NK‑L1002 Encapsulated 4‑Butylresorcinol – The Gold Standard in Stable, Liposomal Whitening

Product Characteristics

One of the most potent tyrosinase inhibitors available – now encapsulated in phospholipid liposomes for superior water solubility, stability, and deep skin penetration. Delivers triple‑stage melanin inhibition, antioxidant protection, and anti‑glycation benefits – without formulation headaches.

4‑Butylresorcinol is recognised as one of the most effective tyrosinase inhibitors in the resorcinol family, outperforming phenylethyl resorcinol (up to 6× stronger) and arbutin (up to 310× stronger) in published tyrosinase inhibition assays【1†L3-L5】. It acts at three critical stages of melanin formation【1†L7-L11】:

Pre‑synthesis – interferes with tyrosinase synthesis and glycosylation, preventing enzyme uptake into melanosomes.

During synthesis – competitively inhibits tyrosinase and TRP‑1, reducing melanin precursors.

Post‑synthesis – enhances tyrosinase degradation, inhibits melanosome transfer to keratinocytes, and provides exfoliation‑like effects.

However, pure 4‑butylresorcinol is poorly water‑soluble, easily oxidised, and difficult to formulate – often leading to loss of efficacy before reaching the skin【1†L13-L15】.

ULA‑L1002 solves these challenges with advanced phospholipid liposome encapsulation technology【1†L17-L23】:

✅ Enhanced water solubility – enables use in clear serums, toners, and masks

✅ Superior stability – protects against oxidation and degradation

✅ Deep skin penetration – liposomes fuse with the stratum corneum, delivering actives to the dermis

✅ Sustained release & reduced irritation – controlled delivery minimises sensitivity

✅ Formulation‑friendly – compatible with creams, serums, masks, and emulsions

4-Butylresorcinol (English name: 4-Butylresorcinol, CAS No.: 18979-61-8, molecular formula: C10H14O2, molecular weight: 166.22) is a highly effective human complex enzyme inhibitor, which can inhibit melanogenesis, and can inhibit two enzymes necessary for melanogenesis, namely tyrosinase and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylate-oxidase. -Among resorcinol derivatives, 4-butylresorcinol is the most potent in in vitro and in vivo studies.

In the three processes of melanin formation in human skin, 4-butylresorcinol not only has an important inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity, but also its whitening activity has a synergistic effect in the process.

1, before melanin synthesis, interferes with tyrosinase synthesis and glycosylation, preventing the enzyme from being absorbed by melanosomes.

2, During melanin synthesis, it inhibits the activity of the enzyme, acts as a competitive inhibitor of tyrosinase and TRP1 enzyme, and reduces the formation of by-products that promote melanin production.

3. After melanin synthesis, it increases the degradation of tyrosinase, inhibits the transfer of melanosomes to keratinized cells, and has a photo-peeling effect due to the action of fatty acids. This function is enhanced by the presence of fatty acids and regulates the degradation of tyrosinase.

In product application, the phenolic group of 4-butylresorcinol has a strong antioxidant activity, which is easily oxidized in the air and difficult to preserve, making it very easy for consumers to use the product before it is absorbed by the skin and already oxidized and inactive, thus failing to achieve the desired efficacy. 4-butylresorcinol's slightly water-soluble nature makes it difficult to be added to transparent essences, masks, and aqueous preparations.

The stratum corneum of human skin has a strong barrier function, and it is difficult for large molecule efficacy substances to penetrate. Phospholipid liposomes have a double membrane structure, similar to the structure of the biological cell membrane of the skin, and liposomes have high biological affinity with the skin, and it is easier for them to be fused and absorbed by the cell membrane, which makes liposomes easy to be absorbed and penetrated in the epidermis of the skin.

NK-L002 4-butylresorcinol is wrapped in liposome through phospholipid liposome wrapping technology, using phospholipids as the carrier to wrap the water-insoluble 4-butylresorcinol in liposome, after phospholipid liposome wrapping treatment, the performance of the product has been greatly improved and changed:

1. Enhanced the water solubility of the product, making it easy to be used in aqueous essence products.

2, wrapped with 4-butylresorcinol phospholipid liposome and skin bioaffinity is high, enhanced transdermal absorption of the active ingredients, improve bioavailability, so that it can achieve good results in a small concentration.

3. The phospholipid liposome structure has a slow-release effect, thus reducing its irritation to the skin.