Pikabee Scan

Ingredients › Phenoxyethanol

Baby skincare · 0–36 months

Is phenoxyethanol safe for babies?

Phenoxyethanol in baby wipes and lotion

Phenoxyethanol is the preservative you will find in most “paraben-free” baby wipes, lotions and washes, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin. Pikabee does not flag it at any age. It follows the EU rule, which permits it up to 1% after a scientific review that looked at children's exposure.

What Pikabee flags, by age

0–6 monthsNot flagged

Not flagged. Pikabee judges the rest of the label as usual.

6–12 monthsNot flagged

Not flagged.

12–36 monthsNot flagged

Not flagged.

What it is

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative: it stops bacteria and mould growing in anything that contains water. Wet wipes, lotions and washes need one, and when brands moved away from parabens, phenoxyethanol is what most of them moved to.

It is usually near the end of the list, often written together with ethylhexylglycerin, which helps it work at a lower amount.

Names it goes by on labels

Why Pikabee doesn't flag it

EU skincare law permits phenoxyethanol as a preservative up to 1% (Annex V). In 2016 the EU's scientific committee for consumer products, the SCCS, reviewed that limit, including children's exposure, and kept it. France goes further: since 2019 its medicines agency has required leave-on products with phenoxyethanol to be labelled not for the nappy area of children 3 and under, a measure the industry challenged in court. Pikabee follows the EU-wide rule, as it does for parabens, so it does not flag phenoxyethanol. If a label itself says not for the nappy area, follow the label.

How often parents find it

6 of 31

different baby skincare labels parents have scanned with Pikabee had phenoxyethanol, as of 4 November 2026.

Questions parents ask

Is phenoxyethanol safe for a baby under 6 months?

Not flagged. Pikabee judges the rest of the label as usual. EU skincare law permits phenoxyethanol as a preservative up to 1% (Annex V).

Is phenoxyethanol safe for a 6 to 12 month old baby?

Not flagged. EU skincare law permits phenoxyethanol as a preservative up to 1% (Annex V).

Is phenoxyethanol safe for a 1 to 3 year old?

Not flagged. EU skincare law permits phenoxyethanol as a preservative up to 1% (Annex V).

Is phenoxyethanol bad for babies?

Pikabee does not flag it. The EU permits it up to 1% in skincare, and its scientific committee kept that limit after looking at children's exposure.

Why does my baby wipe pack say not to use it on the nappy area?

Products sold in France must say that if they are leave-on and contain phenoxyethanol. Follow what the label says.

Is phenoxyethanol better than parabens?

Pikabee flags the longer-chain parabens the EU restricted and does not flag phenoxyethanol. Scan the ingredient list and Pikabee will check the rest of it.

Scan your label free

Snap the ingredient list on the back of any baby skincare product. Pikabee shows what's inside in seconds.

Scan your label free Free. No sign-up.

Sources

  1. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (EU Cosmetics Regulation).
  2. Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (2016). Opinion on 2-phenoxyethanol, SCCS/1575/16: considered at up to 1.0%, with children's exposure assessed.
  3. ANSM (France), decision of 13 March 2019, updated 14 March 2021: leave-on products with phenoxyethanol must be labelled not for the nappy area of children 3 and under.

Last reviewed 6 November 2026.

Related ingredients

Talk to your pediatrician about anything concerning.