And often, this involves ditching the parabens and using a chemical called phenoxyethanol instead.
But what is phenoxyethanol, exactly?
And is it even safe?
Here, we dive in.
It’s colorless, oily, and has a rose-like odor.
Chemically speaking, it’s an ether alcohol that’s naturally found ingreen tea.
But most of the phenoxyethanol you’ll come across is synthesized in a lab.
On that note, you probably use this chemical more often than you think.
About23.9% of personal products contain phenoxyethanol1, so it’s a pretty common preservative.
And you’re probably about to see a lot more of it, too.
With the increasing popularity of paraben-free products, many skin care brands have used phenoxyethanol in place ofparabens.
What is phenoxyethanol?
In skin care, phenoxyethanol is used to enhance the quality, safety, and effectiveness of a product.
It’s all thanks towater and organic/inorganic compounds2, which is found in basically every product.
It fights bacteria by making holes in their membranes, which essentially makes them implode, adds Mian.
In turn, these microbes can’t multiply and contaminate your beloved skin care products.
Therefore, it’s used to prevent ingredients from breaking down or separating, helping your product stay stable.
Its antimicrobial and stabilizing properties protect the formula from spoilage, which would render the product uselessand unsafe.
This increases the length of time you might enjoy the product without any issues.
(It’s still smart tocheck the expiration date, though!)
Phenoxyethanol is generally recognized as a safe,well-tolerated preservative3.
Yet, there have been a few reports of this substance causing adverse effects.
The researchers did a specific phenoxyethanol skin test and found that she was allergic to the preservative.
There was also a 2015 report of phenoxyethanolcausing irritation.
The preservative, which was applied via ultrasound gel, led to contact dermatitis.
Finally, in animal studies, phenoxyethanol has caused negative effects at very high doses.
However, any potential toxicity happens at exposure levels much higheraround 200 times more3than what’s used in cosmetics.
It’s also worth noting that reports of side effects are rareextremely rare.
(Consider them the exception, not the rule.)
If you think you have a phenoxyethanol allergy, do apatch testfirst, suggests Mian.
Apply a small amount to your inner wrist.
Keep an eye on the area for 24 hours.
it’s possible for you to keep using the product if you don’t develop a reaction.
If youdohave a reaction, remember that it could be sparked by any ingredient in the formula.
Your best bet is to visit your dermatologist to have a go at pinpoint the culprit.
And if you’repregnantor breastfeeding?
Avoid using products with phenoxyethanol, just to be safe, and check with your doctor first.
Don’t worry, thoughit’s unlikely that it will cause irritation or side effects.
Not to mention, it’s better than the alternative.
Just be mindful of theingredientsyou are using in general.
