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Kojic Acid

Kojic AcidActive

Tyrosinase inhibitor for hyperpigmentation. Often paired with vitamin C — but also additive in irritation.

What it does

Kojic acid is a fungal-derived tyrosinase inhibitor used for melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and uneven tone. Effective at 1-4%. Higher concentrations can cause sensitization with extended use.

The evidence, graded

emergingKojic acid and vitamin C both target pigmentation and are commonly stacked, but the combined acid load can irritate sensitive skin.Saeedi 2019 · Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Pairs worth knowing

This page is public and indexed on purpose (unlike profiles and drops, which are unlisted) — it’s the citation behind shared ingredient cards, and it should be findable.
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