Tea-isostearate (inci)

"TEA" is the acronym for triethanolamine, a quaternary ammonium compound. Triethanolamine reacts easily with fatty acids to form triethanolamine soaps and is used as a basic component in soaps and other cosmetic products. Isostearates are salts or esters of isostearic acid (isooctadecanoic acid).

TEA-isostearate is a substance which is used in cosmetic formulations where it acts as a surfactant (washing-active substance; improves the even distribution of the products during application), emulsifier (surface-active substance which is used in cosmetic preparations as an auxiliary agent to combine 2 immiscible liquids - e.g. oil and water - into one emulsion) and hair conditioning agent (makes the hair easy to comb, smooth, soft and shiny and gives it volume).