Are DEA, MEA & TEA Cosmetic Nasties? Should You Avoid?

What are DEA & MEA?

DEA is Diethanolamine and MEA is Monoethanolamine and both are foaming ingredients.  And let's face it who doesn't love a rich creamy, luxurious foam, when washing their hair? There have been some safety concerns about links to cancer and in California it is banned as an ingredient.  However, testing in Europe has re-confirmed that it is safe and it remains fully approved over here.

The only MERUMAYA® product containing DEA is Confidensual Handwash. Generally, we avoid it so that our products are accepted by regulatory bodies in all regions across the globe.

How about TEA?

TEA is Triethanolamine which is an alkali used to adjust the pH of products so that they are able to be used on skin.  Again, it is banned in the USA but deemed safe by European authorities.  In the USA the bans are to do with concerns about allergic reactions and inflammation.  

At MERUMAYA® we don't use TEA.  We use other pH adjusters such as Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide.  The name can look scary, especially if you have been told not to trust anything you cannot pronounce. Don't worry though, the pH adjusters we use, are regulated as safe.  Professor Karl Lintner told me that TEA is listed as an ACTIVE ingredient in a French pharmacy cream called Biafine, used to treat minor burns. A bit cheeky in my opinion. If you  are a fan of French pharmacy products and Biafine is gaining popularity, look out for these ingredients on the INCI if you want to avoid them.  It may even contain some cortisone, which is a steroid (classified as a drug) and thus, is not permitted for use in cosmetics