Various topical, oral, and injection-based cosmetic skin-lightening agents with different mechanisms of action are used widely across Asia, including hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, mulberry, alpha-arbutin, beta-arbutin, glutathione, licorice root, papaya, vitamin A (e.g., retinol), vitamin B (i.e., niacinamide), and vitamin C
Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in plants and animals, which is made up of three amino acids: glycine, glutamate and cysteine, explains Dr Thivi Maruthappu, a consultant dermatologist and nutritionist
As a general pattern: Standard multi-week reconstitution, repeated draws bacteriostatic water Preservative-sensitive compounds, shorter-use windows sterile water or saline When in doubt follow the specific product's own reconstitution instructions This is general information, not dosing or product-specific advice
Never freeze it