This invention relates to compositions, compounds and methods for lightening skin, using active compounds having the structure: STR1 wherein: (i) each X is, independently, selected from the group consisting of halo, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, OR, OCOR, COR, CONRR COOR, CN, SR, SOR, SO2 R, SO3 R and NRR, wherein X is other than hydroxy, amino and thio, if this X is attached ortho to the phenol hydroxy; (ii) m is an integer from 0 to 4; (iii) each R' and each R" is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, OR, OCOR, OCRROR, COR, CR(OR)OR, CONRR, COOR, CRROR, CN, SR, and NRR; wherein halo, when it appears, is other than geminal to a hydroxy, NH2, or SH; (iv) R'" is alkyl or substituted alkyl; wherein when R'" is present, wherein when R'" is present and R' is also hydrogen, R" is other than hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, thio, cyano and amino; (v) each R is, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl and aryl; (vi) n is an integer from 1 to about 5, wherein at least one carbon in (C)n has other than alkyl or hydroxy as a substituent and (C)n adjacent to Z has other than amino, SH, CN or hydroxy as R'; (vii) Z is selected from the group consisting of O, NR, S, SO, SO2, PO2 R and POR; (viii) wherein any carbon, when disubstituted, having as one substituent selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, amino, cyano and thiol, has the other substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, and aryl, whether this substituent is R' or R"; and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these compounds, stereoisomers and enantiomers thereof free from or mixed with other enantiomers or stereoisomers; and such compounds in compositions with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier thereof comprising a safe and effective amount of a subject skin lightening active.