ETHANOLAMINE ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used mainly as an alkalizing pH adjuster and neutralizer. It helps raise formula pH and can neutralize acidic polymers or fatty acids in creams, gels, hair colorants, and depilatory systems.
What does ETHANOLAMINE do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used mainly as an alkalizing pH adjuster and neutralizer. It helps raise formula pH and can neutralize acidic polymers or fatty acids in creams, gels, hair colorants, and depilatory systems.
Is ETHANOLAMINE clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is a strong alkalizing amine with irritation potential, especially in higher-pH formulas. It is also scrutinized because amines can form nitrosamine impurities if paired with nitrosating agents, so many clean standards restrict it.
Is ETHANOLAMINE sustainable?
This material is typically made from petrochemical feedstocks, commonly through ethylene oxide and ammonia chemistry. It is water-soluble and biodegradable, but it is not a renewable-feedstock ingredient and can affect aquatic pH at high release concentrations.
Is ETHANOLAMINE COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic as a cosmetic ingredient. Its petrochemical origin, alkalinity, and nitrosamine-management concerns make it a poor fit with Green Chemistry priorities despite its biodegradability.
How does ETHANOLAMINE work chemically?
The molecule is a small bifunctional compound with one alcohol group and one primary amine group, which explains its water solubility and strong pH-raising behavior. In formulas, it is used at low neutralizing levels adjusted to target pH, and it should not be combined with nitrosating systems because secondary impurity chemistry can create nitrosamine concerns.
Last updated 2026-05-13