Identified on skin-care product labels as DEA, triethanolamine (TEA), and monoethanolamine (MEA), these are used primarily for their foaming ability in shampoos, but can also be used as thickening or binding agents. They can be skin irritants. In addition, alkyloamides contain a free amine that can combine with formaldehyde-releasing preservatives in cosmetics, and there is concern that they may form carcinogens. See diethanolamine , triethanolamine