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Triethanolamine

What Triethanolamine is & what it does

A pH adjuster and emulsifier used to neutralize acidic thickeners and help blend oil and water. It keeps formulas stable at a skin-friendly pH.

What is Triethanolamine and what does it do in sunscreen?

Triethanolamine, often shortened to TEA, is mainly a pH adjuster. It neutralizes acidic thickeners like carbomer so they can swell into a smooth gel, and it can help blend oil and water as part of an emulsifier system. By holding the formula at a skin-friendly pH, it keeps the texture and the product stable.

Is Triethanolamine safe?

Yes, at the small levels used in cosmetics. Triethanolamine is a long-used pH adjuster that is reviewed and permitted for leave-on cosmetics. It is alkaline in its raw form, but in a finished sunscreen it is already neutralized and present in tiny amounts, so it is well tolerated by most people.

Does Triethanolamine clog pores?

Generally no. It is a water-phase pH adjuster, not an oil or wax, and it is not flagged as comedogenic. It is used in very small amounts to balance the formula rather than to condition the skin, so it is an unlikely cause of clogged pores.

Is Triethanolamine a preservative?

No. Triethanolamine is a pH adjuster and emulsifying helper, not a preservative, and it does nothing to stop microbes growing. The preserving in a sunscreen is done by ingredients like phenoxyethanol or ethylhexylglycerin; Triethanolamine is there to set the pH and stabilize the texture.

What else is Triethanolamine called?

On an ingredient list it appears as Triethanolamine, and you will often see it abbreviated to TEA in formulation discussions. It usually sits low on the list, near the carbomer or other thickener it is there to neutralize.

Sunscreens with Triethanolamine

We rate 1090 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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