Benzyl alcohol is an aromatic alcohol used in cosmetic formulations primarily as a preservative, solvent, and viscosity-reducing agent. It also has mild antimicrobial properties and is sometimes used as a fragrance component.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Skin irritation | Uncommon | Mild stinging, redness, or burning, especially on sensitive or compromised skin. |
Allergic contact dermatitis | Rare | Recognized contact allergen; can cause delayed hypersensitivity reactions. |
Contact urticaria | Rare | Immediate hive-like reaction reported in isolated cases. |
Neonatal toxicity (gasping syndrome) | Very rare | Associated with high-dose parenteral/systemic exposure in newborns, not typical topical cosmetic use. |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.
Peer-reviewed papers on this ingredient, via PubMed.