Tea-lauroyl sarcosinate (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. The name component "lauroyl" means that the ingredient contains lauric acid (dodecanoic acid) as fatty acid component. Sarcosinates are N-acyl derivatives of sarcosine (N-methylglycine, an amino acid).

TEA-lauroyl sarcosinate 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), antistatic agent (reduces static charges by neutralizing the electrical charge on the surface, e.g. of hair) and foaming agent (increases foam formation and improves volume, structure and durability of the foam).