The Top 20 skin whitening agents have been selected taking into account several factors like their popularity, safety and effectiveness in treating various pigmentary disorders as well as for cosmetic purposes.

The order of the following skin whitening agents is approximate. Different skin whitening agents have different modes of action and some are more effective in different conditions than others, so it is hard to directly compare.

The top 20 skin whitening agents are: Hydroquinone, monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, arbutin, retinoids, mequinol, niacinamide, soy, vitamin c, corticosteroids, licorice, hydroxystilbene, alosein, glutathione, glycolic acid, n acetyl glucosamine, gentisic acid, green tea and melatonin.