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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 | 1537 products |
| eye shadow | 1092 products |
| lipstick | 911 products |
| concealer | 705 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 496 products |
| moisturizer | 473 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 462 products |
| mask | 434 products |
| serums & essences | 417 products |
| conditioner | 410 products |
| eye liner | 369 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 342 products |
| blush | 320 products |
| lip gloss | 300 products |
| shampoo | 289 products |
| mascara | 288 products |
| facial cleanser | 266 products |
| brow liner | 244 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 223 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 214 products |
| makeup primer | 187 products |
| facial powder | 183 products |
| hair styling aide | 154 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 127 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 127 products |
| lip balm | 116 products |
| around-eye cream | 112 products |
| makeup remover | 109 products |
| toners/astringents | 102 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 94 products |
| hand cream | 89 products |
| body firming lotion | 82 products |
| liquid hand soap | 81 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 75 products |
| lip liner | 69 products |
| BB cream | 59 products |
| shaving cream | 50 products |
| baby wipes | 40 products |
| baby shampoo | 33 products |
| glitter | 33 products |
| hair spray | 32 products |
| baby lotion | 29 products |
| anti-aging | 28 products |
| sunless tanning | 28 products |
| detangler | 27 products |
| lip plumper | 26 products |
| CC cream | 26 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 25 products |
| baby soap | 25 products |
| bubble bath | 25 products |
| foot moisturizer | 22 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 22 products |
| eyelash glue | 22 products |
| after shave | 21 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 21 products |
| beard care | 20 products |
| eye makeup remover | 18 products |
| 18 products | |
| other eye makeup | 17 products |
| after sun product | 15 products |
| baby sunscreen | 15 products |
| oil controller | 13 products |
| body spray | 12 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 11 products |
| diaper cream | 9 products |
| makeup with SPF | 9 products |
| bar soap | 8 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 8 products |
| baby bubble bath | 8 products |
| hand sanitizer | 8 products |
| beard cleanser | 8 products |
| body oil | 7 products |
| foot cleansing | 6 products |
| nail treatment | 6 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 6 products |
| hair relaxer | 6 products |
| pore strips | 6 products |
| fragrance for women | 5 products |
| nail polish | 5 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 4 products |
| cuticle treatment | 3 products |
| fragrance for men | 3 products |
| baby oil | 2 products |
| foot odor control | 2 products |
| beard oil | 2 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 1 products |
| body powder | 1 products |
| other men's products | 1 products |
| body art | 1 products |
| depilatory | 1 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 1 products |
| polish remover | 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
