KOJIC ACID
Kojic acid, listed on labels as KOJIC ACID, is a small compound associated with fermentation. It can be obtained when certain fungi transform sugars and starches, and it can also be made by a chemical route. The name alone therefore does not reveal which production route was used for the ingredient in a product.
KOJIC ACID: what it is
Kojic acid, listed on labels as KOJIC ACID, is a small compound associated with fermentation. It can be obtained when certain fungi transform sugars and starches, and it can also be made by a chemical route. The name alone therefore does not reveal which production route was used for the ingredient in a product.
Its fermentative origin explains why kojic acid is often discussed alongside ingredients made with microorganisms, yet it is neither a plant extract nor an essential oil. It is the isolated, purified molecule used in a formulation, distinct from derivatives that have their own names, including kojic-acid esters.
KOJIC ACID: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, kojic acid is used to lighten the appearance of skin and as an antioxidant. For someone choosing a product, that means it may be included in formulas intended to support a more even-looking tone; the visible result depends on concentration, the vehicle, and the rest of the routine, not simply on seeing the name in an ingredient list.
The European scientific opinion assessed kojic acid specifically in a 1% leave-on cream applied to the face and/or hands. That assessment cannot be carried over to derivatives such as kojic dipalmitate or kojic isopalmitate, or to every concentration, application area, and product type.
KOJIC ACID: conditions and care
The SCCS opinion assessed a 1% leave-on cream used on the face and/or hands. It raises concern when the skin barrier is weakened, such as after peels, or when kojic acid is used on larger areas; its conclusion does not extend to kojic-acid derivatives.
Restrictions and conditions of use
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
