INGREDIENT · PRESERVATIVE
Phenoxyethanol in skincare: safety, limits and pregnancy
Phenoxyethanol is the preservative many “paraben-free” products switch to, so it is worth knowing what is behind it. The short version is that it is one of the better-studied preservatives, with a clear limit. The long version has a few caveats.
You may see it written as
- Phenoxyethanol
What phenoxyethanol is and why it is in your cream
Phenoxyethanol, also written 2-phenoxyethanol, is a preservative. A 2019 safety review describes a wide range of antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and against yeasts, with only a weak effect on the bacteria that live on healthy skin.1 It has been widely used in cosmetic products for decades.1
Any product that contains water, such as a lotion, cleanser or serum, can grow microbes once the lid is opened. A preservative is what stops that. Leaving one out does not make a formula gentler. It makes it less safe to keep.
What the safety committee concluded
The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety considers phenoxyethanol safe as a preservative at a maximum concentration of 1.0%. Its 2016 opinion also found that the margin of safety of about 50 for children covers a younger age group who might be exposed to more.2
The same opinion is clear about its limits: it assesses use in cosmetics, so it does not tell you about exposure from other sources.2 The 2019 review adds that adverse systemic effects have been seen in animal studies, but only at exposure around 200 times higher than consumers get from cosmetics.1
One thing to know about that review: it is part of a journal supplement, and we have not confirmed who funded it. The committee’s opinion is the independent source here, and the review is a useful summary of it.
Skin reactions and allergy
The 2019 review calls phenoxyethanol a rare sensitiser and one of the most well-tolerated preservatives in cosmetics.1 Rare is not never: a 2021 report describes immunologic contact urticaria, a hives-type reaction, caused by phenoxyethanol in cosmetics.3 We have read only its title, so we cannot say how common this is.
If a product stings, itches or brings up hives, stop using it. A patch test, applying a small amount on the inner forearm for a day or two before trying it on your face, is a reasonable way to check a new product.
Phenoxyethanol in pregnancy and breastfeeding
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
No pregnancy-specific evidence is not the same as safe, or as unsafe.
Evidence on cosmetic products in pregnancy is limited overall, so ask your doctor or midwife about the specific product you use.4
What you will see on the label
Phenoxyethanol is listed as Phenoxyethanol.
It is often paired with other preservatives, and you may see it next to parabens on older formulas. Snifff shows phenoxyethanol as Low risk. For the rest of the formula, see what the score means and how to read the list.
As Snifff shows itPhenoxyethanol
Pregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Wording as it appears in the extension, which can change between releases.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Common questions about phenoxyethanol
Is phenoxyethanol safe?
The EU’s safety committee considers it safe as a preservative in cosmetics at up to 1.0%, based on the information it was given.2 A 2019 review calls it a rare sensitiser.1
Is phenoxyethanol safe in pregnancy?
Snifff found no pregnancy-specific evidence for Phenoxyethanol. Ask your doctor or midwife about the product you use.
Is phenoxyethanol the same as a paraben?
No. It is a different preservative, and it is one of the alternatives that “paraben-free” formulas often use.1 Parabens have their own page.
What is the maximum amount of phenoxyethanol allowed?
The EU safety committee’s opinion considers 1.0% safe as a preservative in cosmetics.2
WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Sources
- Safety review of phenoxyethanol when used as a preservative in cosmeticsDréno B, Zuberbier T, Gelmetti C, Gontijo G, Marinovich M · Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · 2019
- Opinion on phenoxyethanolScientific Committee on Consumer Safety, European Commission · 2016 · SCCS/1575/16, final version of 6 October 2016
- Immunologic contact urticaria from phenoxyethanol in cosmeticsPastor-Nieto MA, et al. · Contact Dermatitis · 2021
- Cosmetic dermatology in pregnancy and lactation: a risk-benefit framework for clinical practiceKovacs T, et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2026
This page explains an ingredient. It is not medical advice, and it is not an assessment of any product. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist.