Diethanolamine (DEA) and its salts are considered safe for cosmetics when they don't irritate skin. The expert panel reviewed existing safety data and concluded these ingredients are okay to use — but there's a catch: they shouldn't be in products where N-nitroso compounds can form, which is a potential concern if DEA reacts with certain preservatives.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel examined animal and clinical safety data for diethanolamine and 16 related salt forms. Since individual safety data wasn't available for each salt, they extrapolated safety conclusions based on previous reports and the fact that these salts break down in water.

Funding not disclosed in abstract