Ingredient glossary
Phenoxyethanol
On your shelf ✓What Phenoxyethanol does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Phenoxyethanol
In short: Phenoxyethanol delivers preservation, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is strong. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Preservation
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Strong
The molecule
The Glow take
Quiet, essential, and nothing to fear.
Phenoxyethanol keeps a product safe to use from the first pump to the last, at tiny amounts. Not something you pay a premium for.
— Maya
What it does
- preservation
strong evidenceExtensively studied preservative with well-defined safety limits; effective for broad-spectrum preservation of water-based cosmetics.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- all
Approach with care
- very sensitive infants
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskModerate
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveSuits
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive infants.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
Phenoxyethanol, answered
Is Phenoxyethanol safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Phenoxyethanol is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Phenoxyethanol?
Approach Phenoxyethanol with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive infants. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Phenoxyethanol actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
During pregnancy
Treat Phenoxyethanol as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.
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