No Phenoxyethanol.

NO PHENOXYETHANOL!  NO…what?  Phenoxyethanol (pron. Fen-oxy-eth-ol).  That’s what?  Phenoxyethanol is a broad range preservative that is considered safe to use in leave-on cosmetics, aftershaves, nipple creams, and baby products.  However, it is also used as a solvent.  WOW! how versatile, eh?  Or is it just convenient…

This so called “safe” broad spectrum preservative has been given the green light for use in cosmetic and skin-care products, including those certified organic and natural. While rated as “low sensitizing,” in some jurisdictions, such as Japan, its use is highly regulated.  Recommended usage of phenoxyethanol is between 0.5% to 2%.  By way of comparison, essential oils should total no more than 1% of a product’s ingredients.

So why don’t we use phenoxyethanol in Hållbar Skincare products?  As the founder of Hållbar Skincare, let me tell you about my personal experience.  When I was developing the range and looking at cleansing rituals and formulations, I was researching preservative systems and aids.

So, I purchased some good quality, natural (so the label claimed), baby wipes to research their effectiveness with my products.  I don’t wear foundation, but I do wear mascara, so I simply wiped my face and eyes with one wipe on a Friday night after cleansing.  Next morning, I woke with slightly puffy eyes and itchy skin.  I looked like I had slept very heavily.

I repeated the process Saturday night and awoke to a completely different face on Sunday morning!  My eyes were red, puffy, stinging, some skin peeling, and I looked like I had been crying all night.  My face in patches was irritated, angry, and broken. So much so that that afternoon I was asked whether I had had a facial peel… and that was with my moisturiser on, after only two baby wipes, 24 hours apart!!!

The only thing causing the reaction was the wipes.  I reread the ingredients label and all the wipes contained was water and phenoxyethanol!  Let me explain at this point that any product containing water requires a preservative for shelf life. It took 3 weeks for my skin to repair.  I was not only shocked but angered as I could only imagine what affect it might have on babies and those with sensitive skin, susceptible to allergic reactions.  These wipes are so overused on babies and children – around the mouth, hands, genitals, and anus, which is the most sensitive skin on the body.

Needless to say, Hållbar Skincare products do not contain phenoxyethanol.

Following that episode, my research uncovered considerable scientific evidence as to the potential negative and potentially dangerous side effects of phenoxyethanol and reasons to avoid it.  For example, one scientist with a PhD in Biomaterial Sciences who has developed a range of organic and natural skin products is reported as stating:

“phenoxyethanol is actually very harmful…if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin, especially to nursing mothers or infants.”

Phenoxyethanol can potentially impact the brain and the central nervous system as well as cause irritation to skin and eyes. Whilst phenoxyethanol is said not to be harmful in small doses (which varies depending on the jurisdiction as stated earlier), it is used in many products so using it numerous times a day, day and night, day after day has the potential to cause sensitisation resulting in a negative reaction.

Phenoxyethanol is linked to allergic contact urticaria and dermatitis, and is classified as an irritant.  One of the most common warnings is not to use phenoxyethanol around the mouth.  What moisturiser, face product, sunscreen, toner, aftershave, baby wipe is not used around the mouth?  The list is endless, see below for a list of some other products that might use phenoxyethanol.  

This preservative is common in these products, to name a few: moisturizer, eye shadow, foundation, sunscreen, conditioner, mascara, eye liner, shampoo, lip gloss, concealer, body wash, hand cream, blush, hair colour, hair spray, lip balm, lotion, nail polish, baby wipes, baby lotions and soaps, soap (liquid and bar), shaving cream, deodorant, toothpaste, fragrance, hair removal waxes, hand sanitizer, and ultrasound gel.

I will leave you to decide what is good for your skin.