| Market | Status | Limit | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | Banned | — | Annex II, entry 1339 (prohibited) | Source |
| United States | No entry in our compiled ruleset — verify with FDA — FD&C Act + MoCRA. | |||
| South Korea | Banned | — | MFDS prohibited (whitening ingredient banned OTC) | Source |
| Japan | Banned | — | MHLW Ordinance 331 — prohibited substance | Source |
| China | Banned | — | NMPA prohibited raw material list | Source |
| United Kingdom | No entry in our compiled ruleset — verify with OPSS — UK Cosmetics Regulation. | |||
| Canada | Restricted | ≤ 0.3% | Hotlist Part II (Restricted) entry, CAS 123-31-9: max 0.3% as an oxidizing colouring agent in hair dyes (with warning statements) and max 0.1% in nail products; combined hydroquinone + p-hydroxyanisole may not exceed 0.1% in a single (nail) product — confirmed via search corroboration of the combined-limit condition. | Source |
| Australia | Restricted | ≤ 2% | Poisons Standard (SUSMP): Schedule 4 (Prescription Only Medicine) at concentrations above 2%; Schedule 2 at 2% or less except hair preparations at 0.3% or less (unscheduled/cosmetic) and professional-use nail preparations at 0.02% (200 ppm) or less. | Source |
| India | Restricted | ≤ 0.3% | IS 4707 (Part 2) Annex B entry 16: permitted only in oxidative hair-dye products (0.3% general use / 0.02% professional use after mixing) and artificial nail systems, with mandatory warning labelling; not permitted as a general skin-lightening agent | Source |
| Brazil | Review | — | Named among substances ANVISA's CP no. 1.304/2024 draft proposed to exclude from the prohibited Annex of RDC 529/2021; independently corroborated — a separate search on the final RDC 1.030/2026 confirms hydroquinone was in fact removed from the prohibited list (now subject to specific-use conditions instead). | Source |
| Mexico | Restricted | ≤ 2% | Artículo SEGUNDO — only in skin-lightening products and oxidative hair dyes, max 2.00% | Source |
| ASEAN | Restricted | ≤ 0.02% | ACD Annex III Part 1, Ref. No 14 — max 0.02% in artificial nail systems, professional use only, avoid skin contact. Verified verbatim. | Source |
| California (US) | No entry in our compiled ruleset — verify with OEHHA Prop 65 · AB-2771 (PFAS). | |||
| Washington State (US) | No entry in our compiled ruleset — verify with Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (HB 1047). | |||
| Retailer | Status | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean at Sephora | Banned | Prohibited under Sephora Clean | Source |
| Conscious Beauty at Ulta | Banned | Prohibited under Ulta Conscious Beauty | Source |
| Target Clean | Banned | Prohibited under Target Clean | Source |
| Amazon listing compliance | Banned | Prohibited under Amazon Aware | Source |
| Credo Clean Standard | Banned | Dirty List — Allergies/Irritation, Cancer Risk, and Toxic to Human Body categories; skin-lightening agent, metabolite of carcinogen benzene | Source |
| Whole Foods Body Care | Banned | Listed "unacceptable"; function: bleaching agent. Confirmed verbatim in source PDF table. | Source |
| Whole Foods Premium Body Care | Banned | Unacceptable, Body Care - Premium list. Function: bleaching agent. | Source |
| Walmart Sustainable Chemistry | No entry in our compiled ruleset — verify with Walmart sustainable chemistry commitment. | ||
| Walmart Made Without List | Banned | On Walmart's Made Without List for Beauty (main list, January 2023), published as "Hydroquinone" (CAS 123-31-9); matched to the INCI name "hydroquinone" via the CosIng CAS index. Products carrying the Clean Beauty at Walmart badge are formulated without it. | Source |
| CVS store-brand chemicals policy | No entry in our compiled ruleset — verify with CVS Health chemicals of concern policy. | ||
| Costco vendor compliance | No entry in our compiled ruleset — verify with Costco wholesale vendor requirements. | ||
| Douglas clean criteria | No entry in our compiled ruleset — verify with Douglas (EU) clean beauty criteria. | ||
| The Detox Market banned list | Banned | On The Detox Market's published banned-ingredients list. Stated concern: Carcinogen, Organ Toxicity/Irritation. Products stocked by The Detox Market are formulated without it. | Source |
2026-07-21 · Compiled from cited primary sources. Informational only — not legal advice.
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