Cysteamine (β-mercaptoethylamine hydrochloride) is a non-melanocytotoxic and non-mutagenic molecule that has demonstrated strong depigmenting effects in different animal models. Despite strong depigmenting effects, cysteamine was never developed into a depigmenting product. This was due to the offensive odour produced by cysteamine (a thiol compound) that could not be covered with perfumes, prohibiting its use in topical preparations.