Phenoxyethanol
What is it?
Phenoxyethanol is a chemical preservative which has many applications in cosmetics and other personal care products.
How can I avoid it?
Skin contact with phenoxyethanol is required for it to cause a rash. Discontinuation of exposure to products containing phenoxyethanol should result in improvement and/or resolution of your dermatitis. By law, all products made in the U.S. for topical use have the ingredients listed either on the product package or the box that contains it, so check the labeling of your skin care products for this ingredient. If there is not enough information, ask your pharmacist, retailer, or contact the company directly. At work, request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure.
Uses:
- Skin contact with phenoxyethanol is required for it to cause a rash. Discontinuation of exposure to products containing
- phenoxyethanol should result in improvement and/or resolution of your dermatitis. By law, all products made in the U.S. for
- topical use have the ingredients listed either on the product package or the box that contains it, so check the labeling of your
- skin care products for this ingredient. If there is not enough information, ask your pharmacist or retailer, or contact the company
- directly. At work, request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure.
Other names for phenoxyethanol:
- Euxyl K-400 (mixture with methyldibromo glutaronitrile)
- P.E.
- Ethanol, 2-Phenoxy-
- Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether
- 2-Hydroxyethyl phenyl ether
- 2-Phenoxyethanol
- 2-Phenoxyethanol (RIFM)
- Phenoxyethanolum (EP)
- 2-Phenoxyethyl alcohol
- Phenoxytol
Rev07072025
