The ingredient, explained

Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine has published research relevant to cosmetic safety assessment.

BufferingEmulsifyingMaskingSurfactant

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

2‚2',2''-Nitrilotriethanol

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

Buffering: Helps resist changes in a formula's pH.
Emulsifying: Helps liquids that do not normally mix form a mixture.
Masking: Reduces or conceals the formula's underlying odour or taste.
Surfactant: Changes surface tension to help a product distribute or interact with other materials.

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 report reviewed animal and clinical data and required nonirritating formulation and avoidance of conditions that form N-nitroso compounds.

What this does not tell us

Historical conditional safety review with read-across, not a skin efficacy trial. The conclusion cannot be generalized to any concentration or formulation.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 23696578 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Selective exact-identity review of 2 supplied local candidates and the targeted primary-source search recorded below. Bounded review, not a systematic search.