MEA-LAURYL SULFATE

Substance information

"MEA" refers to a monoethanolamine salt or an amide of monoethanolamine (2-aminoethanol). This ingredient contains lauryl alcohol (1-dodecanol) as alcoholic component. Sulfates (sulphates) are salts or esters of sulphuric acid.

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Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

CLEANSING

Cleans skin, hair or teeth

SURFACTANT - CLEANSING

Surface-active agent to clean skin, hair and / or teeth

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Origin

synthetic/plant (Information may exclusively reflect the status at initial entry of this ingredient into the relevant INCI dictionary; technological progress may have added new manufacturing options based on substances of different origin)

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Background information on use in cosmetics

Surfactants are so-called detergent substances and have a major significance in cosmetics for the cleansing of the skin and hair. Surfactants are substances which, based on their molecular structure, are able to reduce the surface tension of a liquid. In this way it is possible that two actually not mixable substances, such as oil and water, can be finely mixed. Because of their properties, surfactants have manifold uses in cosmetics: they can cleanse, produce foam and act as emulsifiers and mix substances with one another. In shampoos, shower gels and soaps, surfactants are, for instance, used to wash fat and soil particles with water off from the body. Surfactants are also used in toothpaste. Here they promote during tooth cleaning the rapid and full dissolution and distribution of the paste in the mouth. The surfactants used in cosmetic products are primarily produced synthetically on the basis of vegetable raw materials. Surfactants are often used in combination to equally meet all desired requirements – like dissolution of soil and formation of foam in combination with a good skin tolerance – in the best possible manner. Through a skilled combination of a surfactant – viewed on its own – with unfavourable skin tolerance but a very good soil removal property with a very mild, skin protecting surfactant altogether a product with good cleansing properties and the same good skin tolerances is obtained.

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Information on safe use

This substance is expressly approved and / or subject to a restriction as a result of an entry in Annex III of the EC Cosmetics Regulation after an assessment by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety of the EU Commission (SCCS). Restrictions can relate eg to purity criteria, a maximum concentration or the restriction to certain product categories. Subject to the conditions possibly imposed in Annex III, the use of this substance in cosmetic products is safe.

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Why are we talking about it?

Sulphates are accused of being irritating to the skin and eyes. The facts: Sulphates have been widely evaluated by international expert committees (Europe, USA), which each time have confirmed the safety of these ingredients in cosmetic formulations. This is also the conclusion of the European Medicines Agency for their use in topical medicines (application to the skin). Taken individually, sulphates do indeed have an irritant potential. This is taken into account when formulating a product. The concentration of sulphates can thus be reduced by combining them with each other or with other surfactants which act in synergy. Certain ingredients can also be added to the formula to ensure a better tolerance profile. A cosmetic product is more complex than the sum of its ingredients. It is the irritant potential of the finished product that counts, and this is assessed by tolerance tests (skin and eye) before the product is placed on the market. Key points to take away: At the concentrations usually used in cosmetic products, sulphates are not irritating to the skin or eyes. Their use is well controlled, and the tolerance of the finished product is systematically validated by tests. For rinse-off products, following the precautions for use written on the product allows for a safe use.

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Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.