Ingredient profile
Triethanolamine
Raters disagreefragrancebufferingsurfactant - cleansingCAS 102-71-6
At least one of our safety lists speaks to this ingredient. Also written as triethanolamine, TRIETHANOLAMINE, TRiETHANOLAMiNE.
Raters don't agree. Here's where each one stands
Safe
Greenlens Ingredient Scan
Independent
Greenlens Precautionary Screen
Independent
Greenlens Tolerance Screen
Independent
Caution
—
Concern
ANSES Endocrine Disruptors
Government
Where each list lands
Funding shown- Concern
ANSES Endocrine Disruptors
Government
An ANSES endocrine-disruptor candidate (SNPE2); a common pH-adjuster/emulsifier carrying a Repr. 2 classification. (ANSES — French national strategy on endocrine disruptors (SNPE2))
- Safe
Greenlens Ingredient Scan
Independent
No EU-regulated hazard recognized for this ingredient.
- Safe
Greenlens Precautionary Screen
Also screened — not on these lists
- Health Canada Ingredient Hotlist
- California Proposition 65
- US NTP Report on Carcinogens
- IARC Monographs
- EU Microplastics Restriction
- EU Harmonised Classification (CLP Annex VI)
Exposure context
Context, not a clearance
Triethanolamine is a small molecule (~149 g/mol), but it is an ionizable, water-loving amine that stays largely charged at skin and formulation pH, so very little of it crosses the skin from a cosmetic: measured dermal absorption is roughly 0.4–2% of the applied dose (about 0.43% at pH 7 over 24 hours), and lower, more acidic pH reduces it further. This is exposure context, not a clearance — the endocrine / hazard trait still applies.
Notes
- ANSES CMR-listed
