Triethanolamine, Diethanolamine and Ethanolamine are clear, colorless, viscous liquids with ammonia-like odors. In cosmetics and personal care products, Triethanolamine is used in makeup products such as eyeliners, mascara, eye shadows, blushers, make-up bases and foundations, as well as in fragrances, hair care products, hair dyes, wave sets, shaving products, sunscreens, and skin care and skin cleansing products. Diethanolamine and Ethanolamine are used mostly in permanent waves and hair dyes and colors.
The safety of Triethanolamine, Diethanolamine and Ethanolamine has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Triethanolamine, Diethanolamine 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 Triethanolamine and Diethanolamine 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.CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel recognized that Triethanolamine and Diethanolamine were mild skin and eye irritants and that irritation increased with increasing concentration. Ethanolamine was both a skin and eye irritant and the longer Ethanolamine stays in contact with the skin, the greater the likelihood of irritation. Ethanolamine was reported to be used in primarily in rinse-off hair products. The CIR Expert Panel also noted that in the presence of N-nitrosating agents, Triethanolamine and Diethanolamine may give rise to N-nitrosodiethanolamine. Therefore, these two chemical classes should not be used together in formulations.
More information about Diethanolamine in cosmetic products.
More information about nitrosamines.
FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for Triethanolamine, Diethanolamine and Ethanolamine
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
Diethanolamine is listed under secondary alkyl- and alkanolamine and their salts (see Annex II), and is not permitted to be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in the European Union.
Triethanolamine is listed as Trialkylamines, trialkanolamines and their salts, and Ethanolamine is listed as Monoalkylamines, monoalkanolamines and their salts, in Annex III, Part I (substances which cosmetic products must not contain except subject to the restrictions and conditions laid down) of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union. Triethanolamine may be used in non-rinse-off and other cosmetics and personal care products at a maximum concentration of 2.5%. Ethanolamine can be used in cosmetics and personal care products if the secondary amine is less than or equal to 0.5%. Neither Triethanolamine nor Ethanolamine can be used with nitrosating systems, they must have purity of 99% with a maximum secondary amine content of 0.5%, and a nitrosamine content of 50 microg/kg or less, and the products must be in nitrite-free containiers.
Link to the EU Cosmetics Directive:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/html/consolidated_d...