Phenoxyethanol: Clean Beauty’s Dirty Little Secret
On today's "Ask Me Anything" episode, I’m doing a deep dive on phenoxyethanol. What is phenoxyethanol and why is it on my avoid list?
Why are a lot of so called "clean" brands using it? It can be confusing because their is a naturally occurring version of phenoxyethanol found in chicory and green tea. But that natural version is not what is being used in our cosmetics.
I'm a big believer in informed consent. And unfortunately, too many companies are trying to pull the wool over our eyes with this toxin. One company goes so far as to say that the phenoxyethanol in their product in derived from green tea. In all actuality, the synthetic form of phenoxyethanol is made in a laboratory by reacting phenol with ethylene oxide, which is a human carcinogen.
Phenoxyethanol is everywhere - from your moisturizers to sunscreens. Preservatives play a critical role in keeping water-based products from growing moldy. So we need them, but we don’t need this own.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What phenoxyethanol is
My process when considering ingredients on the avoid list
Consumer warnings about products with phenoxyethanol
The cumulative dangers presented by phenoxyethanol in small amounts in multiple products
Toxin-free alternatives
Links mentioned in episode:
Studies mentioned in episode:
Related Episodes:
Episode 12: Spring Cleaning: Why You Should Detox Your Laundry Detergent
Episode 14: Spring Cleaning: Is Your Household Cleaner Greenwashed?
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