New 4-substituted resorcinol derivatives of general formula I and/or B and process for synthesizing same, cosmetic compositions and methods of using same, particularly for skin lightening: ##STR00001## Wherein X.sub.1 and/or X.sub.2 represents hydrogen (H), linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, alkenyl, or acyl groups. Preferably, X.sub.1 and/or X.sub.2 represents hydrogen (H); linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl or acyl groups; R.sub.1 represents hydrogen (H), linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl group. Preferably, R.sub.1 represents hydrogen (H) or a C.sub.1 alkyl group (i.e, methyl group). More preferably, R.sub.1 represents hydrogen; n represents 0, 1. When n=0, the ring is a cyclopentyl with or without one heteroatom from O, N or S and/or with or without one double bond. When n=1, the ring is a cyclohexyl with or without one heteroatom from O, N or S and/or with or without one double bond; and m represents an integer between 1 and 6.