I thought hydroquinone was the best skin brightener. Why does Illustre Essenza® use all-natural brighteners instead?
A. On August 29, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a ban on over-the-counter sales of cosmetic products containing hydroquinone, a skin lightening ingredient in many skincare products. According to the FDA, approximately 65 companies sell over 200 different types of skin-lightening products containing hydroquinone in the U.S. The FDA has yet to act on their proposed ban. Currently, products that contain up to 2% hydroquinone may be sold in the U.S. without a prescription. The FDA proposed the ban on over-the-counter sales of hydroquinone in response to studies showing some evidence that hydroquinone may cause cancer in rodents. Hydroquinone also has been linked with the medical condition known as ochronosis, in which the skin becomes dark and thick. Ochronosis has been observed in conjunction with hydroquinone use even in people who have only used hydroquinone-containing cosmetics for a short time. Some studies also report abnormal function of the adrenal gland
