Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is a cosmetic ingredient used as an antioxidant, bleaching agent. It is used in 41 products in our dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 1,310 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | HYDROQUINONE |
| Function | ANTIOXIDANT, BLEACHING, HAIR DYEING, FRAGRANCE |
| CAS number | 123-31-9 |
| EC number | 204-617-8 |
| Prevalence | 41 products (0.04% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Other |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 1,310 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 49,500 |
Used in
Prescription 53.7%Facial Treatments 22%Serums 9.8%Nail Care 4.9%Body Treatments 2.4%Exfoliators 2.4%
Frequently asked
- What does Hydroquinone do in skincare?
- Hydroquinone functions as an antioxidant, bleaching agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Hydroquinone allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Hydroquinone?
- It is most commonly found in Other products, especially prescription (53.7% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Hydroquinone
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.