Bear fruit, as the name suggests, is a fruit that bears love to eat, also known as bear grapes. Bearberries are widely distributed in low latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Arbutin, also known as arbutin, is a white needle-shaped crystal or powder extracted from the leaves of bear fruit. The leaves of bearberry contain arbutin, which is currently a safe and effective whitening ingredient. Arbutin is divided into two types: Alpha arbutin and Beta arbutin. The chemical synthesis method of arbutin is currently the main method for preparing arbutin. It has the advantages of good synthesis quality and low production cost. In the cosmetics market, arbutin is widely used. Arbutin is easily soluble in hot water, methanol, ethanol, and aqueous solutions of propylene glycol and glycerol, but is insoluble in solvents such as ether, chloroform, and petroleum ether.

Arbutin is not only included in the formulas of whitening products, but also becomes an antioxidant active ingredient in many skin care products. There is no shortage of facial cleansers, facial masks, lotions, creams and other beauty and skin care products with arbutin on the market. According to market statistics, the application of arbutin in cosmetics is growing year by year.

The main functions of arbutin are:

1. Whitening effect. First, we must understand the physiological mechanism of skin darkening. The main factor that causes the depth of skin color is the content and distribution of melanin in the skin, which is produced in melanocytes in the basal layer of the skin epidermis. Tyrosine, the initial raw material for the formation of melanin, undergoes a series of complex biochemical reactions under the action of tyrosinase, eventually forming melanin, which is transferred from the inside out through the basal layer of the skin to the outer layer of the epidermis, coloring the skin and forming spots. Arbutin can quickly penetrate into the skin and can effectively inhibit the activity of tyrosinase in the skin and block the formation of melanin by directly combining with tyrosinase within a concentration range that is non-toxic to melanocytes. At the same time, arbutin can also accelerate the decomposition and excretion of melanin, reduce skin pigmentation, and remove spots and freckles. It is a safe and effective whitening raw material commonly used today.

2. Scavenge free radicals. Arbutin can scavenge free radicals in skin metabolism, protect the skin from damage, dilute the formed melanin, accelerate the decomposition and excretion of melanin, reduce skin pigmentation, and remove spots and freckles.