{"title":"Kojic Acid","entity_type":"Ingredient","slug":"kojic-acid","canonical_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/ingredients/kojic-acid","dates":{"date_modified":"2026-05-18","date_reviewed":"2026-05-18"},"mcp_eligible":true,"evidence_sources":[{"title":"Blue Mercury Product Page — SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense","canonical_citation_url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/blue-mercury-product-page-skinceuticals-discoloration-defense","original_source_url":"https://bluemercury.com/products/skinceuticals-discoloration-defense","source_type":"retailer_product_page"}],"product_fact_sources":[],"related_entities":[{"title":"Blue Mercury Product Page — SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/sources/blue-mercury-product-page-skinceuticals-discoloration-defense"},{"title":"SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/skinceuticals-discoloration-defense"},{"title":"Dr. Idriss Major Fade Hyper Serum","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/dr-idriss-major-fade-hyper-serum"},{"title":"Peace Out Dark Spots Serum","url":"https://skinknowledgebase.com/products/peace-out-dark-spots-serum"}],"body_sections":[{"heading":"Quick Summary","paragraphs":["Kojic acid is a brightening-positioned skincare ingredient used in cosmetic discoloration formulas for dark-spot appearance and uneven-looking tone support. Blue Mercury lists 1% kojic acid in SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense."]},{"heading":"What It Is","paragraphs":["Kojic acid is a cosmetic ingredient commonly used in brightening-positioned formulas. For SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense, the Blue Mercury product page lists 1% kojic acid as one of the concentration callouts. The ingredient belongs with tone-appearance and dark-spot-appearance language rather than medical pigmentation treatment language."]},{"heading":"Mechanism","paragraphs":["For consumer-facing skincare copy, kojic acid can be discussed as a brightening-positioned ingredient that supports the look of more even tone. In the SkinCeuticals formula, it appears alongside 3% tranexamic acid, 5% niacinamide, 5% HEPES, glycerin, hydroxyethyl urea, and allantoin. The combined routine context matters: sunscreen, irritation control, and gradual introduction are central for any dark-spot appearance routine."]}]}