Oliveamide MEA
AKA: Oleic acid monoethanolamide, Oleoyl monoethanolamine
Synthetic
Cleanser
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Oliveamide MEA is a mixture of ethanolamides of the fatty acids derived from olive oil. It conforms generally to the formula:
CAS #
111-81-9
Form
Liquid
Functions
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Foam Boosting
Solubilizing
Viscosity Controlling
Conditions Hair
Boosts Lather
Surfactant Solubilizing
Controls Viscosity
Enhances lather
Softens and detangles hair
Controls product thickness
Dissolves oils in water
Traditional Use
Synthetic conditioning agent created by combining olive oil with monoethanolamine. Developed in the latter 20th century as a hair and skin conditioning ingredient designed to impart olive oil's emollient properties in a more stable form.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR