A 4-week Study Investigating Two Targeted Brightening Serum (A and B) Versus 4% Hydroquinone in Women With Mild to Severe Full-face Hyperpigmentation

June 8, 2026 updated by: Revision Skincare

A Multi-Center, Randomized, Blinded, Split-Face, Controlled Clinical Study to Assess Two Targeted Brightening Serum (A and B) Paired With 4% Hydroquinone

This a short four-week pilot study to measure the efficacy and tolerance of two brightening serums (cosmetics) versus 4% hydroquinone. The study was conducted in two sites across the USA, one in PA and in one in CA. The goal was to run the pilot study in the summer to understand the role of these two potential brightening serums in helping the appearance of skin tone evenness.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This is a four-week multi-center, single-blind, randomized, split-face, controlled pilot study conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerance of two pigment correction formulations (Brightening Serum A and Brightening Serum B) compared to 4% Hydroquinone split face when used over the course of 4 weeks by healthy females with clinically determined mild to severe facial hyperpigmentation, including melasma on the global face. Subjects will be randomized into 2 cells which will receive the following split face treatments:

  • Cell 1: Brightening Serum A versus 4% Hydroquinone
  • Cell 2: Brightening Serum B versus 4% Hydroquinone It was hypothesized that the Brightening Serum A and B will produce statistically significant improvements at post-baseline timepoints when compared with baseline, and comparable improvements versus the standard of care 4% Hydroquinone across the primary endpoint, secondary and tertiary endpoints. Additionally, the Sponsor's test materials will be well tolerated by subjects, with no statistically significant increases in scores for tolerability/safety parameters, specifically erythema and dryness, at any study timepoint when compared with baseline scores. Furthermore, the Sponsor's test materials will be well perceived by subjects according to analyses of self-assessment questionnaires, with a statistically significant proportion of favorable responses compared to unfavorable responses and/or a statistically significant improvement in subject response values when compared with baseline.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
18

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Irving, Texas, United States, 75063
        • Revision Skincare

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • In good general health (physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease/infirmity), according to subject self-report.
  • Having Fitzpatrick skin type I-VI (refer to Appendix I: Fitzpatrick Skin Type)
  • Age 20 to 60 years.
  • Subjects with self-perceived hyperpigmented facial skin
  • Having mild to severe (score of 3-9 according to a modified Griffiths scale,2 where 0 = none, 1 to 3 = mild, 4 to 6 = moderate, 7 to 9 = severe) full-face hyperpigmentation, including melasma. Hyperpigmentation and melasma must present at equal severity and size on each facial side.
  • Willing to maintain visit 1/baseline condition of eyebrows and eyelashes (do not noticeably change brow/lash appearance) during the study.
  • Willing to provide written informed consent and able to read, speak, write, and understand English.
  • Willing to sign a photography release.
  • Having not had any facial treatments in the past 6 months and are willing to withhold all facial treatments during the course of the study including facials, facial peels, photo facials, laser treatments, dermabrasion, botulinum toxin (Botox®), injectable filler treatments, intense pulsed light (IPL), acid treatments, tightening treatments, facial plastic surgery, or any other treatment administered by a physician or skin care professional designed to improve the appearance or firmness of facial skin. Waxing and threading are allowed but not facial laser hair removal.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having been diagnosed with known allergies to skin care products.
  • Having a known reactivity to tranexamic acid, niacinamide, sunflower seed, coconut, rosemary, barley, goji, sandalwood, licorice root, radish root, beeswax, yeast, ascorbic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and/or any of the ingredients in the study products.
  • Breastfeeding, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant during the study according to subject self-report.
  • Having a history of skin cancer within the past 5 years.
  • Currently taking oral or topical prescription medications for melasma such as Triluma, compounded hydroquinone, retinoids, and tranexamic acid.
  • Currently using oral or topical prescription medications for acne such as doxycycline, minocycline, clindamycin, bactrim, tetracycline, erythromycin, vibramycin, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, Dapsone, or sodium sulfacetamide.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Brightening Serum A
The brightening serum A is a hydroquinone-free serum containing botanical ingredients, brightening ingredients such as tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23, niacinamide, vitamin C, diacetyl boldine, antioxidants and microbiome technology to help reduce skin pigmentation.
Other: Facial Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser to wash the face two times a day (am/pm)
Other: Facial Moisturizer
Basic Moisturizer applied in the evening after the treatment (brightening serum a, or b or the 4% HQ).
Other: Sunscreen SPF 55
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 55 applied in the am as the last step
Active Comparator: Brightening Serum B
The brightening serum B is a hydroquinone-free serum containing botanical ingredients, brightening ingredients such as tranexamic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, diacetyl boldine, antioxidants and microbiome technology to help reduce skin pigmentation.
Other: Facial Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser to wash the face two times a day (am/pm)
Other: Facial Moisturizer
Basic Moisturizer applied in the evening after the treatment (brightening serum a, or b or the 4% HQ).
Other: Sunscreen SPF 55
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 55 applied in the am as the last step
Other: 4% Hydroquinone
This topical 4% hydroquinone cream was applied split-face to side randomized for application.
Other: Facial Cleanser
Gentle Foaming Cleanser to wash the face two times a day (am/pm)
Other: Facial Moisturizer
Basic Moisturizer applied in the evening after the treatment (brightening serum a, or b or the 4% HQ).
Other: Sunscreen SPF 55
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 55 applied in the am as the last step

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Measurement of Clinical Efficacy Parameters by Clinical Grader
Time Frame: Baseline, week 2, week 4
Clinical grading efficacy parameters measured by blinded clinical grader including skin tone evenness, hyperpigmentation on the global face, and overall appearance. Grading was performed on a 10-point Griffith's scale, where 0 = best possible outcome 9= severe skin condition. A decrease in score/ value indicates an improvement.
Baseline, week 2, week 4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Measurement of Global Melasma Severity Assessment Score (GMSA)
Time Frame: baseline and weeks 2 and 4

The expert grader (Board-Certified Dermatologist) will evaluate the right and left facial side using a Global Melasma Severity Assessment (GMSA) according to the following numerical definitions. Half-point scores may be used as necessary to more accurately describe the skin condition.

0 = clear

  1. = mild
  2. = moderate
  3. = severe
baseline and weeks 2 and 4

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Measurement of facial Melasma
Time Frame: Baseline, week 2 and week 4
The MASI score is a clinical tool used to assess the severity of melasma, a hyperpigmentation disorder, in terms of both area and darkness. It quantifies the extent and intensity of melasma in four facial regions: the forehead (F), right malar region (MR), left malar region (ML), and chin (C), corresponding to 30%, 30%, 30%, and 10% of the total face, respectively. A decrease in score indicates improvement
Baseline, week 2 and week 4
Incidence of Treatment- Emergent Adverse Events
Time Frame: Baseline, week 2, and week 4
Local cutaneous tolerability was evaluated by assessing the signs and symptoms of the following objective and subjective irritation parameters globally on each subject's face. Objective irritation (clinically graded): erythema, edema, and dryness. Subjective irritation (assessed by subjects): burning, stinging, and itching. Local cutaneous tolerability was evaluated by assessing objective (erythema, edema, and dryness) and subjective (burning, stinging, and itching) irritation parameters globally on each subject's face using a 4-point scale (0 = none to 3 = severe). A decrease in value indicates an improvement.
Baseline, week 2, and week 4

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Revision Skincare

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 11, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 12, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 12, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 8, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 07242025
  • Revision Skincare, LLC (Other Grant/Funding Number: Revision Skincare, LLC)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Hyperpigmentation

Clinical Trials on Facial Cleanser

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings