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Phenoxyethanol

What Phenoxyethanol is & what it does

A broad-spectrum preservative that keeps products free of bacteria, mold, and yeast, protecting both the formula and the skin. It is effective at low levels and one of the most common preservatives in modern skincare.

What is Phenoxyethanol and what does it do?

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative: it stops bacteria, mould and yeast from growing in a water-containing product, keeping it safe over its shelf life. It is one of the most common alternatives to parabens.

Is Phenoxyethanol safe?

Yes, at cosmetic concentrations. It is capped at 1% in the EU and reviewed as safe at that level by EU and US expert panels, and in practice it is usually well under that. Without a preservative like it, a water-based product would spoil and become unsafe.

Is Phenoxyethanol okay for sensitive skin?

For most people, yes. It is generally well tolerated, though a small number of people can experience irritation, which is why it is kept at low levels. If your skin reacts to many products, patch-testing is sensible.

Is Phenoxyethanol natural?

It occurs naturally in small amounts (for example in green tea), but the phenoxyethanol used in cosmetics is synthesized in a lab for purity and consistency, so in practice it is a synthetic preservative. Natural or not, it does the same job of stopping microbes spoiling a water-based product.

Is Phenoxyethanol safe to use during pregnancy?

Phenoxyethanol has no specific pregnancy restriction and is considered safe at the low levels (capped at 1% in the EU) used in cosmetics. It mostly stays on the surface, doing the job of keeping the product from spoiling.

Sunscreens with Phenoxyethanol

We rate 4564 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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