Can I use Ethylhexanediol with Phenoxyethanol?
Works well together
Ethylhexanediol and Phenoxyethanol are generally compatible and can be layered in the same routine. As always, introduce one new active at a time and watch how your skin responds.
EthylhexanediolSolvent / vehicle
- ✓Effective preservative booster that enhances the efficacy of primary preservatives at low concentrations
- ✓Mild antimicrobial activity in its own right, particularly against gram-positive bacteria and some yeasts
- ✓Contributes solvent properties that improve the dissolution of fragrance ingredients and oil-phase components
- ⚠At concentrations above 2%, skin sensitization potential has been noted in some patch-test studies — typically used well below this threshold
PhenoxyethanolPreservative
- ✓Keeps formula microbially safe
- ⚠Rare sensitivity
