Skin Reaction from Excessive Phenoxyethanol

It sounds like you are experiencing skin irritation symptoms after accidentally adding too much Phenoxyethanol to your face gel formulation. You mentioned adding approximately 2%, which exceeds the typical recommended usage rate of not more than 1% in cosmetic products.

• Is it possible to be allergic to Phenoxyethanol? Yes, using Phenoxyethanol at concentrations higher than recommended can cause skin irritation, redness, and a burning or warming sensation, especially on sensitive skin or around the eyes. The symptoms you described, such as redness and a burning feeling, are consistent with irritation from an overly high concentration of a preservative like Phenoxyethanol.
• What are the effects of exceeding the recommended amount? Exceeding the recommended usage rate increases the likelihood of adverse skin reactions. While Phenoxyethanol is considered safe at approved levels, using too much can disrupt the skin barrier and cause irritation.

Based on your symptoms and the concentration used, it is highly likely that the irritation is a result of the excessive amount of Phenoxyethanol in your gel.

Recommendation:

As advised previously, it is strongly recommended to stop using the product that contains the excessive amount of Phenoxyethanol. Continuing to use it could worsen the irritation.

If possible, you could try to dilute the existing batch of gel by adding more of the base gel (without preservative) to bring the Phenoxyethanol concentration down to the recommended level (typically 0.5-1.0%). However, if you are unsure about achieving the correct dilution or if the irritation is severe, it is safest to discard the current batch and make a new one with the correct preservative concentration.

Always adhere to the recommended usage rates for all ingredients, especially preservatives, to ensure product safety and minimize the risk of skin reactions.