Abstract: A stable topical skin depigmenting composition having no irritant action to the skin which comprises an active ingredient a fatty acid ester of hydroquinone of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different, each being hydrogen or a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is the hydrocarbon radical and one or more conventional ingredients suitable for a topical preparation. A method of depigmentation of the skin using the ester of the formula [I] is also disclosed.