The ingredient, explained

Glutathione

Selected evidence concerns human oral trial.

AntioxidantTyrosinase inhibitor / brighteningReducing

Explore connections

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Glycine, N--N-L-.gamma.-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl--

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Antioxidant: Limits oxidation, including deterioration of formulation ingredients. This label alone does not show a clinical antioxidant effect in skin.
Tyrosinase inhibitor / brightening: Research category for changes in pigmentation or uneven skin tone. The label does not establish that a finished product changes pigmentation.
Reducing: Chemically changes another material through reduction.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗ · Original niacinamide study: Pigmentation and hyperpigmented spots ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Human oral research

Oral GSH showed lower wrinkle measurements at some sites; pigmentation and elasticity findings were trends rather than uniformly significant effects.

What this does not tell us

Oral 250 mg daily for 12 weeks in healthy women. Not evidence for topical glutathione; GSH and GSSG must remain distinguishable. Sample size absent from reviewed abstract.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 28490897 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Bounded review of 21 local candidate titles, selected relevant local abstracts, and targeted primary-source web searches. Not an exhaustive systematic review.