COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING SUBSTITUTED PHENOLS AND TOPICAL APPLICATION THEREOF

1 . A composition comprising

a substituted phenol of Formula I:

wherein:

A is C 3 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 3 -C 6 alkynyl;

R 1 is H, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, or aryl;

R 2 is H, OH, carboxylic acid, COOR 4 , or CONR 4 ;

R 3 is H, C(═O)R 4 , COOR 4 , or CH 2 R 4 ; and

R 4 is C 1 -C 2 alkyl, C 1 -C 2 alkenyl, C 1 -C 2 alkylaryl;

or a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof; and

a cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprising an ingredient selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, emulsifiers, emollients, humectants, and fragrances.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein A is C 3 -C 5 alkyl, R 1 is H, R 2 is H, R 3 is H; and —OH is in the para position.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said substituted phenol is selected from the group consisting of 4-butylphenol, 4-amylphenol, and 4-hexylphenol.

4 . The composition of claim 1 comprising about 0.001% to about 10% of said substituted phenol.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprises ingredients selected from at least two of the following classes: wetting agents, emulsifiers, emollients, humectants, and fragrances.

6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprises an emollient and an emulsifier.

7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprises ingredients selected from at least three of the following classes: wetting agents, emulsifiers, emollients, humectants, and fragrances.

8 . A composition comprising:

a substituted phenol of Formula II:

wherein:

R 1 is H, OR 5 , amide, aminoalkyl, or aminoaryl;

R 2 is H or OR 5 ;

R 3 is H, OR 5 , aminoalkyl, aminoaryl, carboxylic acid, ester, or amide;

R 4 is H, OH, C 1 -C 3 alkylcarboxylic acid, ester or amide; and

R 5 is H, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 acyl, or C 1 -C 5 alkylaryl;

or a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof; and

a cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprising an ingredient selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, emulsifiers, emollients, humectants, and fragrances.

9 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein said substituted phenol is selected from the group consisting of 1-hydroxy-3,5-bis(4′-hydroxyl styryl)benzene, 1,3-dihydroxy-4,6-bis-(4′-hydroxyl styryl)benzene, and 1-hydroxy-3,5-bis(3′4′-hydroxyl styryl)benzene.

10 . The composition of claim 8 comprising about 0.001% to about 10% of said substituted phenol.

11 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprises ingredients selected from at least two of the following classes: wetting agents, emulsifiers, emollients, humectants, and fragrances.

12 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprises an emollient and an emulsifier.

13 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprises ingredients selected from at least three of the following classes: wetting agents, emulsifiers, emollients, humectants, and fragrances.

14 . A method of treating human skin, comprising topically applying to said human skin a composition comprising

a substituted phenol of Formula I:

wherein:

A is C 3 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 6 alkenyl, or C 3 -C 6 alkynyl;

R 1 is H, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, or aryl;

R 2 is H, OH, carboxylic acid, COOR 4 , or CONR 4 ;

R 3 is H, C(═O)R 4 , COOR 4 , or CH 2 R 4 ; and

R 4 is C 1 -C 2 alkyl, C 1 -C 2 alkenyl, C 1 -C 2 alkylaryl;

or a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof; and

a cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprising an ingredient selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, emulsifiers, emollients, humectants, and fragrances.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said composition is applied to skin in need of treatment for the signs of aging.

16 . A method of treating human skin, comprising topically applying to said human skin a composition comprising

a substituted phenol of Formula II:

wherein:

R 1 is H, OR 5 , amide, aminoalkyl, or aminoaryl;

R 2 is H or OR 5 ;

R 3 is H, OR 5 , aminoalkyl, aminoaryl, carboxylic acid, ester, or amide;

R 4 is H, OH, C 1 -C 3 alkylcarboxylic acid, ester or amide; and

R 5 is H, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, C 1 -C 5 acyl, or C 1 -C 5 alkylaryl;

or a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof; and

a cosmetically acceptable topical carrier comprising an ingredient selected from the group consisting of wetting agents, emulsifiers, emollients, humectants, and fragrances.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said composition is applied to skin in need of treatment for the signs of aging.