- ▸ Self-tanning ingredient: Sunless-tanning active in cosmetic formulations.
- ▸ Maillard color former: Reacts with keratin amino groups to develop skin color.
- ▸ DHA co-active: Combined with dihydroxyacetone for more even, longer-lasting color.
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Request SDS →L-Erythrulose (CAS 533-50-6) is a four-carbon ketose sugar (C4H8O4). It is used as a cosmetic self-tanning (sunless tanning) ingredient: a reducing sugar that reacts with amino groups in skin keratin via the Maillard reaction to develop color, and is commonly combined with dihydroxyacetone (DHA) in self-tanning formulations.
Regulatory & registration requirements
- TSCA (US): Not found on the public (non-confidential) TSCA Inventory
- REACH (EU):
- EC number: 443-800-9
Source: EPA TSCA Inventory (July 2025 release) · ECHA CHEM — retrieved 2026-07-12
Frequently Asked Questions
What is L-Erythrulose?
L-Erythrulose (CAS 533-50-6) is a four-carbon ketose sugar with the formula C4H8O4. In cosmetics it is a sunless-tanning active that reacts with amino groups in skin keratin via the Maillard reaction to develop color, and it is commonly combined with dihydroxyacetone (DHA).
What type of sugar is Erythrulose?
It is a ketotetrose — a four-carbon (tetrose) reducing sugar bearing a ketone group. This reducing-sugar chemistry is what drives the Maillard color-development reaction with keratin in self-tanning formulations.
How is L-Erythrulose used with DHA in self-tanning formulas?
It is frequently formulated as a co-active alongside dihydroxyacetone. Combining the two reducing sugars is used to produce more even, gradual, and longer-lasting color development than DHA alone.
What is the molecular formula of Erythrulose?
C4H8O4, CAS 533-50-6. It is a single-stereoisomer (L-form) ketose; lot-specific Certificate of Analysis and SDS are available for formulation qualification.
What bulk packaging and quantities are available for L-Erythrulose?
It is supplied as a cosmetic-grade ingredient for personal-care manufacturing. Send your target volume and documentation requirements through a bulk RFQ for current pricing, available pack sizes, and lead time.
What is the REACH and TSCA regulatory status of L-Erythrulose (Erythrulose)?
L-Erythrulose (Erythrulose) (CAS 533-50-6) is recorded as REACH-registered in ECHA's public CHEM database (EC 443-800-9); it was not found on EPA's public (non-confidential) TSCA Inventory file.