After introducing various whitening ingredients, readers should have a deeper understanding of whitening.
In short, hydroquinone is a very effective whitening ingredient, but it was banned in some countries due to potential risks. Manufacturers have since turned to researching other types of whitening products, each with varying degrees of effectiveness. In fact, most whitening ingredients do not have sufficient data to prove their effectiveness, and there is little testing to verify the safety of combining different whitening ingredients.
If you take a closer look at the ingredient list of your whitening products, you may find that there are several whitening ingredients included. The reason is, of course, to enhance the effects and reduce side effects. Whitening products typically include some milder whitening ingredients such as vitamin C or E, licorice extract, etc., before adding stronger ingredients such as kojic acid, hydroquinone, azelaic acid, and vitamin A acid. In other words, it is common for a whitening product to contain three or four whitening ingredients.
However, don’t assume that more ingredients necessarily means more effective, or that a product with certain ingredients is guaranteed to be effective. The efficacy largely depends on the effectiveness, concentration, and usage of the ingredients. Many products do not indicate the concentration of ingredients and may even list some so-called “patented” ingredients in the instructions, making it difficult for consumers to know the actual effects. In the end, most consumers can only rely on the advertisements featuring celebrity endorsements.
I hope that in the future there will be more neutral and large-scale studies analyzing the effectiveness of different whitening products.
All whitening ingredients have the potential to cause irritant contact dermatitis or allergic reactions. If you are unsure about any whitening ingredients, it is best to consult a doctor.