Used in baby products, bath products, creams, face wash, lip balm, sunscreen, hand cream, foundation, and many other cosmetics and skin and hair care products.
Uses
Benzyl Alcohol is used in cosmetics and personal care products like soaps, detergents, makeup, hair, nail, and skincare products. It is also useful for lice as it has antimicrobial properties.
Benefits
• Extends the shelf life of products by preventing bacterial contamination
• Enhances the texture and absorption of skin care products
• Adds a floral scent to products
• Has antioxidant properties
Usage Rate
May be used in concentrations of up to 5%, depending on the formulation.
Strengths
One of the least sensitising preservatives in use.
Caution
Benzyl Alcohol, also known as benzene methanol or phenylcarbinol, is an aromatic alcohol used in formulations for multiple purposes such as a fragrance component, preservative, solvent, stabiliser, and viscosity-decreasing agent.
It is derived from tea, fruit (such as peaches, apricots, and cranberries), and essential oils (such as jasmine, hyacinth, and ylang-ylang). It is a colourless liquid with a slightly sweet scent, and may be commonly spotted on the label of skincare, cosmetic, and personal products. Benzyl Alcohol reacts with triethyl phosphite and zinc iodide to form to ultimately create a solvent, which helps increase the efficacy of active ingredients in skin care products by enhancing their absorption through the skin.