Phenoxy ethanol has never been a popular preservative in the skincare product manufacturing industry until recent times. As you have noticed the gradual demand for “paraben-free” products over the past few years, you will see that the labels of such products show the presence of an ingredient called phenoxyethanol.
Natural phenoxyethanol
It is essentially a preservative present in many personal care products and cosmetics. You are already using several products containing the ingredient without even knowing its presence.
1) The chemical form is called glycol ether
2) It is a solvent.
3) It has a faint rose-like scent.
4) The texture is oily and sticky.
Although you might already use the chemical regularly, do you know whether it's safe to use? This blog discusses the safety aspects of phenoxy ethanol.
What Purpose Do Preservatives Serve?
The chemical serves as a preservative in skincare products. Although the manufacturers' chemical type in skincare is synthetic, they mimic the natural versions exactly, leading to the adjective “naturally identical.”
It occurs in
1) Nature, particularly in chicory and green tea.
2) It can prevent the development of mold, yeast, and bacteria in the product that will harm your skin.
Technically, the chemical forms a substance by reacting with Phenol and ethylene oxide. That is why phenoxyethanol is also used in the making of certain vaccines. You can find the chemical in anything from a moisturizer to under- eye cream.
Advantages of Phenoxyethanol
The inclusion of the chemical is not for any direct impact on the skin but for preserving the skincare products that will impact your skin.
1) The antimicrobial effect of phenoxy ethanol is highly effective in preventing the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast in the product formula.
2) As it is a preservative, the chemical can enhance the shelf life of the products and prolong the chances of a sale.
3) The presence of the preservative brings about the stability of the products as it does not allow any reaction with other ingredients, light, or air.
4) Effective in protecting the products from pathogens.
Thus, the chemical will be undoubtedly a part of the top skin care products available.
Safety of phenoxy ethanol
Most of you have a challenging time deciding whether it will be safe to use the products containing the chemical. There are conflicting data available online that will add to the confusion. You may find mention of incidents where the user suffered from lousy skin reactions or nervous system problems in infants.
But don’t you think that the FDA won't have approved the use of the chemical if it was not safe? The negative impacts rarely happen in people who already have sensitive skin or allergies.
Several studies show that the presence of the chemical in less than 1% concentration is safe. But if you are using several products with such low doses, you are exposing the skin to a higher preservative concentration. If some reaction starts, it is not because of a single product but a cumulative effect.
The bottom line
The preservative acts as a stabilizer in various fragrances, perfumes, and cleansers. In other cosmetics like creams and moisturizers, it has an anti-microbial effect that prevents the degradation of the product both in sealed condition and when you start using it.
But if you want to maintain safety measures, try to avoid using the products with the preservative if you are
1) Pregnant
2) Allergic to the chemical
3) Considering using the product on a child below 3 years
4) Breastfeeding
You can perceive that the benefits outweigh the risks in general cases; it is a safe option.