Understanding Phenoxyethanol in Skincare: Our Commitment to Safety and Sustainability

At PhycoHealth, we’ve always been committed to delivering products that are as effective as they are sustainable. This commitment extends to every ingredient we use, including phenoxyethanol. While we strive to eliminate unsustainable or unhealthy ingredients, always, we are constantly evaluating our options to ensure the least impact on human health and the environment, without compromising product efficacy. Our rationale regarding Phenoxyehtanol is founded in our own sceintific expertise and scanning of the current context of knowledge, with scepticism and without bias or proliferation of bias.

Why Preservatives Are Necessary

Preservatives are essential for skincare products that contain water. Without them, bacteria, yeasts, and molds could thrive, making products unsafe for use. Phenoxyethanol plays a vital role in extending shelf life and preventing contamination, including against pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as yeasts such as Candida albicans. These organisms pose serious health risks, and effective preservatives are necessary to keep products safe.

The Science Behind Phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol has been extensively studied for decades and is considered one of the most well-tolerated preservatives in skincare. According to the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, it is safe for use in cosmetic products at concentrations of up to 1%, even for children of all ages. Its safety profile has been affirmed in multiple studies, showing no evidence of toxicity or endocrine disruption at these levels. Unlike other glycol ethers, phenoxyethanol should not be considered an endocrine disruptor.

Addressing Concerns

Despite its established safety, phenoxyethanol is sometimes listed as a concern by organizations like ECOCERT. Others, including Paula’s Choice and Credo Beauty, highlight its favorable safety profile compared to alternative preservatives. Even Safe Cosmetics Australia includes it in their “essential ingredients” list for keeping products safe.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) ranks phenoxyethanol as "good" when used in liquid formulations. The ranking is only downgraded for its use in dry products, where inhalation of airborne dust could pose a risk—a context not applicable to skincare formulations like ours. This distinction underscores its safety in most cosmetic applications, including our own.

Alarmist perspectives often fail to account for the broader context. For example, phenoxyethanol’s occurrence in nature—it is found naturally in green tea—demonstrates its protective properties in plants. Similarly, studies that test its effects in non-relevant systems, like plant roots, do not provide meaningful evidence for human health concerns.

A Balanced Perspective

As ecological scientists with expertise in human health and nutrition, we approach ingredient selection with care and nuance. We weigh the real, perceived, and alternative solutions available, always striving for the most sustainable and health-conscious options. While natural alternatives to phenoxyethanol exist, they may be less effective or less sustainable when considering their full life cycle.

Take salt as an analogy: an essential mineral for human health, yet harmful in excess. Context matters, and so does understanding the balance of risks and benefits. The same principle applies to phenoxyethanol, where its benefits in product safety outweigh alarmist concerns when used responsibly.

Looking to the Future

We are committed to improving our formulations as better solutions emerge. At PhycoHealth, we remain open-minded and adaptive, keeping pace with evolving science to ensure our products provide maximum benefit with minimal impact. Our dedication to sustainability extends beyond ingredients to our packaging, processes, and overall mission.

By prioritizing safety, sustainability, and efficacy, we ensure that every choice we make reflects our values and our responsibility to you—our customers—and the planet. When you use PhycoHealth products, you can trust that every ingredient has been carefully considered to align with our high standards and your expectations.

References:

  • European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (2016): Phenoxyethanol in cosmetic products considered safe up to 1% concentration. (Source)

  • Paula's Choice Ingredient Dictionary: Phenoxyethanol as a safe and effective preservative. (Source)

  • Credo Beauty's "The Dirty List": Phenoxyethanol compared favorably with other preservatives in terms of safety and efficacy. (Source)

  • Safe Cosmetics Australia: Includes phenoxyethanol on its list of essential preservatives for cosmetic safety. (Source)

  • Phenoxyethanol occurrence in nature: Naturally found in green tea as a protective agent for the plant. (Source)