The Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) recently published an article pointing out that baby and child care products sometimes contain problematic and potentially health-damaging ingredients. An overview lists various substances that are repeatedly criticized due to scientific studies and official risk assessments – including phenoxyethanol and titanium dioxide. (8)
Although we do not use phenoxyethanol in our certified natural cosmetics anyway, and also completely refrain from using titanium dioxide as a UV filter, we would like to offer you some background information on this topic: how harmful are these two ingredients really, and what legal regulations already exist?
What is phenoxyethanol?
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative often used in cosmetic products (e.g., in barrier creams, wet wipes, and baby and children's shampoos) to extend shelf life and protect products from bacterial contamination. The concentration in cosmetic products is limited to a maximum of 1% and is often used in even smaller quantities. (5)
What is white titanium dioxide?
Titanium dioxide is a white pigment used in cosmetic products as a UV filter for sunscreens, to improve miscibility, or as a colorant. Titanium dioxide is also used in some baby products.
Why are phenoxyethanol and titanium dioxide a concern in baby care?
Health concerns with phenoxyethanol: Phenoxyethanol is repeatedly criticized for causing skin irritation or triggering allergic reactions. In babies, whose skin barrier is not yet fully developed, these irritations could be more pronounced.
Fact check: According to the 2016 assessment, phenoxyethanol in the prescribed concentration is still considered safe. Since babies' and children's skin is significantly more sensitive, the French Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) introduced new restrictions in 2019. Since then, the use of phenoxyethanol in products for the diaper area in children under three years of age is no longer permitted. (6) (7)
Health concerns with titanium dioxide: Titanium dioxide has also been criticized for several years. Voices are repeatedly raised claiming that titanium dioxide is carcinogenic, especially when inhaled. There are therefore suspicions that, particularly in sunscreens or spray products, there is a risk of fine dust entering the lungs.
Fact check: For the use of titanium dioxide on the skin, no general carcinogenic potential has been scientifically proven so far. Since titanium dioxide in nanoparticle size is hardly absorbed by the skin, its use in cosmetic products on healthy and intact skin is considered safe. (1) (2) (3) (4) However, the use of titanium dioxide as a colorant in the food industry has been banned since 2022, as a negative effect on human genetic material cannot be ruled out. (9)
Baby care without phenoxyethanol and titanium dioxide – what to look out for
- Buy natural cosmetics: Products with a certified natural cosmetics seal use alternative preservatives and avoid ingredients like phenoxyethanol and titanium dioxide, which are repeatedly debated. You can find out when a product can be called natural cosmetics and how certification works in this blog article.
- Read ingredients: When buying, also pay close attention to the ingredients. Avoid products with phenoxyethanol (INCI: Phenoxyethanol) and titanium dioxide (INCI: Titanium Dioxide), especially in sprays or products for daily use on sensitive skin areas, if you want to be on the safe side.
- Look for clean formulations: Choose products specifically developed for babies or for sensitive skin, dermatologically tested, and with a particularly clean formulation, with few but high-quality ingredients, to minimize the risk of skin irritations. You can also find particularly clean formulations without questionable preservatives or fragrances in our med series. This was specially developed for very sensitive skin and is therefore also ideal for babies.
Alternatives to phenoxyethanol and titanium dioxide
Alternative preservatives to phenoxyethanol: As a certified natural cosmetics company, we use other preservatives in our baby care products instead of phenoxyethanol. In some products, we use natural salts (e.g., Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate). Alcohol can also be suitable as a preservative in low concentrations, as it is natural and "evaporates" when applied to the skin.
Alternative UV filters to titanium dioxide: In our sunscreen, we exclusively use zinc oxide as a sun protection filter and no titanium dioxide. Overall, however, titanium dioxide is approved as a UV filter. The advantage of physical UV filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is that they remain on the skin surface and do not penetrate deeper skin layers like conventional, organic UV filters. These can also cause skin irritations or severely damage the environment by destroying coral reefs. Here you can find further information and advantages of mineral UV filters.
O U R E X P E R T
Dr. med Michaela Hagemann I boep founder, physician & mother of three
Sources
(1) Committee for Risk Assessment RAC: Opinion proposing harmonised classification and labelling at EU level of Titanium dioxide, 2017: https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/682fac9f-5b01-86d3-2f70-3d40277a53c2
(2) International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC: IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans Volume 93, 2010: https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Documents/OEL/02.%20Kuempel/References/IARC_2010-Vol%2093.pdf
(3) Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: Opinion on Titanium dioxide (TiO2) used in cosmetic products that lead to exposure by inhalation, SCCS/1575/16, 2020: https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2021-11/sccs_o_238.pdf
(4) Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009; Annexes III, IV and VI, 2009: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/de/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32009R1223
(5) Cosmetic Ingredient Review: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenoxyethanol 1990, re-evaluated in 2011 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3109/10915819009078737
(6) Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: Opinion on phenoxyethanol, SCCS/1575/16, 2016: https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_195.pdf
(7) ANSM: Concentration de phénoxyéthanol dans les produits cosmétiques, 2019, updated version of 2021: https://ansm.sante.fr/actualites/concentration-de-phenoxyethanol-dans-les-produits-cosmetiques-information-actualisee
(8) Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Mär von der sanften Babykosmetik, 2024: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/artikel/wirtschaft/baby-kind-schadstoffe-kosmetik-pflege-eltern-tipps-e801214/?reduced=true
(9) European Commission: Titanium dioxide in food banned from summer 2022, 2022: https://germany.representation.ec.europa.eu/news/titandioxid-lebensmitteln-ab-sommer-2022-verboten-2022-01-14_de
