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Home/Daily Ingredient
Day 12 of 50 / Toxic ingredient spotlight

Phenol.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Also known as: carbolic acid, hydroxybenzene, phenic acid, phenyl alcohol

Irritant
Hazard score

The read.

1 = low concern, 10 = avoid

Hazard Score
7
High Concern
Quick facts

At a glance.

7/10

Hazard Score

5

Products Found

Restricted

Regulatory Status

4

Known Aliases

Commonly found in

Why it matters

Why you should care.

A caustic organic compound used in some lip products as an exfoliant and antiseptic. It chemically exfoliates the outer layer of lip skin, creating temporary smoothness but causing irritation and dependency.

Top Health Concern

Chemically burns and strips the outer protective layer of lip skin, leading to chronic dryness.

+2 more health risks documented. Read full analysis

In the wild

Found in these products.

5 products in our database contain phenol.

Carmex

Carmex Classic Lip Balm

7 flagged ingredients2/10

Carmex

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm

8 flagged ingredients1/10

Carmex

Carmex Healing Lip Balm

7 flagged ingredients2/10

Blistex

Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment

13 flagged ingredients1/10
See all 5 products
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The Numbrrrz alternative.

Numbrrrz lip products nourish rather than exfoliate. Our formulas support the lip barrier instead of stripping it.

jojoba oilsugar-based lip scrubs (occasional use)shea butterlanolin
Numbrrrz organic lip balm — four ingredients, nothing else

Yesterday

Menthol

Tomorrow

Salicylic Acid

Day 12 of 50

The archive

All 50 ingredients.

A new ingredient is featured every day. Explore the full database below.

7

Petroleum / Petrolatum

6

Mineral Oil

5

Paraffin Wax

8

Parabens

9

Formaldehyde Releasers

4

Phenoxyethanol

8

Methylisothiazolinone

7

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)

5

BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)

7

Camphor

6

Menthol

Today

7

Phenol

6

Salicylic Acid

9

Phthalates

8

Triclosan

8

Oxybenzone

7

Octinoxate

6

Homosalate

5

Avobenzone

7

Synthetic Fragrance

6

Artificial Colors

4

Dimethicone

5

Propylene Glycol

6

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG Compounds)

7

DEA, MEA & TEA (Ethanolamines)

6

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

5

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

7

Synthetic Dyes (FD&C in Lip Products)

5

Octisalate

10

Lead

9

Coal Tar

5

Bismuth Oxychloride

7

Talc

8

Carbon Black

4

Lanolin

3

Palm Oil

6

Retinyl Palmitate

9

Hydroquinone

8

Toluene

5

Aluminum Compounds

7

Siloxanes (Cyclic Silicones)

5

Titanium Dioxide (Nanoparticle Form)

8

Benzophenone

8

Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)

9

Quaternium-15

7

Imidazolidinyl Urea

4

EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)

6

Triethanolamine (TEA)

5

Ceteareth-20

3

Polybutene

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Four organic ingredients. Zero toxins. The lip balm your body deserves.