Phenoxyethanol
Preservative · INCI: Phenoxyethanol
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Phenoxyethanol comedogenic?
No. Phenoxyethanol isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative, a clear liquid that keeps bacteria from growing in a water-based product once it has been opened. It is used at a low level and is a glycol ether, not a fatty oil or a wax. We read it as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
It is one of the most common preservatives in products made without parabens, which is why it shows up on so many labels. A small number of people find it irritating, and that is a tolerance question with no bearing on whether pores clog.
Where it shows up
Serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, cleansers, micellar waters, foundations and face wipes, typically well down the ingredient list.
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: The types of acne lesions.