A cosmetic regime or regimen for depigmenting, lightening and/or bleaching keratin materials, especially the skin, entails topically applying thereon a cosmetic composition containing a dithiolane compound of formula (I):in which:Y is O, NR1 or SR1 is a hydrogen atom； a C1-C20 alkyl radical or an optionally substituted phenyl radical；R is a hydrogen atom； or a C1-C20 alkyl radical, or an optionally substituted phenyl radical, or a C1-C8 alkyl radical containing an optionally substituted phenyl substituent；n=0 or 1 or 2；and also the salts, chelates, solvates and optical isomers thereof.
