Tromethamine
Categories: pH Adjuster/Stabilizer
Tromethamine at a Glance
- Triol, or alcohol with three hydroxyl groups along with one amino group
- Used in skin care as a pH adjuster and as a neutralizing agent for fatty acids in a formulation
- Can reduce a formula’s chance of irritation
- Can function as a buffering agent in alkaline range of 7-9
- CIR Expert Panel deemed safe for use in cosmetics at current levels
Tromethamine Description
Tromethamine is a triol, a type of alcohol that contains three hydroxyl groups which consist of bonded hydrogen and oxygen atoms. It serves as a pH adjusting ingredient in skin care formulations.When used in cosmetic formulas it assists in neutralizing more acidic substances due to its alkaline pH. Although skin is naturally acidic, with a pH ranging between 4 and 5, altering skin’s natural delicate pH balance can cause irritation. The balance that tromethamine brings to a formula’s pH can help prevent this.
As a raw material tromethamine appears as a white crystalline powder. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded that it’s safe for use in current cosmetic preparations. It’s commonly used in concentrations between 0.00009–3.7%.
Outside of cosmetics, tromethamine is used in medical applications to reduce acidity.
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Tromethamine References
PubChem, Accessed October 2022, ePublication
Cosmetics, August 2021, ePublication
International Journal of Toxicology, May/June 2018, pages 5S-18S