Trusted phenoxyethanol suppliers in South Africa

Many beauty and personal care items contain phenoxyethanol as a preservative. You might be surprised to find this chemical in a lot of household items, even if you’re not aware of it.

In chemical terms, phenoxyethanol is a solvent or a glycol ether.

Phenoxyethanol is an ingredient in a wide variety of cosmetics, both mass-market and boutique.  In many cases, it’s used to keep other products from going bad or losing their effectiveness too quickly.

The textile and vaccination industries are among the many others that make use of phenoxyethanol.

Perfumes, colognes, soaps, and cleaning products all contain phenoxyethanol as a stabilising agent. Its antimicrobial and preservation properties make it useful in many cosmetics, where they keep these products from going bad.

Parabens have fallen out of favour with health-conscious consumers, so manufacturers looking to cut back may opt to utilise phenoxyethanol instead.

How safe is phenoxyethanol? 

Using items containing this chemical is a personal choice that requires careful consideration. Records of adverse skin reactions and interactions involving the neurological system in newborns are the primary sources of worry. There was a recall of nipple cream containing phenoxyethanol in 2008. Babies that swallowed the nipple cream while nursing experienced gastrointestinal distress, nausea, and vomiting as well as a lowered central nervous system. Some infants had trouble getting up from sleep, lost their appetites, or seemed sluggish.

Multiple bodies have however given their stamp of approval to phenoxyethanol for usage in consumer goods.

According to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Panel, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Economic Community (EEC), the research into this substance shows it does not cause skin irritation either directly or over time. Using it at a concentration of less than 1% is typically seen as safe.