What Is Trolamine salicylate?

Learn about the light stabilizer, preservative, and UV filter characteristics of Trolamine salicylate and its usage in personal care products.

What Is Trolamine salicylate? Brandon Jones / IngredientReviewer

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is Trolamine salicylate?

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Trolamine salicylate, also known as triethanolamine salicylate, is a substance that can be used for different purposes in cosmetics. It helps to stabilize the product and prevent it from breaking down or spoiling over time. It also provides protection against harmful UV rays from the sun.

What is the purpose of Trolamine salicylate in personal care products? It is used for its light stabilizer, preservative, and UV filter characteristics. Trolamine salicylate shields ingredients from damage caused by light exposure, prevents spoiling, and helps protect skin from UV radiation.

Names and identifiers that we found for this substance include: Trolamine salicylate, 2-Hydroxybenzoic acid--2,2',2''-nitrilotri(ethan-1-ol) (1/1), and "Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, compd. with 2,2',2''-nitrilotris[ethanol] (1:1)".

What Are Light Stabilizer Ingredients?

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Trolamine salicylate has light stabilizer characteristics.

Light stabilizer ingredients are commonly added to cosmetic products to protect them from light's damaging effects. These ingredients work by preventing light from breaking down the active ingredients in the cosmetic product, which can lead to the ingredients becoming less effective or even causing harm to the skin.

When a cosmetic product is exposed to light, the energy from light can cause chemical reactions to occur within the product. These reactions can break down the active ingredients, causing them to become less effective. In addition, these reactions can create new compounds that may harm the skin. Light stabilizer ingredients prevent these reactions from occurring by absorbing the energy from the light and dissipating it as heat. This process protects the active ingredients in the product and prevents the formation of harmful compounds.

Light stabilizer ingredients are essential in skincare products that contain active ingredients such as retinoids, vitamin C, and alpha hydroxy acids. These ingredients are known to be particularly sensitive to light, and their effectiveness can be significantly reduced if they are not protected.

In addition to protecting the active ingredients in the product, light stabilizer ingredients can also help maintain the product's appearance and texture. Light exposure can cause cosmetic products to change color, become cloudy, or separate. Light stabilizer ingredients prevent these changes from occurring, ensuring that the product remains stable and effective.

What Are Preservative Ingredients?

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Trolamine salicylate has preservative characteristics.

Preservative ingredients are added to cosmetic products to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, yeast, and mold. These microorganisms can grow in the product over time and cause it to spoil, leading to a potential risk of infection or irritation when applied to the skin.

Preservatives work by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms or killing them, which helps maintain the product's quality and safety and extend its shelf life. Cosmetic products could become contaminated and unsafe to use without preservatives after just a few weeks or months. Each preservative has a specific mode of action and is used at a particular concentration to provide adequate protection against microorganisms while also minimizing the risk of irritation to the skin.

Types of Preservative Ingredients

Here are some of the most common types of preservative ingredients:

  • Antimicrobial agents: These substances inhibit or kill microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, which can cause spoilage and contamination in cosmetic products.

  • Chelating agents: These compounds bind to metal ions that promote the growth of microorganisms and accelerate spoilage. By chelating these metal ions, chelating agents can help to stabilize cosmetic formulations.

  • Acidifiers: These substances lower the pH of cosmetic formulations, making them less hospitable to microorganisms.

  • Antioxidants: These compounds help prevent the oxidation of cosmetic ingredients, which can cause them to degrade and spoil.

  • Natural preservatives: These are various natural ingredients, such as essential oils and plant extracts. These have antimicrobial properties and can be used as preservatives in cosmetic formulations.

What Are UV Filter Ingredients?

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Trolamine salicylate has UV filter characteristics.

UV filter ingredients are commonly used in products to protect the skin and hair from harmful UV radiation from the sun. These ingredients work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering the UV radiation, preventing it from penetrating the skin or hair.

UV radiation can cause skin damage, premature aging, and even skin cancer. Therefore, cosmetic products with UV filter ingredients can help to protect against these harmful effects by creating a barrier between the skin and the UV rays.

Safety

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Remember, always read and follow the instructions provided on product labels carefully. If you have any questions or concerns about using a product containing various ingredients, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before use.