A bitter white crystalline compound found in the leaves of bearberry and other plants, sometimes used in cosmetics and medicine.
From New Latin, derived from Arbutus (the strawberry tree genus) + the chemical suffix -in. The plant name itself comes from Latin arbutus, of uncertain origin, possibly from Etruscan.
Arbutin is nature's own skin-lightening ingredient—it breaks down into hydroquinone in your body, which is why it's been used in skincare products for centuries, and it's one of the few plant compounds that actually has solid scientific backing for treating hyperpigmentation.
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