Alpha-Arbutin
Medium RiskAlpha-arbutin is a skin-brightening ingredient that inhibits tyrosinase and can be viewed as a glycosylated hydroquinone. The central safety signal is potential hydroquinone release/contamination plus systemic exposure from dermal absorption and aggregate exposure across multiple product types. Pregnancy-specific human outcome data for topical cosmetic exposure are limited; the medium-risk signal is hydroquinone-related concern and uncertainty rather than a robust pregnancy-specific safety dataset.
Sources: EU SCCS Final Opinion on the safety of alpha-arbutin and beta-arbutin in cosmetic products (SCCS/1642/22; sccs_o_264.pdf, 2023); EU CosIng entries for alpha-arbutin and arbutin.



