Is Lactamide MEA safe in cosmetics?
Lactamide MEA has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted.
Good
Cosmetic Ingredient
Lactamide MEA
Also known as: NAE, N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)dodecanamide, EINECS 205-560-1, Lauryl ethanolamide, UNII-098P2IGT76 (+6 more)
INCI: LACTAMIDE MEA
Lactamide MEA (CAS 142-78-9) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Humectant, skin conditioning. NOAEL 1000 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 142-78-9 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Lactamide MEA is classified GHS Danger (H318, H319, H411) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Humectant, skin conditioning
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
N-(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecanamide
InChIKey
QZXSMBBFBXPQHI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted — CIR Expert Panel found ethanolamides safe as used when formulated to be non-irritating
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Lactamide MEA.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Lactamide MEA across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10 - 100 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-static agent
Foamant
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Thickening agent
Viscosity modifier
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Lactamide MEA.
Known Synonyms
NAE
N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)dodecanamide
EINECS 205-560-1
Lauryl ethanolamide
UNII-098P2IGT76
N-(dodecanoyl)-ethanolamine
dodecanoyl ethanolamide
lauric acid monoethanolamine
lauroyl-EA
lauroyl-ethanolamine
N-(dodecanoyl)ethanolamine
Chemical Function
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Anti-static agent
Viscosity modifier
Foamant
Thickening agent
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL246914
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lactamide MEA allowed in the EU?
Lactamide MEA EU regulatory status: restricted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Lactamide MEA do in cosmetics?
Lactamide MEA functions as: Humectant, skin conditioning. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 142-78-9.
Is Lactamide MEA used outside cosmetics?
Lactamide MEA also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Lactamide MEA have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Lactamide MEA is classified GHS Danger (H318, H319, H411) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Lactamide MEA compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
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