Is Trimethylamine Oxide safe in cosmetics?
Trimethylamine Oxide has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 2 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Trimethylamine Oxide
Also known as: Trimethylamine, N-oxide, EINECS 214-675-6, UNII-FLD0K1SJ1A, Trimethylammonium oxide, (CH3)3NO (+11 more)
INCI: TRIMETHYLAMINE OXIDE
Trimethylamine Oxide (CAS 1184-78-7) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Skin-conditioning agent; humectant; protein stabilizer in cosmetic formulations. Reported NOAEL =150 mg/kg bw/day in Rat (ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 1184-78-7 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Skin-conditioning agent; humectant; protein stabilizer in cosmetic formulations
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; GRAS status in food context; no cosmetic-specific restriction
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Trimethylamine Oxide.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
2 study endpoints found for Trimethylamine Oxide. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =150 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =300 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | reproduction developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10 - 100 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory List Membership (1)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Trimethylamine Oxide.
Regulatory Flags
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Trimethylamine Oxide by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
2
Lowest NOAEL
150 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
300 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
Trimethylamine, N-oxide
EINECS 214-675-6
UNII-FLD0K1SJ1A
Trimethylammonium oxide
(CH3)3NO
Me3N(+)O(-)
Me3N(O)
N(CH3)3O
N,N-dimethylmethanamine oxide
TMA-oxide
TMAO
Trimethylamine-N-oxide
Trimethylaminoxid
Triox
trimethylamine N-oxide
trimethyloxamine
Chemical Function
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory Lists
fracking; water
Europe
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trimethylamine Oxide allowed in the EU?
Trimethylamine Oxide EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Trimethylamine Oxide do in cosmetics?
Trimethylamine Oxide functions as: Skin-conditioning agent; humectant; protein stabilizer in cosmetic formulations. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 1184-78-7.
What is the NOAEL for Trimethylamine Oxide?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Trimethylamine Oxide is =150 mg/kg bw/day based on a reproduction developmental study via oral route in Rat. A total of 2 study endpoints are available. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Trimethylamine Oxide used outside cosmetics?
Trimethylamine Oxide also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Trimethylamine Oxide compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Related Ingredients
Alanyl Glutamine
Excellent
Same category
Skin conditioning, humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides
Excellent
Same category
Humectant, skin conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
Excellent
Same category
Skin conditioning, humectant
Alpha-Glucan
Excellent
Same category
Skin Conditioning, Film Forming, Hume...
Ammonium Hydrolyzed Collagen
Excellent
Same category
Antistatic; film forming; hair condit...
Arabinose
Excellent
Same category
Humectant / Moisturizing agent; promo...
(AGARICUS BLAZEI FERMENT + GANODERMA LUCIDUM FERMENT + GANODERMA MULTIPILEUM FERMENT) EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-sebum, Antioxidant, Skin Protecting
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS) ROOT/(CNIDIUM OFFICINALE/COPTIS CHINENSIS) RHIZOME/GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT/PHELLODENDRON CHINENSE BARK EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
(ANGELICA GIGAS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT)/ANGELICA GIGAS STEM/CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/(CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS/PRUNUS PERSICA SEED)PORIA COCOS WATER
Good
Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Pr...
(ANGELICA KEISKEI/CHRYSANTHEMUM ZAWADSKII) LEAF/STEM/CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/TRICHOSANTES KIRILOWII FRUIT/ULMUS DAVIDIANA BARK/ROOT/(PAEONIA JAPONICA/BUPLEURUM FALCATUM/POLYGALA TENUIFOLIA ROOT)/VISCUS ALBUM STEM EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-seborrheic, Anti-sebum, Antioxid...
(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Antioxidant
TRI (POLYGLYCERYL-3/LAURYL) HYDROGENATED TRILINOLEATE
Good
Browse nearby
Surfactant - Cleansing, Surfactant - ...
TRICHLOROMETHYL PHENYL CARBINYL ACETATE
Good
Browse nearby
Perfuming
TRICHODESMA ZEYLANICUM OIL
Good
Browse nearby
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
Is Trimethylamine Oxide in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Trimethylamine Oxide in your formulation.