- Korean limit
- 1%
How much products actually contain
5 products state the amountmedian 0.5%
- under 0.01% 0
- 0.01–0.1% 0
- 0.1–1% 4
- 1% or more 1
Amounts are mostly stated by products named after the ingredient, so they may lean towards token amounts.
Of the products containing it, 0 list it before the 1% line and 6,157 after it (usually 1% or less).
Products using this ingredient
12 of 6,157 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 6,157
SidmoolMin Perfect BB Cream For Men SPF43 PA+++1% stated
NIVEANIVEA Repair & Care Cream 400ml0.8% stated
ANESSAMineral UV Sunscreen Mild Gel 90g0.5% stated
ANESSAPerfect UV Sunscreen Mild Milk 60ml0.5% stated
NIVEASun Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion 100ml0.5% stated
THE SAEMTHE SAEM Jeju Fresh Aloe Soothing Gel 99%
THE SAEMTHE SAEM Jeju Fresh Aloe Soothing Gel 99% (Tube)
EucerinEucerin DermatoCLEAN Clarifying Toner
LementCuticle Easy Off Pen 1.6ml (Single/Set)
JM solutionJM solution Vita Duo Brightening Toner XL 600ml
JM solutionJM solution Cica Made Calming Toner XL 600ml
JM solutionJM solution The Effect PDRN & Barrier Mask 24ml 10 Sheets
Definition
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
US FDA substance register · UNII HIE492ZZ3T · registered name Phenoxyethanol · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
- Allowed preservative
- United Kingdom
Source: ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · Japan Standards for Cosmetics · Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
Argentina · Brazil
- Maximum concentration permitted at final product : 1.0%
ASEAN
- Maximum authorised concentration in the finished cosmetic product : 1.0%
Taiwan · China · South Korea
- Maximum concentration : 1%
Japan
- Maximum amount per 100 g(Maximum amount of ingredient per 100 g) : 1.0 g(1.0 g)
European Union
- Maximum concentration in ready for use preparation : 1.0%
Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex V (allowed preservatives), entry 29 · maximum concentration 1.0%
Restriction V/29 · SCCS opinion: Opinion concerning Restrictions on Materials listed in annex VI of Directive 76/768/EEC on Cosmetic Products; OPINION ON Phenoxyethanol
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
Reviewed by CIR: Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessments: 2007-2010
Reviewed by CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenoxyethanol
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name フェノキシエタノール: 本品は、次の化学式で表される芳香族エーテルアルコールである。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 122-99-6
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 204-589-7
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID9021976
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID401976
- IUPAC
- 2-Phenoxyethan-1-ol
- Molecular formula
- C8H10O2
- Molecular weight
- 138.166 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Ethylene glycol phenyl ether is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Density 1.02 g / cm3. An irritant. · CBI, Wet Solid, Liquid, Other Solid
- Odour
- Faint aromatic odor
- Boiling point
- 473.4 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 245
- Melting point
- 57 °F (NTP, 1992) · 13
- Solubility
- 10 to 50 mg/mL at 68 °F (NTP, 1992) · 24g/L at 20°C
- Density
- 1.104 (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water, will sink · 1.1094 at 20 °C/20 °C
- Stability
- STABLE IN PRESENCE OF ACIDS & ALKALIES.
- Viscosity
- 20.5 centistokes at 25 °C · 20.5 cSt (@ 25 ℃)
- Dissociation constant
- pKa = 15.10 at 25 °C
- Colour
- colourless
- Melting/freezing point
- 14 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 245 ℃
- Flash point
- 127 ℃(c.c.)
- Flammability (solid, gas)
- combustible
- Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits
- 1.4 / 9.0 %
- Vapour pressure
- 0.007 ㎜Hg (@ 25 ℃)
- Water solubility
- 26700 ㎎/ℓ (@ 20 ℃)
- Vapour density
- 4.8
- Relative density
- 1.1094 (@ 20 ℃)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 1.2
- Auto-ignition temperature
- 500 ℃
- Molecular weight
- 138.165
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 451 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Preservative291
- Antioxidant50
- Solvent34
- Fragrance15
- No specific technical function12
- Biocide12
- Solubility enhancer11
- Plasticizer5
11 other uses
- Processing aids not otherwise specified5
- Stabilizing agent4
- Deodorizer2
- Film former2
- Cleaning agent2
- Surface modifier1
- Anti-adhesive/cohesive1
- Flow promoter1
- Surfactant (surface active agent)1
- Chemical reaction regulator1
- Flavouring and nutrient1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
5 skin studies and 6 eye studies are on record.
The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 11 studies
- Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to - Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) according to EU Method B.6 (Skin Sensitisation) according to EPA OPPTS 870.2600 (Skin Sensitisation) - Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening - Not classified
Skin Sensitization · Screening - Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) equivalent or similar to - Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Authoritative - Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening - Severe Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to - Eye irritation - category 2A
Eye Irritation · Screening - Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across - Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Is 2-phenoxyethanol safe when used in medicine and cosmetics? · 2020
- In Vitro Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Phenoxyethanol in Human Lymphocytes: A Commonly Used Preservative in Cosmetics · 2025
- Contact Urticaria Caused by Ultrasound Gel Containing Phenoxyethanol in a 4‐Year‐Old Boy · 2025
- Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of the antimicrobial activity of phenoxyethanol against phylotype IA1 and II Cutibacterium acnes. · 2025
- Are Phenoxyethanol products safe for babies? – A review of current evidences · 2022
Linked databases 29
- ASEAN Cosmetic Directive
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU allowed preservatives (Annex V)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- EU Cosmetics Regulation
- EU SCCS safety opinions
- Japan Standards for Cosmetics
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information 2 3 4
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem
- Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) 2 3
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese