Effect of the Amount of Phenoxyethanol as a Preservative in Cosmetic Preparations on the Incidence of Skin Irritating Side Effects: A Review
DOI:
10.29303/jpm.v21i4.12134Published:
2026-08-29Downloads
Abstract
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in the cosmetics industry, commonly found in moisturizers, lotions, facial cleansers, and baby care products. Despite its widespread use, published studies have reported inconsistent findings on its irritant potential across product types and concentration ranges, and no comprehensive review has systematically compared phenoxyethanol irritation outcomes across multiple cosmetic formulations and testing methods. This study aims to analyze the irritation potential of phenoxyethanol as a preservative in various cosmetic formulations through a systematic review approach. This study employed a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines. Data synthesis was conducted using qualitative comparative analysis to systematically compare irritation test outcomes across phenoxyethanol concentration ranges, cosmetic product types, and irritation testing methods (in vivo and in vitro). Findings were grouped into three concentration categories. In the low-concentration group (0.1%–<0.5%), all formulations showed excellent safety profiles, including a face mist containing 0.2% phenoxyethanol with vitamin E and a body scrub cream containing 0.1% phenoxyethanol with DMDM hydantoin, both of which showed no significant irritation in in vivo tests. In the medium concentration group (0.5%–1%), all formulations, including moisturizing gel, body lotion, deodorant stick, blush on cream, hair tonic, and sunscreen lotion, consistently showed no significant irritation across in vivo human panelist tests, animal models, and in vitro HET-CAM testing. In contrast, the high concentration group (>1%), represented by a coffee grounds body scrub cream at 1.5%–1.6%, showed increased irritation. These findings confirm that phenoxyethanol at concentrations of 0.1%–1% is safe and does not cause significant irritation across various cosmetic preparations, supporting the 1% maximum limit established by BPOM Regulation Number 25 of 2025. Exceeding this limit increases the risk of irritation, particularly for individuals with sensitive skin.
Keywords:
Concentration Cosmetics Phenoxyethanol Preservative Skin IrritationReferences
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