MEA-cocoate is a chemical compound, the ethanolamine (MEA) salt of organic coconut acid. MEA is a chemical compound belonging to the first generation of ethanolamines, is a primary amine and is a strong alkaline agent, corrosion inhibitor and chemical intermediate and acts as both an amine and an alcohol.

Safety. Scientific literature agrees that MEA has the ability to penetrate and absorb into the skin and cause skin irritation, especially on the scalp. The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents: https://www.tiiips.com/m/tiiips/home?action=viewObject&oID=26641

What it is used for and where
Cosmetics
Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities.

Surfactant - Foam booster. Its function is to introduce gas bubbles into the water for a purely aesthetic factor, which does not affect the cleaning process, but only satisfies the commercial aspect of the detergent by helping to spread the detergent on the hair. This helps in the commercial success of a shampoo formulation. Since sebum has an inhibiting action on the bubble, more foam is produced in the second shampoo.
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CAS: 66071-80-5