Menthyl Lactate
Menthyl Lactate is a gentle cooling ingredient derived from menthol and lactic acid. It delivers a mild, refreshing tingle without the harsh sting of pure mint, making it popular in skincare, lip products and haircare. Shoppers often choose it for its soothing, fresh feel and ability to leave skin feeling clean and invigorated.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare Menthyl Lactate functions as a cooling agent, skin-conditioning emollient and mild fragrance component. It interacts with temperature-sensitive receptors in the skin to produce a pleasant cooling sensation that is far gentler than pure menthol, while the lactate portion helps support the skin’s natural moisture balance. You will commonly find it in lip balms, refreshing gels, lightweight moisturisers, after-sun products and scalp tonics where it adds a clean, tingly finish without irritation.
Key benefits
- Provides a pleasant cooling sensation
- Helps skin feel refreshed and invigorated
- Offers mild skin-conditioning properties
- Enhances the sensory experience of products
- Works well in lip care for a fresh tingle
- Suitable for use in hair and scalp products
Best for
normal skin, combination skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, dull skin
Where it comes from
Menthyl Lactate is produced by esterifying natural L-menthol, which is obtained from cornmint or peppermint plants, with lactic acid derived from the fermentation of plant sugars such as corn or sugar cane.
Products with Menthyl Lactate
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Menthyl Lactate than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.
- Hawaiian Tropic Tropical Haze Cooling Body Mist 250ml Spray Hawaiian Tropic