Is METHYL LACTATE safe to use in EU cosmetics?

METHYL LACTATE is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

How do I check if my formula contains METHYL LACTATE?

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or use the substance market comparison to review this identity across all supported market datasets.

InventoryRef 5810721/11/2016

METHYL LACTATE

2-Hydroxy-propanoic acid methyl ester, (S)- / 2-hydroxy-propanoic acid methyl ester

METHYL LACTATE is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

INCI Checker Compare all markets Search similar

Regulatory evidence by market

No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.

That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.

Markets and their official sources Search every market for this name

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 27871-49-4

CAS 27871-49-4PubChem CID 94386

methyl (S)-lactate

Methyl (S)-lactate is a methyl 2-hydroxypropionate that has S configuration. It is an enantiomer of a methyl (R)-lactate. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: methyl (2S)-2-hydroxypropanoate

Molecular formula: C4H8O3
Molecular weight: 104.10 g/mol
Exact mass: 104.047344113 Da
XLogP3: -0.1
Topological polar surface area: 46.5 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 1
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 3
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 1

Also known as

Methyl (S)-(-)-lactateMethyl L-lactate(S)-Methyl lactate(-)-Methyl lactateMethyl (S)-2-hydroxypropionate(S)-Lactic acid methyl esterMethyl (S)-2-hydroxypropanoateMethyl lactate, L-

16 more reported names

Propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, methyl ester, (2S)-(-)-Lactic acid methyl esterL-Methyl LactateL-lactic acid methyl ester(S)-(-)-methyl lactatemethyl (2S)-lactate(-)-2-Hydroxypropionic acid methyl esterLactic acid, methyl ester, L-L-lactate methyl esterEINECS 248-704-9methyl (-)-(s)-lactatePropanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, methyl ester, (S)-METHYL LACTATE, (-)-CHEBI:83222methyl (2S)-2-hydroxypropionateEC 248-704-9

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:83222
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID9074359
PubMed:20170236
PubMed:16688345
PubMed:14725466
PubMed:12889913
PubMed:12153269
PubMed:11559191

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 547-64-8

CAS 547-64-8PubChem CID 11040

Methyl Lactate

Methyl 2-hydroxypropionate is a lactate ester resulting from the formal condensation of the carboxy group of 2-hydroxypropanoic acid with methanol. It has a role as a metabolite. It is a methyl ester and a lactate ester. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: methyl 2-hydroxypropanoate

Molecular formula: C4H8O3
Molecular weight: 104.10 g/mol
Exact mass: 104.047344113 Da
XLogP3: -0.1
Topological polar surface area: 46.5 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 1
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 3
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 0

Also known as

DL-Methyl lactateLactic acid, methyl esterMethyl 2-hydroxypropionatePropanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, methyl ester(+-)-Methyl lactateMethyl alpha-hydroxypropionate2-Hydroxypropanoic acid methyl ester(+-)-Methyl 2-hydroxypropanoate

16 more reported names

(+-)-Methyl 2-hydroxypropionateNSC 406248AI3-00584H10S91526XNSC-406248METHYL LACTATE, DL-CHEBI:83221RefChem:157921208-930-0218-449-8Methyl DL-lactateLactic Acid Methyl EsterLactic acid, methyl ester, (.+/-.)-(+)-Methyl D-lactatePropanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, methyl ester, (.+/-.)-methyl-lactate

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:83221
ChEMBL:CHEMBL3183351
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID0027197
PubMed:22574176
PubMed:22550936
PubMed:22163577
PubMed:21931904
PubMed:21833423
PubMed:21486009
PubMed:20572727
PubMed:20431010
PubMed:20170236
PubMed:19950497
PubMed:19842695
PubMed:19562790

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for METHYL LACTATE

INCI name

METHYL LACTATE

Description

2-Hydroxy-propanoic acid methyl ester, (S)- / 2-hydroxy-propanoic acid methyl ester

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 58107
Imported identity: METHYL LACTATE
Source update: 21/11/2016

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for METHYL LACTATE

Browse

Browse EU annexes

Explore Annex II–VI to see which substances are prohibited, restricted or permitted under specific conditions.

Search annex entries

Search the annex database for entries matching METHYL LACTATE or related substances.

Key data

CAS

27871-49-4 / 547-64-8

248-704-9 / 208-930-0

Restriction

—

Function

FLAVOURING: Imparting taste and/or flavour to a cosmetic product.
PERFUMING: Used for perfume and aromatic raw materials.
SOLVENT: Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#16531 · METHYL LACTATE

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

MENTHA PIPERITA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM EXTRACTFLAVOURING, FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING, SKIN CONDITIONING

MENTHA PIPERITA STEM EXTRACTANTIOXIDANT, FLAVOURING, SKIN CONDITIONING

MENTHA VIRIDIS LEAF EXTRACTFLAVOURING, FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING

METHYL 4-T-BUTYLBENZOATEFLAVOURING, FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING

METHYL SALICYLATEDENATURANT, FLAVOURING, ORAL CARE, PERFUMING, SOOTHING

METHYLPHENOXY PYRAZOLYL THIOPHENYLMETHYL ACETAMIDEFRAGRANCE; ORAL CARE; FLAVOURING

MIMOSA PUDICA FLOWER WATERFLAVOURING, FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING, SKIN CONDITIONING

MINTHOSTACHYS MOLLIS BRANCH/LEAF OILFLAVOURING, FRAGRANCE

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How METHYL LACTATE appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists METHYL LACTATE as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

METHYL LACTATE is also tagged with 3 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

METHYL LACTATE is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, METHYL LACTATE carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 27871-49-4 / 547-64-8 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or compare this substance across all supported market datasets.

Open INCI Checker

Source note for METHYL LACTATE

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for METHYL LACTATE from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.

Use this inventory page to research METHYL LACTATE and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

View sources View updates

Tools & next steps

Check your formula

Scan a full INCI list to detect METHYL LACTATE and any linked EU annex restrictions or allergen flags.

INCI Checker

Search similar ingredients

Find other inventory ingredients and annex entries related to METHYL LACTATE, its identifiers or nearby name variants.