What is phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol (PE) is a glycol ether formed by combining ethanol with phenolic groups. It is oily or mucus in liquid state. It is a commonly used preservative in cosmetics, and it can be seen in everything from repair creams to lotions.
Phenoxyethanol does not achieve its preservative effect through antioxidants, but through its antimicrobial activity, it can inhibit or even eliminate large doses of Gram-positive and negative microorganisms. It also has a significant inhibitory effect on a variety of common bacteria such as Escherichia coli E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
Is phenoxyethanol bad for the skin?
Ingestion of large doses of phenoxyethanol can be fatal. However, when phenoxyethanol is used locally, the concentration is less than 1.0%, which is within the safe range. Is ethanol metabolized to acetaldehyde in large amounts on the skin and whether it is absorbed in large amounts by the skin. Both of these are also quite important for phenoxyethanol. For skin with an intact barrier, phenoxyethanol is the fastest degrading glycol ether. If the metabolic pathway of phenoxyethanol is similar to that of ethanol, then unstable acetaldehyde is formed, followed by phenoxyacetic acid, otherwise free radicals are generated.
Don't worry! When we discussed retinol earlier, we also mentioned the enzymatic system involved in the metabolism of phenoxyethanol, which occurs under the stratum corneum. So we need to know how much phenoxyethanol is absorbed through the skin. In a study that tested the absorbency of water-based sealants containing phenoxyethanol and other antimicrobial ingredients, pigskin (the closest in permeability to humans) absorbed 2% phenoxyethanol, which increased to only 1.4 after 6 hours. %, increased to 11.3% in 28 hours.
These studies show that at concentrations less than 1%, the absorption and conversion of phenoxyethanol is not high, and no harmful doses of metabolites are generated. There are also studies with newborn babies younger than 27 weeks and obtained similar results. "Compared to ethanol-based preservatives, aqueous phenoxyethanol did not cause significant skin damage," the study said. "Phenoxyethanol was indeed absorbed into the skin of newborn infants, but the oxidation product phenoxyacetic acid was not formed in significant amounts." . This result also indicates that phenoxyethanol is metabolized at the highest rate in the skin without causing significant damage. If babies can handle it, what are you afraid of?
Which is better, phenoxyethanol or alcohol?
Although phenoxyethanol is metabolized faster than ethanol, the maximum limiting concentration for topical use is lower, only 1%, so it is not a good comparison. Since the stratum corneum blocks the absorption of most molecules, the free radicals generated by the two can be much less than the free radicals generated by their own oxidation every day! Moreover, since phenoxyethanol contains phenolic groups and is oily, the volatilization and drying speed are also slower.
Summarize
Phenoxyethanol is a commonly used preservative in cosmetics. Safe and effective, the usage rate is second only to parabens. Phenoxyethanol, a preservative, has no PR problem in any country, and consumers do not dislike this preservative. However, for domestic consumers, high-concentration use, especially in mask products, may cause a tingling or spicy feeling in a closed environment. But it's not an allergy.
There are still some differences in the raw materials of different standards. Choose the ones with better quality and better indicators. For example, the free phenol content is low enough to help reduce the spicy feeling of high content phenoxyethanol. Actually, you don't have to worry about it. Overall, phenoxyethanol is a safe preservative.
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More Details:
Mild Preservative - Phenoxyethanol
Effects and uses of phenoxyethanol
Is phenoxyethanol bad for the skin?
Certificate of Analysis - 2-Phenoxyethanol
