Browse by function
Brightening / whitening ingredients
Japanese ingredients used for brightening / whitening effects across cosmetics, foods, and supplements.
20 ingredients in this view.
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
3-O-エチルアスコルビン酸 (3-O-Echiru asukorubin-san)
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
4-Methoxysalicylic Acid Potassium Salt
4-メトキシサリチル酸カリウム塩 (4-Metokishi sarichirusan kariumu en) · INCI: Potassium Methoxysalicylate
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
4-n-Butylresorcinol
4-n-ブチルレゾルシノール (4-n-Buchiru rezorushinōru) · INCI: Butylresorcinol
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
5,5'-Dipropyl-Biphenyl-2,2'-Diol
5,5'-ジプロピル-ビフェニル-2,2'-ジオール (Dipuropiru bifenīru jiōru) · INCI: Magnolignan / Dipropyl Biphenyl Diol (specification-dependent)
Traditional · Fermented foods
Amazake Extract
甘酒エキス (Amazake ekisu) · INCI: Rice Ferment / Amazake Ferment (preparation-specific)
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
Arbutin
アルブチン (Arubuchin)
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
Ascorbyl Glucoside
アスコルビルグルコシド (Asukorubiru gurukoshido)
Traditional · Fermented foods
Aspergillus Oryzae Ferment
麹 (Kōji) · INCI: Aspergillus / Rice Ferment Extract (for rice-substrate koji preparations)
Cosmetics · Fermented ingredients
Brown Rice Ferment Extract
玄米発酵エキス (Genmai hakkō ekisu) · INCI: Oryza Sativa (Brown Rice) Ferment Extract / preparation-specific
Cosmetics · Plant extracts
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
ハトムギエキス (Hatomugi ekisu)
Cosmetics · Fermented ingredients
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
ガラクトミセス発酵濾液 (Galactomyces hakkō roeki)
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
Kojic Acid
コウジ酸 (Kōji-san)
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
アスコルビン酸リン酸Mg (Asukorubin-san rinsan magunesiumu)
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
Niacinamide
ナイアシンアミド (Naiashin amido)
Cosmetics · Plant extracts
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
シャクヤク根エキス (Shakuyaku-kon ekisu)
Cosmetics · Marine ingredients
Pearl Extract
パールエキス (Pāru ekisu) · INCI: Pearl Extract / Hydrolyzed Pearl
Cosmetics · Fermented ingredients
Sake Extract
日本酒エキス (Nihonshu ekisu) · INCI: Sake Extract / Saccharomyces Ferment Extract
Cosmetics · Fermented ingredients
Sake Lees Extract
酒粕エキス (Sakekasu ekisu) · INCI: Saccharomyces / Rice Ferment Filtrate
Traditional · Fermented foods
Shio Koji Extract
塩麹エキス (Shio-kōji ekisu) · INCI: Rice Ferment (preparation-specific)
Cosmetics · Quasi-drug actives
Tranexamic Acid
トラネキサム酸 (Toranekisamu-san)
FAQ: Brightening / whitening ingredients
Q. Why browse Japanese ingredients by ingredient function?
Browse Japanese ingredients by the functional benefit they deliver — brightening, antioxidant, gut health, sleep quality, etc. This page lists 20 ingredients tagged with the Brightening / whitening ingredient function, helping formulators and brand planners shortlist candidates by use case rather than by category alone. Examples include 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, 4-Methoxysalicylic Acid Potassium Salt, 4-n-Butylresorcinol, and 5,5'-Dipropyl-Biphenyl-2,2'-Diol.
Sources
- OEM JAPAN — glossary navigation taxonomy
Q. Are 'Brightening / whitening' claims allowed in product marketing?
Function claims permitted on a finished product depend on the target market and regulatory pathway (cosmetic, quasi-drug, FFC, Tokuho, dietary supplement). The function tag here is an editorial summary of the ingredient's documented or traditional benefit, not an approved claim. Always verify claim wording against your target-market rules.
Sources
- MHLW — claim restrictions under PMD Act
- FTC — claim substantiation guidelines (US dietary supplements)