The ingredient, explained

Lactamide Mea

A published safety assessment explicitly covers LACTAMIDE MEA.

HumectantAntistaticHair conditioningSkin conditioning

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

N-2-hydroxyethyllactamide

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Humectant: Helps attract and retain moisture.
Antistatic: Reduces the build-up of static electrical charge on surfaces.
Hair conditioning: Improves cosmetic hair properties such as softness, shine or combability.
Skin conditioning: A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

The panel accepted the described uses when formulated to be nonirritating and cautioned against formulations in which N-nitroso compounds may form.

What this does not tell us

Published safety assessment, not an efficacy trial. Its conclusion is limited to the reported cosmetic uses and concentrations, and relies partly on group read-across where individual data are missing. It does not establish current regulatory status or guarantee tolerance for every formulation.

Sources for this summary. DOI 10.1177/1091581815586599 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Review supplied candidate titles and available abstracts selectively for exact identity; targeted primary PubMed/publisher searches. This is not an exhaustive systematic review.