos and deodorants. But how safe is the preservative phenoxyethanol really? In this article, we take a closer look at the preservative – from its chemical structure to its advantages and disadvantages in cosmetics.
What is the preservative phenoxyethanol?
The preservative phenoxyethanol is an organic compound from the group of glycol ethers. It is a colorless, slightly oily, liquid preservative that can be produced both naturally and synthetically. The preservative phenoxyethanol is particularly valued in the cosmetics industry for its stable, antibacterial effect.
Occurrence and production
The preservative phenoxyethanol occurs naturally in green tea and some other plants, but for cosmetic purposes it is almost exclusively produced synthetically.
Industrial production usually involves the reaction of phenol with ethylene oxide.
Physical-chemical data of the preservative phenoxyethanol
Property
INCI name Preservative phenoxyethanol
Molecular formula C₈H₁₀O₂
CAS number 122-99-6
Physical state liquid
Melting point -2 °C
Boiling point 247 °C
Solubility Moderately soluble in water, readily soluble in alcohols and oils.
Appearance Clear, colorless to slightly yellowish liquid
Slightly floral, mild odor
Uses of the preservative phenoxyethanol in cosmetics
Phenoxyethanol is used in a variety of cosmetic products:
Face creams: Prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Serums and lotions: Extends the shelf life and stability of the formulation.
Make-up products: Protects against microbial spoilage.
Shampoos & shower gels: Reduces the need for additional preservatives.
Baby care products: Often included in mild formulations due to relatively low skin irritation.
Advantages:
Protects cosmetics from contamination.
Often replaces problematic preservatives such as parabens or formaldehyde donors.
Is mild and (in low concentrations) also suitable for sensitive skin.
Disadvantages:
Can irritate the skin in higher concentrations.
Some studies suggest possible toxicity with excessive use.
Phenoxyethanol is the cheapest preservative
Despite its effectiveness, the preservative phenoxyethanol is not without controversy. It is one of the cheapest and most widely used preservatives and is often used as a “mass market solution” for cosmetics. Why?
Maximum permissible concentration: The EU Cosmetics Regulation only allows the phenoxyethanol in concentrations of up to 1% in cosmetics. This means that manufacturers can maximize the shelf life of their products by reducing the phenoxyethanol to a minimum – without having to resort to expensive alternatives.
Enables mass production: Since it is relatively inexpensive, it is used primarily by large cosmetics manufacturers to produce products in large quantities at a low cost.
No additional skin care benefits: Unlike other preservatives such as benzoic acid or sorbic acid, the preservative phenoxyethanol has no additional skin care properties. It is used solely to protect against germs.
There are concerns regarding its skin compatibility: in rare cases, it can cause allergic reactions, redness or irritation, especially in sensitive skin or in babies.
Alternatives to the preservative phenoxyethanol
If you want to avoid using the phenoxyethanol, you can use alternative preservatives:
mixture of pentylene glycol & 1,2 hexanediol (e.g. Cosactive MF 0506)
mixture of pentylene glycol & 1,2 heptanediol (e.g. Cosactive MF 0507 ECO)
These alternatives are usually more expensive and require more elaborate formulations, but often offer additional skin care benefits. With these mixtures, which our partner company has developed based on market needs, all types of cosmetics can be formulated with 4% being completely sufficient and still very skin-friendly.
Conclusion: Is the preservative phenoxyethanol recommended?
The preservative phenoxyethanol is a proven and safe preservative that reliably protects cosmetic products. Its low production costs and high stability make it the preferred choice of many manufacturers. Nevertheless, it is not the highest quality or most skin-friendly variant. Those with sensitive skin or who prefer natural alternatives should look for cosmetic products that do not contain the preservative phenoxyethanol.
We develop high-quality cosmetic formulations that use compatible and modern preservation systems. In recent years, we have built up extensive know-how that enables us to use very safe preservative excipients while still being very fast in recipe development.
We would be happy to advise you on alternative solutions for your products.
Literature:
https://www.cosactive.de/cosactive-mf-0507-eco/
kin safety and health prevention: an overview of chemicals in cosmeticproducts.
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Dermal penetration of 2- Phenoxyethanol in humans: in vivo metabolism and toxicokinetics.
Eckert E, Jäger T, Leibold E, Bader M, Göen T, Hiller J.Arch Toxicol. 2025 Mar;99(3):1095-1103
The Potential Risk Assessment of Phenoxyethanol with a Versatile Model System.
Akgündüz MÇ, Çavuşoğlu K, Yalçın E.Sci Rep. 2020 Jan 27;10(1):1209