What it is
Menthyl Lactate is an ester formed from menthol and lactic acid that delivers a cooling, refreshing sensation on the skin with much less of menthol's sharp minty odor. In sunscreens and other skincare it is used to impart a fresh, cooling feel that develops gently and persists, which is appealing in products marketed for warm-weather or active use. It is typically used at low concentrations.
Safety & warnings
Menthyl lactate is generally well tolerated and is favored over free menthol because it is milder and less odorous while still providing a cooling effect. Cooling agents can occasionally feel uncomfortable on broken or highly sensitive skin or near the eyes, so contact with those areas should be avoided.
Origin & sourcing
Synthetic; produced by esterifying menthol with lactic acid, with the menthol itself sourced from mint or made synthetically.
Questions everyone asks
How is menthyl lactate different from menthol?
It provides a similar cooling sensation but is longer-lasting and much lower in the sharp minty odor characteristic of free menthol.
Why is it added to sunscreen?
It gives a fresh, cooling skin feel that is appealing in warm-weather and sport-oriented formulas; it does not affect UV protection.