08/15/2025
Ingredient to Avoid 🚫
DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine):
DEA and MEA are usually listed on the label in conjunction with the compound being neutralized, so look for names like Cocomide DEA or MEA, Lauraminde DEA, and so on. These are hormone-disrupting chemicals known to form cancer-causing nitrates and nitrosamines. They are almost always in products that foam, including bubble baths, body washes, shampoos, soaps and facial cleaners. On the show “CBS This Morning,” Dr. Samuel Epstein, professor of environmental health at the University of Illinois, said, “Repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of two cancers – liver and kidney cancers.” John Bailey, head of the cosmetic division of the FDA, says that the new study is especially important since “the risk equation changes significantly for children.” Tests at the University of Bologna in Italy found TEA to be the most frequent sensitizer used in cosmetics, gels, shampoos, creams, lotions, etc.
