Phenoxyethanol
The most widely used preservative in hair care. It keeps water-based products free of bacteria and mold and is almost always used at 1% or less.
About Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is a glycol ether — a clear, slightly oily liquid that kills or stops the growth of bacteria and, when paired with a booster, yeast and mold. Any product that contains water, aloe or plant extracts needs a preservative, and phenoxyethanol has become the default choice since many brands moved away from parabens and formaldehyde releasers.
It is effective at low levels and is typically used at 1% or less; the European Union caps it at 1% in cosmetics. It's usually paired with ethylhexylglycerin, caprylyl glycol or sodium benzoate, which broaden its protection against fungi.
That low usage level is useful when reading a label. U.S. rules require ingredients above 1% to be listed in descending order, while ingredients at 1% or less can follow in any order. Since preservatives like phenoxyethanol rarely exceed 1%, everything listed after it is usually present in small amounts. Our ingredient checker uses the first preservative or fragrance as the estimated '1% line'.
Phenoxyethanol is not a drying alcohol and has no effect on Curly Girl status. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has assessed it as safe at the concentrations used in cosmetics. It can occasionally irritate very sensitive skin, but true allergy is uncommon. Preservative-free water-based products are not safer — they can grow microbes that cause scalp infections.
How our checker rates it
| Mode | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Curly Girl | OK | No concerns for this mode. |
| Relaxed hair | OK | No concerns for this mode. |
| Low porosity | OK | No concerns for this mode. |
| Protein-sensitive | OK | No concerns for this mode. |
Ratings assume it is listed near the top of the label. After the first preservative or fragrance (likely 1% or less) most cautions soften.
What preservative ingredients do
Keep water-based products free of mold and bacteria. Usually used at well under 1%.
Also listed as
- 2-phenoxyethanol
- phenoxetol
Similar ingredients
Sources
Last data update:
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR). Ingredient safety assessments. Safety assessments for cosmetic ingredients cited on ingredient pages.
- 21 CFR 701.3 — Designation of ingredients (U.S. cosmetic labeling). Ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance; those at 1% or less may follow in any order.
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