MEA-Salicylate
AKA “Salicylic acid monoethanolamine, UNII-078ORG4DXO, 078ORG4DXO, EINECS 261-963-2, Salicylic acid, compound with 2-aminoethanol (1:1), Monoethanolamine Salicylate, DTXSID80208587, SALICYLIC ACID ETHANOLAMINE SALT, SALICYLIC ACID, 2-AMINOETHANOL SALT
Preservative
Ingredient Facts
MEA-Salicylate
AKA: Salicylic acid monoethanolamine, UNII-078ORG4DXO, 078ORG4DXO, EINECS 261-963-2, Salicylic acid, Compound with 2-aminoethanol (1:1), Monoethanolamine Salicylate, DTXSID80208587, SALICYLIC ACID ETHANOLAMINE SALT, SALICYLIC ACID, 2-AMINOETHANOL SALT
Preservative · Preservative · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Preservative
Chemical Exfoliant
Not Clean
Salicylic acid, compound with 2-aminoethanol (1:1)
Formula
C9H13NO4
Mol. Weight
199.20
CAS #
59866-70-5
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Preserves Formula
Fights Bacteria
Reduces Inflammation
Prevents microbial growth
Traditional Use
Developed as a synthetic derivative combining salicylic acid with MEA (monoethanolamine). Created to provide acne-fighting and exfoliating benefits in a stabilized, water-soluble form suitable for skincare products.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
Acne
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not an Irritant
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
3.0%
0%4%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 3.0%. (a) 3.0% (b) 2.0%. Not to be used for children under three years of age (11) Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex III (Restricted Substances), Entry 98.
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUpermitted
JAPANpermitted
CANADApermitted
Salicylic Acid.
, 2006
Amended Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid and Salicylates as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicylate, Isocetyl Salicylate, Iso
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Capryloyl Salicylic Acid as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid (ester)
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
MEA-Salicylate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Salicylic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
Efficacy of a multitargeted, salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic cream compared to benzoyl peroxide 5% in Acne vulgaris: Results from a randomized stud
Dal Belo SE, Kanoun-Copy L, Lambert C, Cornillon C, Muller B et al.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2024
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Salicylic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
4-Aminosalicylic acid and its salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Acetylsalicylic acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Salicylic acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Amended Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid and Salicylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Johnson W Jr, Zhu J, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Amended Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid and Salicylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Johnson W Jr, Zhu J, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Amended Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid and Salicylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Johnson W Jr, Zhu J, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Safety Assessment of Capryloyl Salicylic Acid as Used in Cosmetics.
Johnson W Jr, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
Identification of didecyldimethylammonium salts and salicylic acid as antimicrobial compounds in commercial fermented radish kimchi.
Li J, Chaytor JL, Findlay B, McMullen LM, Smith DC et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2015
Identification of didecyldimethylammonium salts and salicylic acid as antimicrobial compounds in commercial fermented radish kimchi.
Li J, Chaytor JL, Findlay B, McMullen LM, Smith DC et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2015
Identification of didecyldimethylammonium salts and salicylic acid as antimicrobial compounds in commercial fermented radish kimchi.
Li J, Chaytor JL, Findlay B, McMullen LM, Smith DC et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2015
Identification of didecyldimethylammonium salts and salicylic acid as antimicrobial compounds in commercial fermented radish kimchi.
Li J, Chaytor JL, Findlay B, McMullen LM, Smith DC et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2015
Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulph...
Haibo Liu, Haiyan Yu, Jun Xia, Ling Liu, Guan J Liu, Hong Sang + 1 more
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulph...
Haibo Liu, Haiyan Yu, Jun Xia, Ling Liu, Guan J Liu, Hong Sang + 1 more
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulph...
Haibo Liu, Haiyan Yu, Jun Xia, Ling Liu, Guan J Liu, Hong Sang + 1 more
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulph...
Haibo Liu, Haiyan Yu, Jun Xia, Ling Liu, Guan J Liu, Hong Sang + 1 more
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne.
Liu H, Yu H, Xia J, Liu L, Liu GJ et al.
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
Impacts of Gum Arabic and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with Salicylic Acid on Peach Fruit (Prunus persica) Shelf Life.
Taher MA, Lo'ay AA, Gouda M, Limam SA, Abdelkader MFM et al.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2022
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR