What is Hexylresorcinol? Is it Better Than Hydroquinone for Skin Lightening?

Question

What is Hexylresorcinol? Is it better than hydroquinone for skin lightening?

F. Victor Rueckl, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Hexylresorcinol is a chemical compound with anaesthetic, antiseptic, and antihelmintic properties; it is used more as a soothing agent. It is not a chemical lightening agent like hydroquinone is. The serum you are referring to is by Clarins and contains hexylresorcinol, "a lightening active said to be four-times more effective than a 2% hydroquinone." However, the kicker here is that most products contain at least 4% hydroquinone (like Obagi products) and you can even get higher compounded hydroquinone topicals (like 8% or 12%) from a physician. So the two products aren't comparable, and hydroquinone is a much stronger, better skin lightener.

What is Hexylresorcinol? Is it Better Than Hydroquinone for Skin Lightening?

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What is Hexylresorcinol? Is it Better Than Hydroquinone for Skin Lightening?

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Everything you need to know about Skin Lightening

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.