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Ingredient · Preservative

Phenoxyethanol

Mixed · 5/10, higher is cleaner

How we reached this

Glycol-ether preservative replacing parabens + formaldehyde-releasers in baby wipes + lotions. EU + Japan + FDA permit up to 1% in cosmetics. French ANSM 2012 advised against use in leave-on products for under-3s due to hepatotoxicity in animal models at high doses; subsequent EU SCCS reviews kept the 1% cap for all ages. Mid-rated: cleaner than the things it replaces, with an unresolved infant-skin signal.

Sources · 3

  • EU SCCS Opinion on Phenoxyethanol (2016)
  • EWG Skin Deep — Phenoxyethanol
  • ANSM (France) 2012 evaluation of phenoxyethanol in baby cosmetics

Also listed as

2-phenoxyethanolethylene glycol monophenyl ether

Products containing this · 8

About this rating

Ratings run 1–10, higher is cleaner, and are set editorially against the sources above — see the methodology page for how an ingredient rating becomes part of a product score. Last reviewed 2026-05-24.