Common Name(s): Trideceth-2 carboxamide mea,peg-2 tridecyl ether carboxamide mea,trideceth carboxamide mea
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Boosts foam and increases thickness in cleansing products while contributing to a mild, balanced clean.
Why It's Used: Used as a co-surfactant and foam booster in shampoos and body washes to improve foam quality and product viscosity without harsh cleansing.
How It Works: The carboxamide group provides hydrogen bonding that stabilizes foam films; the peg-2 tridecyl ether tail reinforces surfactant micelle structure to boost foam density and persistence.
Typically Found In: Shampoos,body washes,facial cleansers,bubble baths
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient – surfactant
Secondary Functions: Foam boosting,viscosity controlling,cleansing
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%–5%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional - supplier confirmation required
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Tridecanol petrochemical or oleochemical origin; mea from synthetic process; ethylene oxide from petrochemical. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: status downgraded on audit. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low; mild surfactant profile
Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 – low
Sensitivity Concerns: Generally well tolerated. mea-based amides have low sensitization risk at typical use concentrations.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile. ewg score: 1–2. similar to other alkanolamide co-surfactants.
Works Well With: Anionic surfactants (sles/sls),amphoteric surfactants (cocamidopropyl betaine),glycerin
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities at typical use concentrations
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Alkanolamide-type co-surfactants with ethoxylated fatty chains provide foam stability through micellar reinforcement. the mea amide linkage is hydrolytically stable across a wide ph range (4–8), making it suitable for most rinse-off and select leave-on systems.
Last Verified: 2026-03-27
Primary Sources: Cosing database,inci dictionary,supplier technical data sheets