Diethanolamine ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as an alkaline pH adjuster and neutralizer, especially for acidic polymers, fatty acids, and cleansing systems. It can also support foam and viscosity in certain surfactant formulas.
What does Diethanolamine do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as an alkaline pH adjuster and neutralizer, especially for acidic polymers, fatty acids, and cleansing systems. It can also support foam and viscosity in certain surfactant formulas.
Is Diethanolamine clean?
This ingredient has significant clean-standard friction because secondary amines can form nitrosamines in the presence of nitrosating agents, and many retailer standards restrict it or its related derivatives. It can also raise irritation concerns at higher levels because of its alkalinity.
Is Diethanolamine sustainable?
This material is typically petrochemical-derived and does not offer a strong renewable-sourcing profile. It is expected to biodegrade under appropriate conditions, but its clean-standard concerns outweigh that environmental point.
Is Diethanolamine COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic as a petrochemical synthetic amine. From a Green Chemistry lens, it scores poorly on renewable feedstock and impurity-management concerns, despite being water-soluble and not highly persistent.
How does Diethanolamine work chemically?
The molecule is a small secondary alkanolamine with two hydroxyl groups and one secondary amine, making it alkaline, water-miscible, and reactive with acidic polymers or fatty acids. It is typically used only at low neutralization levels, and formulators control nitrosamine risk by excluding nitrosating agents, monitoring impurities, and keeping finished products within regulatory limits.
Last updated 2026-05-14