The invention relates to a cosmetic composition for bleaching the skin, which includes a) at least one oily plant extract from the Glycyrrhiza genus and b) at least one ascorbic acid ester. The invention further relates to the cosmetic, nontherapeutic use of the cosmetic composition according to the invention to treat excessive pigmentation, pigmentation disorders, age spots, and/or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation of the skin, and to a method for producing a cosmetic skin-bleaching composition in the form of an O/W or a W/O emulsion, wherein an oily extract from licorice roots is dissolved in the water phase by the addition of an ascorbic acid ester.