Is Phenoxyethanol safe in cosmetics?
Phenoxyethanol has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Phenoxyethanol
Also known as: Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, Phenoxetol, Phenyl cellosolve, 4-06-00-00571, AI3-00752()C (+14 more)
INCI: PHENOXYETHANOL
Phenoxyethanol (CAS 122-99-6) is a cosmetic preservative functioning as Preservative. NOAEL 357 mg/kg bw/day (PDF-verified against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 1.0%. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Phenoxyethanol is classified GHS Danger (H302, H318, H319, H335, H336, H320, H361) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 1.0%.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu status/eu max; Chemicals: ghs classifications.signal word/hazard statement code
Function
Preservative
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
2-phenoxyethanol
InChIKey
QCDWFXQBSFUVSP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
1.0%
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; no US-specific concentration cap. EU SCCS safety confirmation at <1% includes all consumer groups. In practice, sensitive-skin leave-on products use 0.19–0.29% — well below regulatory limit. Best combined with ethylhexylglycerin (0.3–0.8%) and/or caprylyl glycol rather than used at maximum single-preservative dose. MI (methylisothiazolinone) is contraindicated for leave-on products — EU banned in leave-on since 2016; sensitization rate 6–12% in dermatitis patients.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Phenoxyethanol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Phenoxyethanol. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =2 mg/kg | intravenous | - | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =2 mg/kg | intravenous | - | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =2 mg/kg | intravenous | - | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =2 mg/kg | intravenous | - | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =2.69 mg/kg/d | dermal | rat | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =2.69 mg/kg bw/day | dermal | rabbit | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =2.69 mg/kg/d | dermal | rat | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =2.69 mg/kg bw/day | dermal | rabbit | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =2.69 mg/kg/d | dermal | rat | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =2.69 mg/kg bw/day | dermal | rabbit | NOAEL study | SCCS Opinion |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. This may result in impaired functions.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking. The substance may have effects on the central nervous system. This may result in impaired functions.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol, through the skin and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Conditional — safe only within SCCS limits: preservative max 1.0%
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Phenoxyethanol across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
SCCS NOAEL Values
NOAEL/LOAEL values cited in official SCCS opinions for Phenoxyethanol.
| NOAEL | LOAEL | Route | Species | Study | DA% (SCCS) | Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 357 mg/kg/day | - | Dermal | Rabbit | Subchronic (repeated dose) (28 days (5 d/week; adjusted from 5/7)) | 80 | SCCS/1575/16 (2016) |
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Phenoxyethanol based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
preservative
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.5%
Cross-reactivity Group
none
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
Source: ESSCA; IVDK; NACDG
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Phenoxyethanol, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
15-25%
Penetration Level
epidermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis/dermis
Molecular Weight
138.2 Da
Log P
1.16
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
10-20%
Safety Margin Factor
high
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: SCCS Opinion
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =80 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | HESS |
| LOAEL | =1000 mg/kg-day | Rabbit | dermal | short-term | ECHA |
| LOAEL | ~1875 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA |
| LOAEL | >3700 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA |
| LOAEL | ~1875 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA |
| NOAEL | ~375 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA |
| NOAEL | ~375 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA |
| LD50 | =933 mg/kg | Mouse | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =5510 mg/kg | Rabbit | dermal | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =1260 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Danger
Pictograms
Harmful / IrritantCorrosive
Hazard Class and Category
Acute Tox. 4; STOT SE 3; Eye Dam. 1
Hazard Statements
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
- H318 Causes serious eye damage
Specific Concentration Limits / M-factors
oral: ATE = 1394.0 mg/kg bw
Inserted via ATP: ATP17
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
11.4%
DPRA Lys %
25.4%
KeratinoSens IC50
2000 µM
hCLAT CV75
1000 µg/mL
NESIL
6750 µg/cm²
GHS: 1B
Human: positive
Source: DPRA: Hoffmann et al., 2018; KS: No reference provided in NICEATM database; hCLAT: No reference provided in NICEATM database; HPPT: [321] RIFM (1982): RIFM report number 1643, January 13, unpublished.
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
4 human repeat insult patch tests aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMT | - | 0 | 6750 | - | - |
| HMT | - | 0 | 6750 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 8266.68 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 12000 | - | - |
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Under investigation
Evidence: Limited
(2026)
Health effects: Yes
Affected pathways: Estrogenic
Regulatory framework: BPR
Source list: II
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: preservative
Receptor targets: ERα (weak)
LOEC: 100 µM
EU status: restricted (max 1%)
weak agonist
Dose-Response Data Points
| Endpoint | Target | Value | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL_development | developmental | 486 mg/kg/day | - |
| NOAEL_reproduction | reproductive | 400 mg/kg/day | - |
| dermal_absorption_rinseoff | skin | 37% % | - |
| dermal_absorption_leaveon | skin | 78–81% % | - |
| ERα agonistic activity screening | ERα | EC50/IC50: No significant ER agonism at non-cytotoxic concentrations in most assays; some studies show LOEC ~100 µM; LOEC: ~100 µM (reported in some studies); NOEC: not established mixed | weak agonist (borderline active) |
| FT4 / FT3 levels (epidemiological association); thyroid gene expression (zebrafish) | Thyroid axis (TR / HPT) | EC50/IC50: In vitro EC50 not established; LOEC ~1 mg/L (zebrafish thyroid gene expression); LOEC: ~1 mg/L (zebrafish); NOEC: not established mixed | thyroid disruptor (suggestive) |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
EU CosIng Annex Listing
European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Annex V — Permitted Preservatives
Max: 1.0%
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
KR Korea MFDS Annex 2 (Restricted)
Category: Preservative. Max: 1.0%. —
SA Saudi SFDA (V - Preservatives)
Max: 0.01.
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Japan (Positive (Preservative)): max 1.0
Korea (Restricted): max 1.0
Japan (Restricted): max 1.0%
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Permitted Preservative · max 1,0%
India: Permitted Preservative · max 0.01
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (7)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP | restricted | 1.0% | All cosmetics |
| CN | permitted_preservative | 1 | All cosmetics |
| IN | permitted_preservative | 1.0 | all cosmetics |
| AU | restricted | 1.0 | preservatives |
| GCC | restricted | 1.0 | All cosmetics |
| BR | permitted_preservative | 1 | - |
| ASEAN | permitted_preservative | 1.0% | All products |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Aggregated DA Values (3 records across 5 sources)
| Type | DA % | Method | Skin Model | SCCS Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| measured_sccs_opinion | 80.0% | - | - | SCCS/1633/21 |
| measured_sccs_opinion | 47.0% | - | - | SCCS/1575/16 |
| measured_sccs_opinion | 47.0% | - | - | SCCS/1575/16 |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 0.5–1 | 1 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Body Lotion | 0.5–1 | 1 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Shampoo | 0.5–1 | 1 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Serum | 0.5–1 | 1 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Conditioner | 0.5–1 | 1 | CIR Safety Assessment |
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (3)
Carcinogen Classification
No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
ICSC Safety Card
0538
Source: WHO/JECFA
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
A skin and severe eye irritant.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Antioxidant
Biocide
Chemical reaction regulator
Film former
Flavouring and nutrient
Flow promoter
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Plasticizer
Preservative
Regulatory List Membership (8)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
Consumer Product Chemical
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Phenoxyethanol — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
preservative
eu-annex-v
sccs-assessed
baby-safe
sensitive-skin-suitable
0.19-0.29pct-typical-use
preferred-with-ethylhexylglycerin
mi-contraindicated-alternative
broad-spectrum
microbiome-impact
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Phenoxyethanol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
44
Lowest NOAEL
2
Highest NOAEL
1000
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg, mg/kg/d, mg/kg bw/day
SCCS Opinion
Dermal Absorption
View details ->| Absorption % | Method | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 80.0% | SCCS opinion extraction | - |
| 47.0% | SCCS PDF direct extraction | - |
| 47.0% | SCCS PDF direct extraction | - |
Known Synonyms
Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether
Phenoxetol
Phenyl cellosolve
4-06-00-00571
AI3-00752()C
BRN 1364011
EINECS 204-589-7
Glycol monophenyl ether
beta-Hydroxyethyl phenyl ether
Phenylmonoglycol ether
Rose ether
2-Fenoxyethanol
Fenyl-cellosolve
Fenylcelosolv
Plastiazan-41
UNII-HIE492ZZ3T
2-Phenoxyethanol, 9CI
2-phenoxyethan-1-ol
Phenylcellosolve
Chemical Function
Preservative
Antioxidant
Fragrance
Biocide
Regulatory Lists
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts adhesive; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; detected; Europe
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
artificial_sweat; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Personal care - liniment
air; Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected; emissions; Europe
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Other indirect contact consumer goods
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Other indirect contact consumer goods
detected; Europe; Personal care - liniment
detected; Personal care; Southeast Asia
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - fabric treatment and dye; detected
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
detected; Europe; Personal care - nails - nail polish
Europe; Specialty occupational products
detected; Europe; Personal care - sexual wellness
detected; Europe; Personal care - sexual wellness
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
PHENOXYETHANOL
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1229846
Max Phase
-1
Adverse Event Associations
384
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOPHENYL ETHER
Food Category
flavoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phenoxyethanol allowed in the EU?
Phenoxyethanol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 1.0%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Phenoxyethanol do in cosmetics?
Phenoxyethanol functions as: Preservative. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 122-99-6.
What is the NOAEL for Phenoxyethanol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Phenoxyethanol is =2 mg/kg based on a NOAEL study study via intravenous route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: SCCS Opinion.
Is Phenoxyethanol used outside cosmetics?
Phenoxyethanol also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Phenoxyethanol have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Phenoxyethanol is classified GHS Danger (H302, H318, H319, H335, H336, H320, H361) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 1.0%.
Compliance Tools
Check Phenoxyethanol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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