What it actually does: slowly releases a mild form of hydroquinone’s active mechanism, inhibiting tyrosinase (the enzyme that produces excess melanin) - without hydroquinone’s irritation and rebound risks. Fades dark marks and sun spots gradually.
Who it’s for: post-acne marks, sun spots, general unevenness. Well tolerated on brown skin, where harsher brighteners can backfire into more pigmentation.
How to use it: 1–2%, morning and night, under moisturiser. Sunscreen daily or the sun replaces pigment faster than arbutin removes it.
Plays well with: niacinamide and vitamin C - pigmentation responds best to teams, since each ingredient hits a different step in the pigment pathway.
Honest expectations: eight to twelve weeks for visible fading. It lightens marks, not your skin tone - and we want to be very clear that’s the correct goal..
The BYOUT Library is educational content, not personalised medical advice. For persistent or severe skin concerns, a dermatologist beats any article, including ours.