Sensitive Skin and Phenoxyethanol: What You Should Know (Before You Slather!)

 

👋 Hey sensitive-skinned beauties! Ever applied a product that seemed harmless, only to feel that annoying itch, tingle, or discomfort creep in later? Let’s talk about one sneaky little ingredient that might be to blame: Phenoxyethanol.

💧 First, Why Do We Even Need Preservatives?

Picture this: you’re scooping out your favorite cream, and ewww—it’s suddenly gone moldy! Not cute. That’s why water-based skincare products need preservatives to keep them fresh and bacteria-free. Unless your skincare is sealed tighter than a space pod, preservatives are a must.

For years, parabens ruled the game. But then, cue dramatic music, studies suggested they might mimic estrogen and mess with our hormones. Yikes! Cue the mass “paraben-free” movement, and enter our star-of-the-show substitute: phenoxyethanol.

🌿 So...What Is Phenoxyethanol, Anyway?

Phenoxyethanol is a type of alcohol that helps prevent your face cream from turning into a science experiment. It’s commonly used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and even lubricants. It’s effective, shelf-stable, and... kind of everywhere.

But is it actually sensitive-skin friendly?

📊 Let’s Check the Scoreboard (Thanks, EWG!)

According to the EWG’s Skin Deep® database, phenoxyethanol scores between 2 and 4, depending on how it’s used (1 is best, 10 is worst). That means it’s considered generally safe—but for sensitive skin, that’s not always the whole story.

Check out EWG’s list of moisturizers with phenoxyethanol if you’re curious. 

😣 When “Generally Safe” Isn’t Safe Enough

Meet May A., co-founder of dermagrace skincare. Back in 2021, she noticed her skin just wasn’t loving popular moisturizers and cleansers—despite them being marketed for sensitive skin.

So, she did what any skincare sleuth would do: clinical patch testing, her own 3-day medical-standard patch tests, and ingredient deep-dives. The culprit? Phenoxyethanol. While it didn’t cause full-blown irritation, it made her skin feel… off. Tense. Tight. Unhappy.

🚫 Going Phenoxyethanol-Free (For Real)

In 2022, May decided she’d had enough. She started formulating her own skincare—sans phenoxyethanol—with a mission to create ultra-gentle products that actually felt good on sensitive skin. The result? The dermagrace delicate cleanser and delicate moisturizer, both made to soothe, not stress, your skin.

👉 Curious what’s in them? Check out Dermagrace’s Formulations Explained page.

🔍 What’s the Industry Doing Now?

In April 2025, May took another deep dive—this time into eight top moisturizers made for sensitive skin. Here's what she found:

  • 1 product used airless packaging = no preservatives needed. 

  • 1 brand quietly reformulated and dropped phenoxyethanol 

  • 2 products swapped it for 1,2-hexanediol (which can still irritate)

  • 4 products are still hanging on to phenoxyethanol

So yeah, it's still pretty common—but things are shifting.

💡 Sensitive Skin Tip

If your skin often feels off after using a product, check the ingredient list for phenoxyethanol. It’s not evil, but it might not be your bestie either—especially if your skin barrier is already fragile.

🧴 Final Thoughts: Listen to Your Skin

Not all preservatives are bad—but not all are good for you. At dermagrace, we believe that your skincare should work with your skin, not against it. That’s why we keep our formulas clean, minimal, and free of unnecessary irritants.

Ready to treat your skin like the delicate flower it is? You deserve it. 💖

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