Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine is a cosmetic ingredient used as a buffering, surfactant - emulsifying agent. It appears in about 3% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It carries no restriction under the EU Cosmetics Regulation annexes. PubMed carries 252 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI nameTRIETHANOLAMINE
FunctionBUFFERING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, FRAGRANCE, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING
CAS number102-71-6
EC number203-049-8
Prevalence2,706 products (2.92% of dataset)
Most used inSkincare
EU statusNo annex restriction
Scientific studies252 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches5,400

Used in

General Moisturizers 13%Serums 10.7%Sunscreens 10.3%Face Cleansers 6.9%Body Lotions 6.2%Mascaras 4.3%

Frequently asked

What does Triethanolamine do in skincare?
Triethanolamine functions as a buffering, surfactant - emulsifying agent in cosmetic formulas.
What products contain Triethanolamine?
It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially general moisturizers (13% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Triethanolamine

Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.