Ph
Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol · Phenoxyethanol.
Broad-spectrum preservative. The most common modern paraben replacement; capped at 1% in most regions.
What it does
Phenoxyethanol is a glycol ether that prevents bacterial and fungal growth in water-containing formulations. After parabens fell out of marketing favor, phenoxyethanol became the default preservative in much of the industry. It's effective at low concentrations (0.5–1.0%) and tolerates a wide pH range. Generally well tolerated; occasional contact-allergy reports exist but are far less common than fragrance reactions.
The evidence, graded
moderateCommon sensitivity and contact-allergy triggers in skincare include fragrance (the most-cited cosmetic allergen), essential oils, denatured alcohol, and certain preservatives (methylisothiazolinone, formaldehyde-releasers). Patch test new products on the inner forearm for 48–72 hours before face-wide use.Warshaw 2020 · Dermatitis ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
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