An example: Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is widely used in cosmetics for its antimicrobial properties. In the EU, UK, and Australia, regulations limit its concentration to 1% of the product. In the US and Canada, no such restrictions exist. The safety of this 1% limit is contentious, as the cumulative use of multiple products may lead consumers to surpass this potentially hazardous threshold.
Accumulation
We use many different cosmetics for different purposes every day. In the morning, you may shower with this Moroccan oil shampoo, then use a body lotion from the drug store brand Balea. You may then apply sunscreen to your face and Dove deodorant to your armpits. In the evening you may use a facial moisturiser by Cetaphil. All these products contain Phenoxyethanol.
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The risk
Phenoxyethanol is just one exemplar substance. There are countless others, which we could have chosen. Phenoxyethanol is a known irritant, a potential allergen and endocrine disruptor. Repeated exposure may cause developmental as well as reproductive toxicity and have adverse effects on the liver. When in contact with the eyes it can cause severe damage. From an environmental standpoint, Phenoxyethanol is very ecologically harmful as its manufacture is highly energy-intensive.