Alpha-arbutin
On the label: Alpha-Arbutin · Active
What it is
The alpha form of arbutin, sold as more effective; used at about 2 percent.
Actives: Actives are the ingredients a product is built around: acids, retinoids, vitamins and the like.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q27110235 →
In the research
73 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Melanocortin 1 receptor-targeted peptide-functionalized liposomes for enhanced melanocyte-preferential drug delivery and anti-melanogenic efficacy · Journal of materials chemistry. B, 2026
- Chitosan in aesthetic practice: A clinical narrative review of skin, scar, and scalp applications · JPRAS open, 2026
- A New Ultrasonic Assisted One-Step Synthesis of Skin Lightening Bioactive Molecules by Using Fe/SiO(2) as a Catalyst · Current organic synthesis, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Other actives
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.