Abstract: Disclosed is a skin lightening composition comprising a) a safe and effective amount of at least one water soluble reducing agent selected from the group consisting of sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, sodium hydrogen sulfite, potassium, hydrogen sulfite, sodium, metasulfite, potassium metasulfite, ammonium sulfite, ammonium hydrogen sulfite, formic acid, oxalic acid and mixtures thereof and b) cosmetically acceptable carrier for the water soluble reducing agent wherein the composition is substantially free of hydroquinone or its derivatives. Also disclosed is a method for skin lightening in mammals comprising topically applying to the skin the above composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a skin lightening composition comprising(a) a safe and effective amount of a compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein Z is Oxygen or Sulfur, (b) an average polarity solvent(c) a polyhydric alcohol(d) a solid fatty alcohol(e) a nonionic surfactant(f) water, and(g) lecithinwherein at least a portion of the above components (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) forms a liquid crystal.