Compositions and methods of their use for improving the condition and appearance of skin

1. A method of ameliorating, reducing, or treating progressive degradation of a dermal-epidermal junction and/or degradation of a cell-cell cohesion in skin, comprising topicafly applying to skin a topical composition comprising:

(a) a cosmetically, dermatologically, pharmaceutically, or physiologically effective amount of an active agent, wherein said active agent is S-Methyl-L-Cysteine and S-Phenyl-L-Cysteine sufficient to increase expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: Beta-catenin, Collagen 4, Collagen 7, Frizzled 10, Estrogen Receptor alpha, Hyaluronic acid synthase, and combinations thereof; and

(b) a cosmetically, dermatologically, pharmaceutically, or physiologically acceptable vehicle, in an amount effective to ameliorate, reduce, or treat progressive degradation of a dermal-epidermal junction and/or degradation of a cell-cell cohesion in skin, wherein the progressive degradation of a dermal-epidermal junction and/or degradation of a cell-cell cohesion in skin is not hyperkeratosis.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is applied for a period of time sufficient to ameliorate, reduce, or treat progressive degradation of a dermal-epidermal junction and/or degradation of a cell-cell cohesion in skin.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said applying of the composition occurs at least once daily for a period of time sufficient to, ameliorate, reduce, or treat progressive degradation of a dermal-epidermal junction and/or degradation of a cell-cell cohesion in skin.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active agent is present in an amount effective to improve the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active agent is present in an amount from about 0.0001 weight % to about 20 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active agent is present in an amount from about 0.001 weight % to about 10 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the improvement in the condition and/or aesthetic appearance is selected from the group consisting of: reducing dermatological signs of chronological aging, photo-aging, hormonal aging, and/or actinic aging; reducing the appearance of lines and/or wrinkles; reducing the noticeability of facial lines and wrinkles, facial wrinkles on the cheeks, forehead, perpendicular wrinkles between the eyes, horizontal wrinkles above the eyes, and around the mouth, marionette lines, and particularly deep wrinkles or creases; reducing and/or diminishing the appearance and/or depth of lines and/or wrinkles; improving the appearance of suborbital lines and/or periorbital lines, reducing the appearance of crow's feet; rejuvenating and/or revitalizing skin, particularly aging skin; reducing skin fragility; and/or reversing of loss of glycosaminoglycans and/or collagen; ameliorating the effects of estrogen imbalance; skin atrophy; reducing, and/or treating hyperpigmentation; minimizing skin discoloration; improving skin tone, radiance, clarity and/or tautness; reducing and/or ameliorating skin sagging; improving skin firmness, plumpness, suppleness and/or softness; improving procollagen and/or collagen production; improving skin texture and/or promoting retexturization; improving skin barrier repair and/or function, improving the appearance of skin contours; restoring skin luster and/or brightness; minimizing dermatological signs of fatigue and/or stress; resisting environmental stress; replenishing ingredients in the skin decreased by aging and/or menopause; improving communication among skin cells; increasing cell proliferation and/or multiplication; increasing skin cell metabolism decreased by aging and/or menopause; retarding cellular aging; improving skin moisturization; enhancing skin thickness; increasing skin elasticity and/or resiliency; enhancing exfoliation; improving microcirculation; decreasing cellulite formation; and any combinations thereof.

8. A method of improving the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin comprising topically applying to skin a topical composition comprising;

(a) a cosmetically, dermatologically, pharmaceutically, or physiologically effective amount of an active agent, wherein said active agent is S-Methyl-L-Cysteine and S-Phenyl-Cysteine sufficient to increase expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of Beta-catenin, Collagen 4, Collagen 7, Frizzled 10, Estrogen Receptor alpha, Hyaluronic acid synthase, and combinations thereof; and

(b) a cosmetically, dermatologically, pharmaceutically, or physiologically acceptable vehicle, in an amount effective to improve the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin, wherein the condition is not hyperkeratosis.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said composition is applied for a period of time sufficient to improve the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said applying of the composition occurs at least once daily for a period of time sufficient to improve the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the active agent is present in an amount from about 0.0001 weight % to about 20 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the active agent is present in an amount from about 0.001 weight % to about 10 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the improvement in the condition and/or aesthetic appearance is selected from the group consisting of; reducing dermatological signs of chronological aging, photo-aging, hormonal aging, and/or actinic aging; reducing the appearance of lines and/or wrinkles; reducing the noticeability of facial lines and wrinkles, facial wrinkles on the cheeks, forehead, perpendicular wrinkles between the eyes, horizontal wrinkles above the eyes, and around the mouth, marionette lines, and particulary deep wrinkles or creases; reducing and/or diminishing the appearance and/or depth of lines and/or wrinkles; improving the appearance of suborbital lines and/or periorbital lines, reducing the appearance of crow's feet; rejuvenating and/or revitalizing skin, particularly aging skin; reducing skin fragility; reversing of loss of glycosaminoglycans and/or collagen; ameliorating the effects of estrogen imbalance, reducing skin atrophy reducing and/or treating hyperpigmentation; minimizing skin discoloration, improving skin tone, radiance, clarity and/or tautness; reducing and/or ameliorating skin sagging; improving skin firmness, plumpness, suppleness and/or softness; improving procollagen and/or collagen production; improving skin texture and/or promoting retexturization; improving skin barrier repair and/or function; improving the appearance of skin contours; restoring skin luster and/or brightness, minimizing dermatological signs of fatigue and/or stress; resisting environmental stress, replenishing ingredients in the skin decreased by aging and/or menopause; improving communication among skin cells; increasing cell proliferation and/or multiplication; increasing skin cell metabolism decreased by aging and/or menopause; retarding cellular aging; improving skin moisturization; enhancing skin thickness; increasing skin elasticity and/or resiliency; enhancing exfoliation; improving microcirculation; decreasing cellulite formation; and any combinations thereof.