FRIGHTFUL 15: #12 DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA) / MONOETHANOLAMIDE (MEA) / TRIETHANOLAMINE (TEA)
What Is It and Why in Skincare and Personal Care Products?
TEA, DEA and Ethanolamine help to form emulsions by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified so that water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients can be blended together. They are also used to control the pH of cosmetics and personal care products.
DEA itself is rarely used in products, but may be combined with other substances and converted into a new ingredient (i.e., DEA salt) that is no longer chemically identical with DEA. This “chemical reaction” leads to a new substance that is very stable and does not easily come apart. Example: DEA, a chemically modified form of coconut oil—cocamide diethanolamine (cocamide DEA)—is used as a foaming agent or thickener in soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and similar products. According to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), data does not suggest a human health risk from the use of DEA and DEA fatty acids in cosmetic products.
Ethanolamine is commonly called monoethanolamine or MEA in order to be distinguished from diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA). It is used as feedstock in the production of detergents, emulsifiers, polishes, pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors, and chemical intermediates.
So, What’s So Bad?
TEA, DEA and Ethanolamine were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products designed for discontinuous, brief use followed by thorough rinsing from the surface of the skin. In products intended for prolonged contact with the skin, the concentration of TEA and DEA should not exceed 5%. Ethanolamine should be used only in rinse-off products. Triethanolamine and Diethanolamine should not be used in products containing N-nitrosating agents to prevent the formation of possibly carcinogenic nitrosamines. The questions I have are:
What are N-nitrosating agents?
Are they listed on the label?
What products am I using that contain these?
I choose to be on the safe side and not use any products that have TEA, DEA and Ethanolamine in them. How about you?
VERDAUD does not contain TEA, DEA or MEA.
Read this for safety of each product in US and EU