These lightening creams lighten dark patches, hyperpigmentation, and spots, revealing the natural skin tone and brightening it. However, most of them incorporate hydroquinone, a common skin irritant and bleaching ingredient. If you are seeking a hydroquinone-free alternative, we have got you covered. Scroll down to check out the best 9 lightening creams that don’t contain hydroquinone!

Top 9 Lightening Creams Without Hydroquinone

1. Best Gentle Formula: Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot Therapeutic Cream

If you have dark spots on your face, try this cream. The Dark Spot Therapeutic Cream by Advanced Clinicals is enriched with vitamin C, an ingredient known for skin brightening properties. It helps to fade dark spots, marks, redness, and sun damage to brighten your skin. You can apply the cream on your face, neck, arms, and legs. This therapeutic cream also contains jojoba oil and licorice extract that keeps the skin moisturized and prevent the early signs of aging like fine lines. It is safe for pregnant women, but ensure you consult a doctor before using it. Here’s a personal review video to help you get a better understanding of the product. Key Ingredients:

Vitamin C Licorice Jojoba oil

Pros

Gentle Not tested on animals Can be used on body and face

Cons

Results take time

2. Best Natural Formula: Mabox Vitamin C Moisturizer

The Mabox Vitamin C Moisturizer help fade dark spots, sun spots, signs of aging, and pigmentation. It is enriched with vitamin C, which fights free radicals and protects your skin from harmful environmental aggressors. This cream contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, aloe vera, and jojoba oil that hydrate your skin. It boosts collagen production and imparts a youthful glow to your skin. Pros

Lightweight 100% natural Non-GMO Vegan Cruelty-free Paraben-free Silicone-free Non-greasy No artificial fragrances No colorants

Cons None

3. Best Fragrance-Free Formula: Intraceuticals Opulence Moisture Brightening Cream

The Intraceuticals Opulence Moisture Brightening Cream protects your skin from environmental aggressors. It helps minimize signs of premature aging, such as dark spots, dry and flaky skin, and uneven skin tone. It contains peptides, powerful antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E that have skin healing properties and helps make the skin more resilient. This cream also includes yellow dock root extract and cocoa butter that lock in moisture, deliver antioxidants to your skin, and brighten it. Key Ingredients:

Vitamins A, C, and E Cocoa butter Yellow dock root extract

Pros

No artificial fragrance Sulfate-free Vegan

Cons

Contains phenoxyethanol

4. Best Lightweight Formula: Medik8 C-Tetra Cream

This is a vitamin C serum in cream form. The Medika C-Tetra Cream provides your skin with its daily dose of vitamins C and E to prevent damage caused by harmful free radicals. It protects the skin against environmental aggressors like pollution and UV exposure to prevent premature aging, spots, and dullness. This fast-absorbing formula is perfect for those who have uneven skin tone. The formula uses tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a lipid-soluble form of vitamin C that minimizes skin irritation and brightens it. This cream has a refreshing citrus fragrance. Key Ingredient:

100% Vitamin C

Pros

Vegan Lightweight No artificial fragrance No synthetic colors Paraben-free Alcohol-free Cruelty-free

Cons None

5. Best Quick-Absorbing Formula: ANTIPODES Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Light Day Cream

This skin-brightening day cream contains vinanza grape and kiwi extracts that are clinically proven to brighten the skin. This day cream also contains bee venom and manuka honey. These ingredients moisturize your skin, improve its appearance, and remove dead skin cells to brighten it. This cream has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce acne. It also contains over 20 active ingredients like peony flower extract that keep your skin blemish-free. This cream can be applied on the face, neck, and décolletage area and is suitable for oily skin. Key Ingredients:

Manuka honey Bee venom Vinanza grape extract

Pros

100% natural ingredients Gets absorbed easily Balances skin pH No harmful chemicals

Cons

Strong fragrance Expensive No SPF

6. Best Affordable Option: Divine Derriere Dark Spot Corrector

The Divine Derriere Dark Spot Corrector contains arbutin, a powerful brightening combination of B-white skin peptide, and a particular blend of natural plant-based ingredients. Arbutin, kojic acid, niacinamide, and lactic acid help erase dark spots caused by sun exposure, aging, and pregnancy and prevent melanin development. This powerful combination of ingredients eliminates the appearance of acne, hyperpigmentation, and dark spots while offering a relaxing and calming sensation to your skin. Key Ingredients:

Arbutin Kojic acid Niacinamide Lactic acid

Pros

Suitable for all skin types Fast-absorbing formula Cruelty-free Natural ingredients Paraben-free Affordable

Cons None

7. Best For All Skin Types: EnaSkin Dark Spot Corrector

The EnaSkin Dark Spot Corrector instantly removes dark spots and prevents their reoccurrence. The gentle formula contains 4-butylresorcinol, lactic acid, kojic acid, salicylic acid, and morinda citrifolia extract, which help soothe redness. This cream provides nutrition and repairs your skin. Click here to check out this YouTuber’s unbiased review of the product. Pros

Suitable for all skin types Non-sticky Non-greasy Vegan Cruelty-free Gluten-free Absorbed quickly

Cons

Takes time to show results

8. Best Mild Fragrance: Mesoestetic Energy C Intensive Cream

This skin brightening skin is meant to fight the first signs of aging. The Mesoestetic Energy C Intensive Cream belongs to the Energy C cosmeceutical line by the brand. It contains a high concentration of vitamin C that fights photoaging and other damage caused by UV rays. It also contains hydrolyzed marine collagen and essential amino acids that promote collagen development and keep the skin healthy. This cream stimulates the fibroblasts to up the collagen levels and boosts the moisture level of the skin. Key Ingredient:

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Pros

Mild fragrance Lightweight Gets absorbed quickly

Cons

Greasy Contains silicone Contains PEG

9. Best For Dull Skin: Obagi Nu-Derm Skin Brightening Cream

The Obagi Nu Derm Skin Brightening Cream reduces dark spots, sun damage, hyperpigmentation and even tones the skin. This hydroquinone-free skin lightener helps brighten the skin by minimizing flaws caused by melasma, UV damage, and acne. It promotes healthy cell regeneration, resulting in a radiant look. This cream is formulated with vitamins, antioxidants, natural ingredients, and 7% arbutin that progressively improve the appearance of blotchy and discolored skin. Antioxidants protect your skin from potential damage, and vitamins boost collagen production and reduce inflammation. Key Ingredient:

Arbutin Lactic acid Vitamin C

Pros

Lightweight Reduces hyperpigmentation Natural ingredients Suitable for dry skin

Cons

Contains sodium metabisulfite

These are the 9 best skin brightening creams without hydroquinone available on the market. You must be wondering what the deal with hydroquinone is. Here’s why you should stay away from this ingredient.

What Is Hydroquinone? Is It Really Harmful To The Skin?

Hydroquinone is a skin bleaching agent. It is commonly used for treating hyperpigmentation, melasma, dark spots, and similar issues. The FDA allows 2% hydroquinone in OTC products and considers it safe. It is well-tolerated, but it may cause:

Stinging sensation Itching Redness (contact dermatitis) Burning sensation Swelling Crusting Unusual skin discoloration

Moreover, hydroquinone creams often contain sodium metabisulphite, and that may cause serious allergic reactions. hence, it is best to avoid hydroquinone unless suggested by the doctor. If you plan to buy skin brightening cream, here are a few tips to go about it.

How To Choose The Best Lightening Creams

Check The Ingredients: Avoid any cream that contains hydroquinone and mercury. Go for ingredients like kojic acid, vitamin C, licorice extract, and alpha arbutin. Area Of Application: Check if the cream can be applied on the face or body. Some creams are suitable for the hand and body, while some are only for the face. Results: Some creams promise visible results in just two weeks, while some may take three to four weeks to show any improvement. Pick a product depending on how fast you are expecting results. Ease Of Use: A good skin cream should easily spread on the skin without making it feel greasy and sticky. Check the consistency before you buy it.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author of this article, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a certified skin care coach. She conducted extensive research and checked many user reviews online to compile this list of the best lightening creams without hydroquinone. She also went through the product websites to understand their formulations before shortlisting them. The listed skin lightening creams may help even out your skin without any damage. How can I lighten my skin without using hydroquinone? You can use any of the skin brightening creams from our list. None of these creams contain hydroquinone. What is another name for hydroquinone? 1, 4-Benzenediol, Quinol, Benzene-1,4-Diol, p-Diphenol, p-Dihydroxyxylphenol, Hydrochinonium, Hydroquinol. Can hydroquinone make dark spots worse? Yes, it may cause skin allergy and worsen the dark spots. Can you apply moisturizer over skin brightening creams without hydroquinone? No. Skin brightening creams are meant to be applied gently to your skin. Most brightening creams have moisturizing and nourishing properties and you will not need to use a moisturizer on top of that. How does it affect the skin, if you stop using lightening cream without hydroquinone on black skin? Your dark skin will regain its original complexion if you stop using the lightening cream without hydroquinone.

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