The invention relates to a cosmetic process for depigmenting, lightening and/or whitening keratin materials, in particular the skin, which comprises the application of a cosmetic composition comprising a compound of formula (I): or its tautomer form of formula (I) in which: R1 and R2, which may be identical or different, denote a radical chosen from: a) a hydrogen atom; b) a C1-C20 alkyl group optionally interrupted with N, S or O, optionally substituted with one or more group(s) chosen from —OR3, —SR3, —NR3R4, —CONHR3; —COOR3; and an aryl group optionally substituted with one or more hydroxyls and/or with one or more C1-C8 alkoxy radicals; c) a C1-C8 alkyl group substituted with a C5-C12 aryl radical optionally substituted with one or more hydroxyls and/or with one or more C1-C8 alkoxy radicals; d) a phenyl group optionally substituted with one or more hydroxyls and/or with one or N more C1-C8 alkoxy radicals; R3 denoting H or a C1-C5 alkyl group, R4 denoting H, a C1-C5 hydrocarbon-based group or an acetyl group; it being possible for R1 and R2 to form, with the nitrogen atom which bears them, a ring chosen from pyrrolidine, pyrroline, piperidine, piperazine, morpholine, thiomorpholine and azepine. The invention also relates to the cosmetic use of a compound (I) or (I) as a whitening, lightening and/or depigmenting agent for keratin materials.