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Monoethanolamine
AKA “Ethanolamine, 2-aminoethanol, Olamine, 2-Aminoethan-1-ol, 2-Hydroxyethylamine, colamine, Aminoethanol, Ethanol”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Monoethanolamine
AKA: 2-aminoethanol, 2-Aminoethan-1-ol, 2-Hydroxyethylamine, Colamine, Aminoethanol
Synthetic · Buffer · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Synthetic
Clean
Helps balance the pH of our formula so it feels gentle and comfortable on skin.
Solubility greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 68 °F (NTP, 1992)
Formula
C2H7NO
Mol. Weight
61.08
CAS #
141-43-5
Form
Liquid
State
Ethanolamine appears as a clear colorless liquid with an odor resembling that of ammonia. Flash point 185 °F. May attack copper, brass, and rubber. Corrosive to tissue. Moderately toxic. Produces toxi
See origin →
Functions
Buffer
pH Adjusting
Buffering
Anti-Inflammatory
Boosts Collagen
Wound Healing
Maintains optimal pH
Traditional Use
First synthesized in the early 20th century and adopted by the cosmetics industry as a pH adjuster and emulsifier. Used to neutralize acidic ingredients and create stable emulsions in skincare and haircare products.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
4
CIR
Safe w/Qualifications
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
CANADA✔ permitted
Regulatory Agencies
Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by coconut fatty acids diethanolamide.
Aalto-Korte K, Pesonen M, Kuuliala O, Suuronen K
Contact dermatitis, 2014
→
Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by coconut fatty acids diethanolamide.
Aalto-Korte K, Pesonen M, Kuuliala O, Suuronen K
Contact dermatitis, 2014
→
Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by coconut fatty acids diethanolamide.
Aalto-Korte K, Pesonen M, Kuuliala O, Suuronen K
Contact dermatitis, 2014
→
Final report on the safety assessment of 3-methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol as used in hair dyes.
Becker LC, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2008
→
Allergic contact dermatitis from trideceth-2-carboxamide monoethanolamine (MEA) in a hair dye.
Bowling JC, Scarisbrick J, Warin AP, Downs AM
Contact dermatitis, 2002
→
Allergic contact dermatitis from trideceth-2-carboxamide monoethanolamine (MEA) in a hair dye.
Bowling JC, Scarisbrick J, Warin AP, Downs AM
Contact dermatitis, 2002
→
Explaining skin permeation of 2-butoxyethanol from neat and aqueous solutions.
Bunge AL, Persichetti JM, Payan JP
International journal of pharmaceutics, 2012
→
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
→
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
→
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
→
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
→
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
→
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
→
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
→
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
→
Effects of ethanol and diclofenac on the organization of hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine bilayer vesicles and their ability as skin carriers.
Castangia I, Manca ML, Matricardi P, Catalán-Latorre A, Nácher A et al.
Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine, 2015
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Screening of yeasts for the production of 2-phenylethanol (rose aroma) in organic waste-based media.
Chreptowicz K, Sternicka MK, Kowalska PD, Mierzejewska J
Letters in applied microbiology, 2018
→
Extended Re-review Summary: Safety Assessment of Diisopropanolamine, Triisopropanolamine, Isopropanolamine, and Mixed Isopropanolamines
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl and 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl Thioglycolate, Glyceryl Thioglycolate, Isooctyl T
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Dihydrochloride
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of 3-Methylamino-4-Nitrophenoxyethanol as Used in Hair Dyes
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Butoxyethanol
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Diisopropanolamine, Triisopropanolamine, Isopropanolamine, and Mixed Isopropanolamine
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ethoxyethanol and Ethoxyethanol Acetate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenoxyethanol
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Potassium-Coco-Hydrolyzed Animal Protein and Triethanolamine-Coco-Hydrolyzed Animal Protein
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Triethanolamine, Diethanolamine, and Monoethanolamine
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report: Amended Safety Assessment of 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl and 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamides as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Ethanolamides as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Ethanolamine and Ethanolamine Salts as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Triethanolamine and Triethanolamine-Containing Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Tentative Report: Amended Safety Assessment of Butoxyethanol as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
3-Methylamino-4-Nitrophenoxyethanol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Butoxyethanol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Ethanolamine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Ethanolamine HCl
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Ethanolamine Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Isopropanolamine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Lysophosphatidylethanolamine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Phenoxyethanol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Triethanolamine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Triisopropanolamine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Phenoxyethanol Safety Assessment
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
→
Safety review of phenoxyethanol when used as a preservative in cosmetics.
Dréno B, Zuberbier T, Gelmetti C, Gontijo G, Marinovich M
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 2019
→
Safety review of phenoxyethanol when used as a preservati...
B Dréno, T Zuberbier, C Gelmetti, G Gontijo, M Marinovich
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 2019
→
Chemical characterization and antimicrobial activities of Citrus aurantifolia peel oils and Ocimum sanctum ethanolic extract.
Duangsombat P, Waranuch N, Pitaksuteepong T
PloS one, 2025
→
Chemical characterization and antimicrobial activities of Citrus aurantifolia peel oils and Ocimum sanctum ethanolic extract.
Duangsombat P, Waranuch N, Pitaksuteepong T
PloS one, 2025
→
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Butoxyethanol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Diethanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Diisopropanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
ethanol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Ethanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Ethoxyethanol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Isopropanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Mixed Isopropanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Mixed Isopropanolamines
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Phenoxyethanol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Triethanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Triisopropanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used...
Monice M Fiume, Bart Heldreth, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
→
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used...
Monice M Fiume, Bart Heldreth, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
→
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used...
Monice M Fiume, Bart Heldreth, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
→
Safety assessment of triethanolamine and triethanolamine-containing ingredients as used in cosmetics.
Fiume MM, Heldreth B, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2013
→
Detection of fatty acid ethyl esters in skin surface lipids as biomarkers of ethanol consumption in alcoholics, social drinkers, light drinkers, and t
González-Illán F, Ojeda-Torres G, Díaz-Vázquez LM, Rosario O
Journal of analytical toxicology, 2011
→
2-Amino-1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenol) ethanol and its salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
2,4-Diaminophenylethanol and its salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Butoxyethanol
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Ethoxyethanol
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Ethoxyethanol acetate
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Methoxyethanol
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Methoxyethanol acetate
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Secondary alkyl- and alkanolamines and their salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Tribromoethanol
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Zoxazolamine
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
β-elemene Isopropanolamine Derivative LXX-8250 Induces Apoptosis Through Impairing Autophagic Flux via PFKFB4 Repression in Melanoma Cells.
Jalal S, Zhang T, Deng J, Wang J, Xu T et al.
Frontiers in pharmacology, 2022
→
Final report on the safety assessment of ethoxyethanol and ethoxyethanol acetate.
Johnson W Jr, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert panel
International journal of toxicology, 2002
→
Final report on the safety assessment of ethoxyethanol and ethoxyethanol acetate.
Johnson W Jr, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert panel
International journal of toxicology, 2002
→
In vivo and in vitro inhibitory activity of an ethanolic extract of Sargassum fulvellum and its component grasshopper ketone on atopic dermatitis.
Kang BK, Kim MJ, Kim KB, Ahn DH
International immunopharmacology, 2016
→
Direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and carbon dioxide over CeO2(X)-ZnO(1-X) nano-catalysts.
Kang KH, Joe W, Lee CH, Kim M, Kim DB et al.
Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2013
→
Formation and inhibition of N-nitrosodiethanolamine in cosmetics under pH, temperature, and fluorescent, ultraviolet, and visual light.
Lim DS, Lim SK, Kim MK, Kwon YC, Roh TH et al.
Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A, 2018
→
Can 1% chlorhexidine diacetate and ethanol stabilize resin-dentin bonds?
Manso AP, Grande RH, Bedran-Russo AK, Reis A, Loguercio AD et al.
Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials, 2014
→
Allergic contact dermatitis caused by cocamide diethanolamine.
Mertens S, Gilissen L, Goossens A
Contact dermatitis, 2016
→
Preliminary evaluation of interactions between selected alcoholamines and model skin sebum components.
Musial W, Kubis A
Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin, 2006
→
Anti-senescence and anti-apoptotic effects of immature Citrus unshiu peel ethanol extract on ultraviolet B-irradiated skin keratinocytes.
Piao MJ, Kang KA, Fernando PDSM, Herath HMUL, Senavirathna HMMM et al.
Toxicological research, 2025
→
Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of diisopropanolamine (DIPA) in rats following intravenous or dermal application.
Saghir SA, Frantz SW, Spence MW, Nolan RJ, Lowe ER et al.
Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 2007
→
Investigation of piroctone olamine delivery to the skin from single, binary and ternary solvent systems.
Tang CF, Pudney PDA, Lane ME
International journal of cosmetic science, 2024
→
Antioxidant screening and phenolic content of ethanol extracts of selected Baja California Peninsula macroalgae.
Tenorio-Rodriguez PA, Murillo-Álvarez JI, Campa-Cordova ÁI, Angulo C
Journal of food science and technology, 2017
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Skin-permeable gold nanoparticles with modifications azelamide monoethanolamine ameliorate inflammatory skin diseases.
Zhao H, Zhao H, Tang Y, Li M, Cai Y et al.
Biomarker research, 2024
→
Skin-permeable gold nanoparticles with modifications azelamide monoethanolamine ameliorate inflammatory skin diseases.
Zhao H, Zhao H, Tang Y, Li M, Cai Y et al.
Biomarker research, 2024
→
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR