L-Glutathione Reduced Powder
Glutathione – The Master Antioxidant for Advanced Skincare
INCI Name: Glutathione
CAS Number: 70-18-8
Technical Profile
Glutathione is a naturally occurring tripeptide built from glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. In biological systems, it acts as the body’s most powerful intracellular antioxidant, controlling redox balance, detoxification, and cellular repair. In cosmetic science, this translates to an active that can intervene in both oxidative stress pathways and melanogenesis regulation, making it one of the few ingredients that offers dual antioxidant and brightening performance.
Why It Matters in Formulations
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Pigmentation Modulation: Glutathione directly influences the activity of tyrosinase, the key enzyme in melanin synthesis. By shifting melanogenesis towards pheomelanin (lighter pigment) rather than eumelanin (darker pigment), it helps create a visibly brighter, more uniform complexion.
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Oxidative Defense: Beyond pigmentation, Glutathione scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by UV radiation, pollution, and inflammation — protecting skin proteins, lipids, and DNA from visible degradation.
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Synergistic Antioxidant Recycling: It has the rare ability to regenerate oxidized Vitamin C and Vitamin E, extending the lifespan of these antioxidants within a formulation and amplifying their effects.
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Barrier Support: Its role in detoxification pathways contributes to healthier skin resilience, reducing the look of dullness, sallowness, and uneven tone over time.
Unique Value for Cosmetic Developers
Unlike single-pathway brighteners (e.g., kojic acid or arbutin), Glutathione operates on multiple cellular levels — antioxidant defense, enzyme modulation, and pigment balance. This makes it a cornerstone ingredient for high-performance brightening serums, multi-antioxidant complexes, and luxury anti-aging systems.
Formulation Notes
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Appearance: White crystalline powder
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Solubility: Water-soluble
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Processing: Add during cool-down phase (<40 °C) to preserve bioactivity
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Compatibility: Works synergistically with Vitamin C, Alpha Arbutin, Niacinamide, and Tranexamic Acid for multi-mechanism pigment control.
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Suggested Use Levels: 0.1–2.0% in finished formulations (depending on system design)
Applications
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Advanced brightening serums
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Intensive anti-aging creams
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Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) support products
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Antioxidant boosters in daily moisturizers.
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