Tyrosinase inhibitor / Brightening antioxidant
Oxyresveratrol
INCI name
Hydroxyresveratrol (Artocarpus Lakoocha Wood Extract)
Function
Tyrosinase inhibitor / Brightening antioxidant
Pregnancy
No known concern
UV sensitivity
Not photosensitising
Oxyresveratrol is a stilbene related to resveratrol, extracted here from the wood of Artocarpus lakoocha, a Southeast Asian mulberry relative. Its interest in skincare is a single, well-defined target: tyrosinase, the enzyme that starts melanin synthesis.
Why it is used
In laboratory assays oxyresveratrol inhibits tyrosinase considerably more strongly than kojic acid, the usual benchmark, and more strongly than resveratrol itself, which is why it appears in brightening formulas at low percentages. It is also an antioxidant in its own right.
The evidence
The enzyme data is robust and independent. Clinical data on finished products is thinner and mostly manufacturer-run, which is normal for brightening actives short of hydroquinone and tranexamic acid. Treat it as a credible tyrosinase inhibitor rather than a proven replacement for prescription options.
Stability
Like other stilbenes it oxidises readily in water and light, which is why Medik8 packages it in small twin bottles rather than one 30ml. Use within a few weeks of opening and keep the lid on.
