The bactericidal mechanism of Phenoxyethanol Inci is to act on the cell membrane, improve the permeability of the cell membrane to potassium ions, and inhibit the enzymatic activity (such as malate dehydrogenase) required for cell growth. Phenoxyethanol has specific bacteriostatic activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and its 2% solution or emulsion can be used to treat surface wounds, burns and abscesses infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, it also has bacteriostatic effect on Gram-positive and negative bacteria.
However, Phenoxyethanol Inci has poor bacteriostatic effect on fungi, so it is rarely used alone, and is usually used in combination with other preservatives or antiseptic synergists to increase the antibacterial spectrum and reduce the amount of use. Typically, it is used in combination with ethylhexylglycerol. Germany Shumei Co., Ltd. launched a new preservative product-Euxyl PE9010 for the global market in 2005. This product is obtained by compounding traditional Phenoxyethanol Inci and Shumei’s unique multifunctional active ingredient ethylhexylglycerol through a unique process.
In fact, both ethylhexylglycerol and Phenoxyethanol Inci are not very effective in inhibiting fungi. Looking at the figure below, it can be seen that until 168 hours later, the effect of the two in inhibiting fungi is not obvious, but the combination of the two The obtained Euxyl PE9010 has a significant effect on inhibiting fungi. In fact, it is not just preservatives. If other raw materials in cosmetic formulations can be well compounded, it can not only enhance the effect of the product, but also reduce the cost. Therefore, the real research and development of cosmetics is really not just a mixture of several or dozens of raw materials.