Hexylresorcinol

Introduction

What is hexylresorcinol?

Hexylresorcinol is an organic compound that has long been used in the food industry as an anti-browning agent (R, R). It has also been used as a topical distinfectant and in throat lozenges due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties (R). More recently, it has also been shown to exert skin lightening and antiageing effects when incorporated in skincare products (R, R).

Does hexylresorcinol get absorbed?

Hexylresorcinol has a low molecular weight of 194.27 Daltons, indicating that it should be able to penetrate the skin (R). It has been used as an ingredient in face peels, where it acts as a penetration enhancer (R).

Efficacy

Outcome	Grade	Effect	Evidence	Studies
Hyperpigmentation	B	🠫 Slight	★★★ Fair	4 studies 102 participants
Skin Brightness	B	🠩 Slight	★★★ Fair	3 studies 59 participants
Fine Lines	B	🠫 Slight	★★★ Fair	1 study 59 participants
Wrinkles	D	⇩ Potential	★ Basic	2 studies 88 participants
Skin Redness	D	⇧⇩ Mixed Effect	★ Basic	1 study 58 participants

Mechanisms

Show 1 more outcomes
Outcome	Grade	Effect	Evidence	Studies
Melanin	B	🠫 Slight	★★★ Fair	3 studies 29 participants
Tyrosinase	D	🠫🠫🠫 Marked	★ Basic	3 studies
Collagen	D	🠩🠩🠩 Marked	★ Basic	2 studies
Elastic Fibres	D	🠩🠩🠩 Marked	★ Basic	1 study
NF-kB Activity	D	🠫 Slight	★ Basic	1 study
Cell Viability	E	– No Effect	★ Basic	1 study

Side Effects

Outcome	Effect	Frequency	Studies
Irritation	⇧ Increase	7% (2 out of 29 participants)	2 studies
Rash	⇧ Increase	3% (1 out of 29 participants)	1 study
Contact Dermatitis	⇧ Increase	—	1 study

Latest Research

Hexylresorcinol

What is hexylresorcinol?

Does hexylresorcinol get absorbed?

Topical application of retinyl propionate, 4 hexyl resorcinol, and niacinamide reverses molecular and clinical features of ageing (2024)

Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical study of split-body comparison of topical hydroquinone and hexylresorcinol for skin pigment appearance (2023)

Superior even skin tone and anti-ageing benefit of a combination of 4-hexylresorcinol and niacinamide (2022)

A novel skin brightening topical technology (2020)

Efficacy and Tolerability of a Skin Brightening/Anti-Aging Cosmeceutical Containing Retinol 0.5%, Niacinamide, Hexylresorcinol, and Resveratrol (2016)