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Ingredients Brightening Glutathione
53Gt
Tier · Moderate evidence
Brightening · Antioxidant

Glutathione

INCI: Glutathione · Also called: GSH, L-Glutathione, Reduced Glutathione

A "master antioxidant" your body already makes. In skincare it gently lightens overall tone and helps fade pigmentation when used consistently over months.

For your skin

A "master antioxidant" your body already makes. In skincare it gently lightens overall tone and helps fade pigmentation when used consistently over months.

Want the science? Keep reading ↓

Mechanism of action

Tripeptide antioxidant (γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine) that scavenges free radicals and shifts melanogenesis from dark eumelanin toward lighter pheomelanin by inhibiting tyrosinase.

Why we tier this moderate

5 cited papers across 1 country. The mechanism is well-described and there's at least one controlled trial in the literature, but we tier this Moderate rather than Strong to stay honest about how many specific papers we cite directly.

5
International

Cited research

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Stanescu C et al., Glutathione in Skin Aging and Tissue Regeneration: A Systematic Review of Molecular Mechanisms, Redox Modulation, and Biomedical Implications, Molecules 2026

2026Meta-analysis (positive)PMID:41900080View source ↗
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Sarkar R et al., Glutathione as a skin-lightening agent and in melasma: a systematic review, International Journal of Dermatology 2025

2025Meta-analysis (mixed)PMID:39444151View source ↗
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Wahab S et al., Combination of topical and oral glutathione as a skin-whitening agent: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, International Journal of Dermatology 2021;60(8):1013-1018 — 8-week RCT showed combination significantly lowered melanin and raised lightness vs placebo

2021Positive (efficacy)PMID:33871071View source ↗
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Dilokthornsakul W, Dhippayom T, Dilokthornsakul P, The clinical effect of glutathione on skin color and other related skin conditions: A systematic review, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2019;18(3):728-737 — current evidence inconclusive but trend toward brightening of sun-exposed skin

2019Meta-analysis (mixed)PMID:30895708View source ↗
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Arjinpathana N, Asawanonda P, Glutathione as an oral whitening agent: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Journal of Dermatologic Treatment 2012;23(2):97-102

2012Positive (efficacy)PMID:20524875View source ↗

Sources: 10 clinical journals and regulatory databases across the US, EU, Korea, Japan, and China. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for the full list and what each outcome label means.