PHENOXYETHANOL

Frequently asked questions

• Is PHENOXYETHANOL safe in cosmetics?

  PHENOXYETHANOL is included on the EU positive list of special-purpose additives (Annex IV – colorants, Annex V – preservatives, or Annex VI – UV filters of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). It may be used in cosmetics under the conditions laid down for the relevant annex: permitted product categories, maximum concentration and required warnings.

• In which annex of Regulation 1223/2009 is PHENOXYETHANOL listed?

  PHENOXYETHANOL is listed under reference V/29 in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. The first part (Roman numeral) indicates the annex: II – prohibited substances, III – substances restricted by conditions, IV – permitted colorants, V – permitted preservatives, VI – permitted UV filters.

• What functions does PHENOXYETHANOL perform in cosmetics?

  According to the European Commission's CosIng database, PHENOXYETHANOL performs the following functions in cosmetics: ANTIMICROBIAL, PRESERVATIVE. Functions are defined in the CosIng glossary and describe the technological role of a substance in the finished product.

• Are there Safety Gate alerts concerning PHENOXYETHANOL?

  We found 5 recent alerts in the EU Safety Gate database in which PHENOXYETHANOL appears in the risk description or on the ingredient list of a recalled cosmetic. The full list and details of each alert are below in the Safety Gate alerts section.