Skin Lightening Ingredient Dictionary

Looking for a list of skin lightening ingredients? This is a complete glossary of skin lightening, brightening, and whitening ingredients.

These skin lightening ingredients can be used in skin care products to lighten skin. Many of them are natural and clean, but not all. Click on the skin lightening ingredient name to go to a blog to learn more about that brightening ingredient.

Most skin whitening products combine different types of ingredients from this list. It is best to combine skin lightening ingredients from different categories together in your skin care routine to treat melasma and hyperpigmentation.

Look below for categories of skin lightening ingredients and an alphabetical list of ingredients used to lighten skin and erase dark spots.

Hydroquinone is the most effective skin-lightening ingredient but is regulated due to safety concerns.

Tyrosinase inhibitors like arbutin, kojic acid, and licorice extract help to reduce dark spots by slowing melanin production.

A combination of multiple skin lightening ingredients is recommended for the best results in treating hyperpigmentation.

Choose the best skin lightening ingredients based on your Baumann Skin Type.

Table of contents

Best Skin Lightening Ingredients

Hydroquinone is the most effective skin lightening ingredient to decrease melanin pigment production. However, due to safety concerns, hydroquinone is now only available by prescription.

These are the top 10 tyrosinase-inhibiting skin lightening ingredients to lighten dark spots on the skin:

Arbutin

Artemisia Capillaris

Bilberry extract

Cysteamine

Hexylresorcinol

Hydroquinone

Kojic Acid

Licorice extract

Resorcinol

Tranexamic acid

Niacinamide is also a wonderful ingredient to lighten skin, but it is not a tyrosinase inhibitor like the skin lightening ingredients on the above top 10 list. Niacinamide is an anti-inflammatory ingredient and a PAR-2 blocker.

What Skin Conditions Do Skin Lightening Ingredients Treat?

Skin lightening ingredients treat hyperpigmentation conditions such as:

Melasma

Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation

Dark spots

Skin whitening, lightening, brightening, or skin bleaching ingredients work best when different categories of ingredients that target the skin pigment melanin are used together in the same skin care routine.

Categories of Skin Lightening Ingredients

You should choose an ingredient from the tyrosinase inhibitor category and from two other categories to include in your skin care routine to treat melasma or to treat hyperpigmentation.

Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients

Antioxidant Ingredients

Exfoliants

PAR-2 Blockers

Retinoids

Tyrosinase Inhibitors

Combining cosmeceutical ingredients from this list of categories of skin lightening ingredients below will help you to achieve the fastest results. Take the quiz for personalized advice.

List of Skin Brightening and Lightening Ingredients in Alphabetical Order

Click on each ingredient to learn more about the science of the skin brightening ingredient and how it works to treat hyperpigmentation.

Aloesin- an extract of aloe

Arbutin – Alpha and Beta Arbutin

Artemisia capillaris flower extract

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

Azelaic Acid-

Carnosine

Corticosteroid (Hydrocortisone, Fluocinolone)

Cysteine

Cysteamine

Ferulic Acid

Gallic Acid

Glabridin (Licorice Extract)

Green Tea Extract

Hesperidin

Hexylresorcinol

Hydroquinone

Hydroxy Acids

Kojic Acid

Mulberry Extract

Niacinamide ( Vitamin B3)

Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Dipeptide-51

Phenylethyl Resorcinol

Polyhydroxy Acids

Resorcinol

Retinoids

Retinols

Saururus Chinensis

Tranexamic Acid

Note: these lists will be continuously updated as more dark spot treatments are discovered.

Safe and Clean Skin Lightening Ingredients

There are many safe, clean and natural skin lightening ingredients. To learn more about the safety of ingredients and if they meet clean beauty standards, click on the skin brightening ingredient in the alphabetized list.

Here are examples of safe and clean skin lightening ingredients:

Artemisia Capillaris

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

Bilberry extract

Cysteamine

Licorice extract

Niacinamide

Prescription Skin Lightening Creams

The prescription medication for melasma called Tri-Luma® is an example of a melasma cream that contains ingredients from 3 different skin lightening categories.

It has an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, a tyrosinase inhibitor, and a retinoid. Dermatologists call this a Triple Combination Cream and it is the gold standard of prescription melasma creams.

You can combine ingredients from different classes of skin lighteners in your routine to mimic this triple combination cream. Just make sure you have at least 3 of the categories discussed above in your routine and that the products all increase the effectiveness of each other. Let us help you build a skin care routine and shop for products using our skin type.

What skin type am I?

What Is the Purpose of Skin Lightening Ingredients and Products?

Skin lightening ingredients lighten dark spots on the skin caused by an increase in skin pigment. These skin conditions will benefit from skin lightening ingredients:

Age spots

Dark spots from acne

Discoloration due to hormones

Hyperpigmentation

Melasma

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)

Uneven skin tone

What Is the Most Effective Way to Lighten the Skin?

The goal is not to whiten your skin but to lighten the dark spots so that your complexion and skin color is the same all over your face. This is particularly important when treating dark spots on black skin.

Skin lightening ingredients can inactivate each other and the moisturizer and cleanser you choose affect how well skin lightening ingredients work. Every product in your routine matters!

To build an effective hyperpigmentation skin care routine you should choose products according to what your Baumann Skin Type.

Skin Care Products with skin lightening ingredients for Dry Skin:

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Pigment Correcting Brightening Cream

$41.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

$116.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

Neocutis PERLE Skin Brightening Cream

$121.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Pigment Correcting Brightening Cream

$41.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

$116.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

Neocutis PERLE Skin Brightening Cream

$121.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

Replenix Pigment Correcting Brightening Cream

$41.00

Add to Cart

Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

$116.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

Neocutis PERLE Skin Brightening Cream

$121.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Skin Care Products with Skin Lightening Ingredients for Oily Skin:

Obagi Nu-Derm FX Starter System – Normal to Oily

$470.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel PRO

$128.00

Add to Cart

Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum

$126.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 Serum

$44.99

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm FX Starter System – Normal to Oily

$470.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel PRO

$128.00

Add to Cart

Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum

$126.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 Serum

$44.99

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm FX Starter System – Normal to Oily

$470.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum

$128.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

$95.00

Add to Cart

PCA Skin Pigment Gel PRO

$128.00

Add to Cart

Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum

$126.00

Add to Cart

ClarityRx Let There Be Light Powerful Lightening Serum

$110.00

Add to Cart

Medature Hydro Bright Treatment

$45.00

Add to Cart

ISDIN Pigment Expert

$48.00

Out of Stock

La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 Serum

$44.99

Add to Cart

Obagi Nu-Derm Clear Fx (Hydroquinone Free)

$119.00

Add to Cart

Best Skin Lightening Products

It can take 8-16 weeks for dark spots on the skin to improve if you are using the right combination of skin care products. I suggest combining products from the following categories.

Products with Niacinamide

Skin whitening products with niacinamide help block inflammation and prevent melanin from getting into keratinocyte skin cells. Here are the best niacinamide products:

Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum – has niacinamide, retinol and kojic acid

SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense- This serum has 3% tranexamic acid, 1% kojic acid and 5% niacinamide.

Medature Hydrobright- Combines hexylresorcinol, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Zerafite Brightening Barrier Cream- Combines unsaturated fatty acids, niacinamide, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Bilberry extract, and Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract

Products with Kojic Acid

The best kojic acid products to lighten the skin are serums.

These are our 5 favorite dermatologist-recommended kojic acid products:

Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum

Derma Made Mela Fade

SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense

La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 10% Serum

PCA Skin Pigment Gel HQ Free

Oils to Lighten Skin

Oils that have a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids can inhibit tyrosinase. So make sure your face cream has these oils or unsaturated fatty acids when you want to brighten skin.

Oils with unsaturated fatty acids:

Argan oil

Avocado oil

Safflower oil

Sesame oil

Soybean oil

Sunflower oil

Tsubaki oil

How to Find the Best Skin Lightening Ingredients for Your Skin Type

Using a custom skin lightening routine for your skin type is the best way to combine different skin lighteners in a skin care routine. So make sure you shop for skin lightening products using your Baumann Skin Type!

Diagnose your Baumann Skin Type.

Get a step-by-step skin care routine.

Choose products from many brands for each step.

Read reviews from others with your same skin type.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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