A recent BBC article shows the issues around skin lightening and the dangers of some ingredients that can cause serious issues. Such products include mercury and Hydroquinone. (Note: BBC article opens in a separate window, and links to the BBC website)
Mercury is banned pretty much everywhere; Hydroquinone is not permitted in mainstream products save where it is used under full medical supervision.
I wish to draw the distinction, here, between "skin lightening" and "pigmentation". The former is more or less a pure cosmetic procedure that is not recommended under most circumstances (probably "all"). Pigmentation and Hyper-Pigmentation, however, is a different matter. Pigmentation is where the skin suffers from, say age (or "liver") spots or sun damage and may be helped by the use of Kojic Acid, Retinol (Vitamin A) based products or Vitamin B3 (commonly called “niacinamide”).
None of the products contained under the "Pigmentation" section of my website (or indeed, under any other section) contain any banned substance. All products are sourced from approved UK importers. One of the reasons that delivery from us is not immediate, is that I hold very small stocks in order to make sure that whatever you order is as "fresh" as possible. The products on my website are not cheap; the cost reflects the efficiency of the product, rather than your paying for advertising and clever marketing.
If you have pigmentation or hyper-pigmentation issues, then I would strongly recommend that you visit your chosen healthcare professional to discuss the options available to you.