Last week the FDA issued a consumer warning against a nipple cream called Mommy’s Bliss. Personally, I thought the name alone was enough to merit banning it. Still, as my husband pointed out, the ingredients that the FDA doesn’t like in Mommy’s Bliss may turn up in other products as well and so this morning I dug out the FDA’s press release. I could hardly believe my eyes. One of the offending ingredients is phenoxyethanol.
Regular visitors to Truth In Aging will know that phenoxyethanol is a very common cosmetic preservative. It seems to be in just about everything I review and I usually point out that it can be a potential irritant. In Europe, so me products go out of their way to say they don’t contain in. This is what the FDA has to say about it:
“Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications. It also can depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea”.
The second ingredient in Mommy’s Bliss is one that I came across only yesterday in Zirh Platinum PM Rescue. It is called chlorphenesin. The FDA says it can depress the central nervous system as well as cause dermatitis.
I know that potion makers are going to write in and tell me that these ingredients are used only in minute and, therefore, safe doses. Well let me save you the trouble. If you don’t tell us exactly what concentrations you are using with independent clinical evidence to back up claims of safety, then I really don’t give a damn.
Related articles
Why preservatives are a necessary evil
A doctor warns us off parabens and phthalates in a new book called Anticancer
Five Best products without phenoxyethanol
What is it: phenoxyethanol and is it safe?
Natural alternatives to phenoxyethanol
Sodium benzoate isn’t much fun either
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You come across as very arrogant. And I can see that you seem to dislike any and all preservatives. Clearly, you’d rather scare consumers into having microbes grow in their cosmetic formulations than actually rely on good science. Preservatives are necessary! Stop the fear-mongering.. and try humble yourself
Joan,
There are natural ways to preserve w/out the use of phenoxyethanol, or parabens.
Natural preservatives DO inhibit the growth of microbes, just like pheno or parabens would do.
Water is what makes a wonderful environment for microbes to fester…so products w/out water are ideal for using natural preservatives. I think you need to learn a little more about the world of natural, before bashing the author of this article. Synthetics are NOT needed.
Sussana: you’re right, I was a actually rude in my reply. I think Marta’s arrogant tone (“Well let me save you the trouble. If you don’t tell us exactly what concentrations you are using with independent clinical evidence to back up claims of safety, then I really don’t give a damn”) just really grated me!
I have fair skin that has been damaged over the years and have for several years used an Australian product Sun Sense SPF 30+ which used as a preservative: hydroxybenzoates and diazolidinylurea. However the last 500ML container I purchased seemed very different and I did not like it at all. It was much thicker and made my skin go white. On closer inspection I see on the front label ” New Formula ” on the label at the back the formula does seem very different from the label on my old containe. I also noticed that the preservatives are now: hydroxybenzoates and phenoxyethanol !!!! and this is the new formula. Your comments please.
I’m curious, how many products have you manufactured over the years? Can you provide any shelf life studies using your “all NATURAL” preservative system? I’m in the manufacturing industry and what’s amazing to me is how many manufacturers put things such as phenoxyethanol in their products and don’t disclose it. They do this to keep the naturalist happy. Maybe you can list your “all natural” preservative system. I’m sure I can google each ingredient and find something bad about it.
I don’t understand the big deal. If you don’t like preservatives-don’t use them. If you can live with them-by all means do. Yelling doesn’t get you anywhere.
I believe in natural products, however, there is a line that should not be crossed, I feel that you have crossed it. the public needs to be educated not chastised.
If you think a product has a preservative, don’t use it. There are MANY products that work better than any preservative laden product. I have a nagging mom, I need an informative friend.
I was wondering about anyone’s thoughts on sodium benzoate in baby wipes versus the “hiddeous” phenoxyethanol. If you HAVE TO choose one or the other, which would you choose?
Just as a side note, I appreciate both sides to the argument of synthetic preservatives. I have had long conversations with naturalists and also chemists in manufacturing world. I do think that if you want a TOTALLY naturally product, you should make it yourself. I also think the mosre hideous synthetic preservatives that ultimately not only entering our blood stream, but seep into the environment by way of landfills and septic systems etc., should be banned. Perhaps phenoxyethanol should be one of these?
Thank you and looking forward to everyone’s opinion on phenoxyethanol versus sodium benzoate. Thank you kindly!
Quoting you on the FDA press release re mommys bliss nipple cream… you left out a very important point which was that This cream when used by mothers when NURSING can cause the following in INFANTS if INGESTED…
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications. It also can depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.
Well this preservative may or may not have harmful effects but it has been proven that this compound is much better in the delivery system to get the active ingredients deeper into the skin and cells. Products without it will work but not nearly as good. People have been brushing their teeth with this preservative for years. If people are willing to get less results with out it so be it but active ingredients work much better with it in the delivery system.
the only thing i can say is if you use a cold cream longer then a year then you must use it only a couple times a year. What would be the point? Skin needs consistancy to see results. as for a real natural product it can only last a couple of months left in the fridge. A pump should be used so you wont have to dip your fingers. besides that you should always wash your hands before washing your face. I use tretinoin 1% and i am looking for a gentle soothing moisturizing skin care set and i can never find thats in perfect balance in conjuction with tretinoin. IS THERE ONE? DO THEY EVEN EXIST? I tried it all ladies. 29. been a skin care lover since the age of 18.
and i firmly believe If you spend the day in the hot blistering sun then YES! use a sun screen. But if your just out and about then a good moistrizer with makeup will block the sun pretty nicley. Parkii- (shea butter) (every single skin cream in the world uses to different types of extracted shea butter in their creams.) is a natural sunblocker. So no you do not need all the Hype. sunglasses are the best.
Dr. X,
You said your comment as if it’s virtually impossible to put something out there that is truly healthy for people without adding in additives. I beg to differ. What do they teach at the school you went to? That only things made and “manufactured” in a cold, sterile lab are what’s good for the people? You are sadly in the dark about what is necessary to make good product. Of COURSE there are things out there that are really natural that can be manufactured for the masses. Large corp. would rather a large preservative filled bottom line than produce things that have a shorter shelf life and are still viable. DR.
My best, Lynn
Get real people she is telling you what has been reported and proven, in most cases, to be harmful ! You dont like it – read another article. Leave this lady alone ~ She is providing a fabulous service for us and you are being complete morons. I for one, thank her immensely for any and all info she painstakingly researches and provides. She is a life-saver – Keep up the GREAT WORK !
When posting – remember the first rule of journalism is truth followed by context. Yes the FDA issued a warning about phenoxyethanol but it was to prevent infants from eating it. It wasn’t a warning to avoid it in a skin care product. It is a harmless preservative – unless you eat it. Gasoline is harmful if you eat it too – but it’s fine if you spill it on your skin. Thanks for the opportunity to comment on your material. Keep blogging!
I absolutely concur with Tam; we need solid information, not biased opinions. I don’t care who is wrong or right about preservatives. I can’t bring myself to give a damn if you think a person is arrogant and ignorant for stating his or her opinion because like I said we need proof of what you’re saying. I need cold, hard facts about this serious topic; I don’t want to be running around in circles. If you have nothing useful to say, please take your battles somewhere else. It’s not fair for you to waste my time with your petty fights and clearly it’s rude for you to burden me with your open hostility and insulting attitude. I came here merely to get educated. I believe it’s safe to say that many of us have had similar thoughts in mind. Is peace and a decorum so difficult to ask for?
If all of you would google phenoxyenthanol you will see it is totally bad for you. Do your own research. don’t take one persons word for it. Go on Miessence certified organic products It will give you a list of side effects. Even if it is less than 1% in a product just think of the long term use plus other products that you use daily. it adds up and you absorb it into your skin. Doesn’t matter if its hair products, facial and body lotions. Get this even in vaccines. So it all adds up. Mr. Aubrey with Aubrey Organics once said, (of this ingredient) ” Instead of Quick KILL – Sloooow Kill” In Japan and European Union This ingredient is restricted.
Phenoxyethanol is restricted in the US as well. And, paraben is found in nature (methyl paraben is in blueberries, and ALL the doctors, scientists, and marketing agents tell us to eat blueberries). But, snake venom and bacteria and yeast and mold are also found in nature, so apparently not everything that is natural is good for you.
My primary concern with phenoxyethanol is the chance that during the ethoxylation process (as phenoxyethanol is made by reacting phenol with ethylene oxide), the phenoxyethanol may become contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. I think I’m going to start using products with parabens again as I’m starting to truly believe all the fear associated with parabens is just hype.
I’m very anxious to hear the ingredients in this “natural” preservative system though.
Thank You for the info.I find it very odd that people would get upset when given information, and insight on something that could potentially be harmful.Dr. X, I have a chair in the corner for you because you need a time out.These are the same Doctors who use people like Lab Rats the moment a pharmaceutical company gives them free mugs and purple pens, only to push their drugs on unsuspecting patients so they can document the side effects that your sure to have.
People are finding the truth in aging and you as a Dr?? in the medical community, are not a happy campers.