1. Personal Care 

• Preservative: Phenoxyethanol is widely used as a preservative due to its effectiveness against a broad spectrum of microbes, including bacteria, yeast, and molds. It helps prevent product spoilage and contamination, which is crucial for cosmetics like lotions, creams, shampoos, and makeup products that contain water and are prone to microbial growth.
• Stabilizer: By inhibiting microbial growth, phenoxyethanol helps maintain the formulation’s stability over time, extending the shelf life and ensuring safety during consumer use.
• Skin Conditioning: While its primary function is preservation, phenoxyethanol also has mild skin-conditioning effects, making it compatible with many skincare products without causing irritation in most users.

2. Pharmaceuticals

• Preservative in Formulations: Phenoxyethanol is accepted for use as a preservative in various pharmaceutical formulations, including injectables, vaccines, and topical products, where sterility and microbial safety are critical. It prevents contamination during manufacture, storage, and use.
• Stabilizing Agent: It helps maintain the stability of sensitive drugs and vaccines by protecting them from microbial degradation, ensuring efficacy and safety until expiration.

3. Cleaning & Disinfectant

• Preservative in Cleaning Agents: Many household cleaners, disinfectants, and detergents contain water and are susceptible to microbial growth. Phenoxyethanol helps prevent this growth, ensuring the product remains effective and safe over time.
• Fragrance Fixative: It helps stabilize fragrances in air fresheners and other scented household products, slowing down the evaporation of volatile fragrance components and prolonging scent life.