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Beauty ingredient · pH adjuster / emulsifier

Diethanolamine (DEA)

CAS
111-42-2

An ethanolamine used to adjust pH and make foams; prohibited as such in EU cosmetics.

  • Ethanolamine (MEA/DEA/TEA)
  • Expert review pending
High concern Level 3 of 4 How concern levels work

A regulatory warning or restriction somewhere, or strong evidence of harm at typical intake. The concern level sets how many points diethanolamine (DEA) costs on a product’s receipt.

What the evidence says

  • IARC Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic)Strong evidence

    IARC classifies diethanolamine and coconut oil diethanolamine condensate as Group 2B; the NTP study did not establish a link to cancer in humans. [1][2]

  • Warning label requiredRegulatory

    Listed under California Proposition 65 (cancer, 2012). [3]

  • Nitrosamine formation (cosmetics)Regulatory

    Secondary alkanolamines can form nitrosamines; the EU prohibits them in cosmetics and restricts the amides. [4]

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Rules around the world

WhereStatusDetailsDateSource
European Union Banned Prohibited in cosmetic products (Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). (entry 411, secondary alkyl- and alkanolamines). — [4]
California (US) Warning label required Listed under Proposition 65 (cancer, 2012). Jun 22, 2012 [3]

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.

Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (4)
  • dea
  • diethanolamine
  • 2 2 iminodiethanol
  • diethanolamine dea

Sources

  1. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  2. Diethanolamine

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Nov 18, 2025 · Regulator

    “The NTP study did not establish a link between DEA and the risk of cancer in humans.”

    fda.gov

  3. Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity

    California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) · Jul 31, 2026 · Law

    “The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”

    oehha.ca.gov

  4. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · Nov 30, 2009 · Law

    “cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”

    eur-lex.europa.eu