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Phenoxyethanol: Clean Beauty’s Dirty Little Secret

Phenoxyethanol: Clean Beauty’s Dirty Little Secret
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I'm wendy!

I'm a environmental toxins lawyer turned clean living coach who is obsessed with morning sunshine, Ningxia Red and all things holistic living (but for real life).  Catch me over on Insta and come say hi.

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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 this ingredient

  • The cumulative dangers presented by phenoxyethanol in small amounts in multiple products 

  • Toxin-free alternatives 

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