phenoxyethanol
what it is
A preservative — INCI name Phenoxyethanol, a glycol ether. It occurs naturally in trace amounts in green tea; the cosmetic material is made synthetically for purity and consistency.
why we use it
Anything containing water will grow bacteria, yeast and mould without preservation, and contaminated cosmetics are a genuine health risk — the most real one in this industry. Phenoxyethanol covers a broad range of microbes at under 1%, and we pair it with ethylhexylglycerin so the total system stays low.
where you'll find it
In feather at 0.80%, in cloud at 0.80%, and in our mineral sunscreen (SPF 50+ PA++++), in the preservative group (0.85% total), where it is supplied blended with ethylhexylglycerin.
evidence
Strong evidence of preservative efficacy — every uncluttered formula passes challenge testing, in which the product is deliberately inoculated with microbes and must resist them.
safety
This is the preservative people worry about, largely because it became the default after parabens fell out of favour. The EU's independent scientific committee reviewed it in 2016 and concluded it is safe for all age groups at up to 1%. France's medicines agency had earlier recommended, as a precaution, avoiding it in wipes used on the nappy area of children under three — a high-exposure scenario very unlike a facial product. Contact allergy is possible but uncommon. We use it below the cap because, in preservation, the better-studied option is the safer option.