The best inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity is deoxyarbutin [p-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-oxy)phenol], which is 10 times more effective against melanin than hydroquinone. Acid 150 times, β-arbutin 350 times, α-arbutin 38.5 times. However, deoxyarbutin also has a major disadvantage, that is, it is unstable to light and heat in an aqueous solution, so there are still relatively few products using it on the market.

Alpha arbutin​ is a new type of whitening material. α-Arbutin can be quickly absorbed by the skin, selectively inhibiting tyrosinase activity, thereby blocking the synthesis of melanin, but it does not affect the normal growth of epidermal cells, nor does it inhibit the self-expression of tyrosinase.