L-Glutathione (Reduced Form) plays an important role in preventing oxidative damage to the skin In addition to its many recognized biological functions, glutathione has also been associated with skin lightening ability. The role of glutathione as a skin whitener was discovered as a side effect of large doses of glutathione. Glutathione utilizes different mechanisms to exert its action as a skin whitening agent at various levels of melanogenesis.

L-谷胱甘肽（还原型）在防止皮肤氧化损伤方面发挥重要作用除了众多公认的生物功能外，谷胱甘肽还与皮肤亮白能力有关。谷胱甘肽作为皮肤增白剂的作用被发现是大剂量谷胱甘肽的副作用。谷胱甘肽利用不同的机制在各种黑素生成水平下发挥其作为皮肤增白剂的作用。