- What it can be used for
- Kills or slows microbes and preserves the product (the functions the EU ingredient database, CosIng, lists for it; a product may use it for any of them)
- CAS number
- 122-99-6
Why it’s flagged
Listed as a chemical of concern by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
- “Phenoxyethanol”. Source: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is an advocacy group. Its profiles explain why it considers these ingredients a concern.
What the research says
- A fragrance-free body lotion still gave the highest VOC emissions measured in the study, mostly from a preservative (likely phenoxyethanol), and its plant oils reacted with ozone to form aldehydes such as nonanal and nonenal. Moderate evidence. Wang 2024
Each finding shows its evidence grade. See every graded fact or how we grade.
What this page can’t tell you
These lists describe what a substance can do, its hazard. The risk from one product depends on how much is in it and how you use it, and the label doesn’t say how much.
Not being on a list doesn’t make an ingredient safe. It may never have been assessed.
Check your products
Check a whole labelProducts that list itEWG Skin DeepShop fragrance-free
“Products that list it” opens Open Beauty Facts, a free database anyone can edit.
Flagged the same way
Official lists checked September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.