Diethanolamide Explained

Diethanolamides are common ingredients used in cosmetics to act as a foaming agents or as emulsifiers.^[1] Chemically, they are amides formed from diethanolamine and carboxylic acids, typically fatty acids.

Examples include:

• Cocamide diethanolamine
• Lauramide diethanolamine
• Oleamide diethanolamine

Notes and References

1. Foam stabilization by alkylolamides: effect of molecular weight . Kritchevsky . J. . Sanders . H. L. . Primer congrès mondial de la détergence et des produits tensio-actifs . Paris . 1954 . 1 . 133–136.