Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent derived from sources including coffee, berries, and bark.

The ingredient was developed in the early 1950’s and first approved by the FDA in 1982 as a skincare treatment for skin lightening. It gained similar approval in the UK in 1985.

Hydroquinone set the standard for topical treatment of ageing skin and hyperpigmentation, shaping how dermatology approaches discolouration.