A method was established for the detection of 10 whitening and 2 prohibited components in cosmetics by high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）.Low fat cosmetics samples such as make up water and lotion were extracted directly with 0.02 mol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution（pH 6.0）.High fat cosmetics samples and wax based and powder cosmetics were well dispersed with 2.5 mL dichloromethane first,then extracted with 0.02 mol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution（pH 6.0）.The sample solution were centrifuged at a speed of 9 500 r/min,then filtered through a 0.22 μm syringe filter.The filtrate were analyzed on an Eclipse XDB-C18 column （250 mm×4.6 mm,i.d 5 μm） using 0.02 mol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate （pH 6.0）-methanol as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.The temperature of the column was set at 25 ℃.The detection wavelengths were 230 nm and 250 nm.The standard working curves of 12 compounds had good linear relationships（r>0.999 0） in concentration range of 2.5-100 mg/L.The quantitation limits（S/N=10） of 12 compounds were in the range of 0.006 5%-0.025%.The recoveries of 12 analytes at spiked levels of 0.025%-0.5% were in the range of 87%-102%with relative standard deviations less than 4%.With the advantages of simplicity,high recovery and good precision, this methed was suitable for the determination of 10 whitening and 2 prohibited components in cosmetics.