Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is widely used in cosmetics and personal care products, especially products wanting to fit in the clean category. Since parabens have been associated with endocrine disruption, phenoxyethanol has become the preservative of choice for many companies looking to market a safer product. The problem is phenoxyethanol is made by a process called ethoxylation, and can leave behind toxic residual products, specifically 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide.