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PHENOXYETHANOL
Score:
Data: Limited
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Use restrictions (moderate), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high), and Occupational hazards (high)
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| foundation | 1117 products |
| eye shadow | 818 products |
| lipstick | 746 products |
| concealer | 613 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 419 products |
| mask | 413 products |
| moisturizer | 411 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 387 products |
| serums & essences | 347 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 338 products |
| conditioner | 313 products |
| eye liner | 305 products |
| blush | 268 products |
| shampoo | 233 products |
| lip gloss | 233 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 223 products |
| facial cleanser | 213 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 188 products |
| mascara | 178 products |
| brow liner | 162 products |
| makeup primer | 140 products |
| facial powder | 127 products |
| lip balm | 100 products |
| makeup remover | 99 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 95 products |
| hair styling aide | 90 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 89 products |
| toners/astringents | 84 products |
| hand cream | 82 products |
| around-eye cream | 82 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 79 products |
| liquid hand soap | 67 products |
| body firming lotion | 67 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 65 products |
| lip liner | 61 products |
| BB cream | 54 products |
| shaving cream | 41 products |
| baby shampoo | 28 products |
| glitter | 27 products |
| anti-aging | 25 products |
| sunless tanning | 25 products |
| hair spray | 24 products |
| bubble bath | 24 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 23 products |
| baby soap | 23 products |
| CC cream | 23 products |
| eyelash glue | 22 products |
| detangler | 21 products |
| baby wipes | 21 products |
| baby lotion | 20 products |
| foot moisturizer | 19 products |
| after shave | 17 products |
| other eye makeup | 16 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 16 products |
| lip plumper | 16 products |
| baby sunscreen | 15 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 15 products |
| body spray | 13 products |
| eye makeup remover | 13 products |
| oil controller | 12 products |
| after sun product | 11 products |
| diaper cream | 10 products |
| hand sanitizer | 8 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 8 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 8 products |
| beard care | 8 products |
| baby bubble bath | 6 products |
| fragrance for women | 5 products |
| hair relaxer | 5 products |
| body oil | 5 products |
| bar soap | 5 products |
| beard cleanser | 5 products |
| 4 products | |
| foot cleansing | 4 products |
| nail treatment | 4 products |
| makeup with SPF | 3 products |
| fragrance for men | 3 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 3 products |
| nail polish | 2 products |
| pore strips | 2 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 2 products |
| beard oil | 2 products |
| foot odor control | 1 products |
| cuticle treatment | 1 products |
| depilatory | 1 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 1 products |
| polish remover | 1 products |
| other men's products | 1 products |
| body art | 1 products |
| baby oil | 1 products |
| body powder | 1 products |
| nail glue | 1 products |
| vapor rubs | 1 products |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Classified as irritant | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
Occupational hazards
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
Use restrictions
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit) | Japan's Standards for Cosmetics |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Can have adverse effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems. | National Library of Medicine, HazMap database http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/category-details?id=1901 |
| Classified as toxic or harmful | CPS&Q - Classification & Labelling |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as a low human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Phenoxyethanol is linked to allergic contact uritica and dermatitis. | Heidary N, Cohen DE Hypersensitivity reactions to vaccine components. Dermatitis. 2005 Sep;16(3):115-20. |
Data gaps
| 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 product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 279 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Data Sources
- CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP.
- Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau.
- National Library of Medicine, HazMap database http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/category-details?id=1901
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- Heidary N, Cohen DE Hypersensitivity reactions to vaccine components. Dermatitis. 2005 Sep;16(3):115-20.
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- This ingredient’s score is higher if used in products intended for use around mouth due to increased risk of ingestion and absorption.
- This ingredient’s score is higher if used in products intended for use on lips due to increased risk of ingestion and absorption.
- Products with the EWG VERIFIED mark have met use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
ABOUT THE SKIN DEEP® RATINGS
EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Beyond providing Skin Deep® as an educational tool for consumers, EWG offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria. Before a company can use EWG VERIFIED™ on such products, the company must show that it fully discloses the products' ingredients on their labels or packaging, they do not contain EWG ingredients of concern, and are made with good manufacturing practices, among other criteria. Note that EWG receives licensing fees from all EWG VERIFIED™ member companies that help to support the important work we do. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
