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NEVER MADEWITH
ETHANOLAMINE
WHAT ETHANOLAMINE (ETA/DEA/TEA/MEA) IS
Ethanolamine (ETA) are clear, colorless, thick liquids with ammonia-like odors. They can be found in cosmetics and personal care products. Triethanolamine (TEA) may be used in some makeup products such as eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, blush, make-up bases and foundations; they can also be found in fragrances, hair care products, hair dyes, wave sets, shaving products, sunscreens, and skin care and skin cleansing products. Ethanolamine may be used in some permanent waves and hair dyes and colors. Diethanolamine (DEA) itself is rarely used in cosmetics, but derivatives of DEA may be used in shampoos and cleansing products.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM + WHY MADEWITH DOESN’T ALLOW THEM
They are surfactants used in cleansers, moisturizers, + sunscreen to create foamy or creamy effects (surfactants are compounds that lower the surface or interfacial tension between two liquids, between a gas and a liquid, or between a liquid and a solid; surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants).
Ingredients (like DEA/TEA/MEA/ETA) may contain/or produce nitrosamines, which is linked to cancer. There are also concerns about environmental persistence, skin allergies, and fertility/fetal development. “Additionally, the classification provided by companies to ECHA in REACH registrations identifies that this substance is toxic if inhaled, causes serious eye damage, is harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects, is suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child, may cause respiratory irritation, may cause an allergic skin reaction and may cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled.” -REACH Act [2]
WHERE THEY’RE BANNED OR RESTRICTED
The European Union Cosmetics Directive has chosen to heavily restrict the use of cocamide and lauramide DEA in cosmetics, as they can react with other chemicals in cosmetics to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.
The use of DEA and other Ethanolamines have been deemed unacceptable for use in cosmetic products by the Canadian Government [4].
Furthermore, Ethanolamines are created when Amino Alcohols are treated with Ethylene Oxide (Ethylene Oxide is also on our Never MADEWITH List) [5].
WHERE WE'RE GETTING OUR INFORMATION
[1] New Jersey Health and Human resources. Hazardous fact sheet. (2002). https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0835.pdf
[2] ECHA (European Chemicals Agency). REACH Act, List of Substances of Very High Concern. https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.004.986
[3] ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Annex II. List of substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. (2015). https://aseancosmetics.org/uploads/UserFiles/File/TECHNICAL%20DOCUMENTS/oct2015/Annex%20II%20of%20ACD%20rev%20August%202015-1.pdf
[4] Government of Canada “Hotlist”. Diethanolamine (and other Ethanolamines) unacceptable for use in cosmetics in Canada. (2019). https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/cosmetics/labelling/safety-ingredients.html#a4.3
[5] Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Ethanolamines and Propanolamines. http://www.ugr.es/~tep028/pqi/descargas/Industria%20quimica%20organica/tema_5/etanolaminas_propanolaminas_a10_001.pdf
