Tromethamine

Triol, or alcohol with three hydroxyl groups

Used in skin care to help neutralize pH

Can reduce a formula’s chance of irritation

CIR Expert Panel deemed safe for use in cosmetics at current levels

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.