Cosmetic composition for lightening skin and hair

1. A composition comprising the combination of larixol and phenylethyl resorcinol in a ratio by weight of about 20:80 to about 80:20, respectively.

2. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising primary sun protection factors selected from the group consisting of 4-aminobenzoic acid and derivatives, salicylic acid derivatives, benzophenone derivatives, dibenzoylmethane derivatives, diphenyl acrylates, 3-imidazol-4-yl acrylic acid and esters thereof, benzofuran derivatives, benzylidene malonate derivatives, polymeric UV absorbers containing one or more organosilicon radicals, cinnamic acid derivatives, camphor derivatives, trianilino-s-triazine derivatives, 2-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole derivatives, phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid derivatives and salts thereof, anthranilic acid menthyl esters, benzotriazole derivatives and indole derivatives, and mixtures thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising secondary sun protection factors selected from the group consisting of amino acids and derivatives thereof imidazoles and derivatives thereof, D,L-carnosine, D-carnosine, L-carnosine and derivatives thereof, carotinoids, carotenes and derivatives thereof chlorogenic acid and derivatives thereof, liponic acid and derivatives thereof aurothioglueose, propylthiouracil and other thiols, dilaurylthiodipropionate, distearylthiodipropionate, thiodipropionic acid and derivatives thereof sulfoximine compounds, humic acid, bile acid, bile extracts, bilirubin, biliverdin, B.DTA, EGTA and derivatives thereof unsaturated fatty acids and derivatives thereof folic acid and derivatives thereof ubiquinone and ubiquinol and derivatives thereof vitamin C and derivatives thereof, tocopherols and derivatives, coniferyl benzoate of benzoin resin, rutinic acid and derivatives thereof glycosyl rutin, ferulic acid, furfurylidene glucitol, carnosine, butyl hydroxytoluene, butyl hydroxyanisole, nordihydroguaiac resin acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, trihydroxybutyrophenone, uric acid and derivatives thereof mannose and derivatives thereof superoxide dismutase, titanium dioxide, zinc and derivatives thereof selenium and derivatives thereof, stilbenes and derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof.

4. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising antioxidants selected from the group consisting of vitamin A and derivatives, vitamin C and derivatives, tocopherol and derivatives and mixtures thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising anti-inflammatory agents (component b4) are selected from the group consisting of corticosteroids, salicylates acetic acid derivatives, fenamates, propionic acid derivatives, pyrazoles, anthranilic acid derivatives, alpha-bisabolol, apigenin, apigenin-7-gincoside, gingerols, shogaols, gingerdiols, dehydrogingerdiones, paradols, tranilast, avenanthramide A, avenanthramide B, avenanthramide C, boswellic acid, phytosterols, glycyrrhizin, and licochalcone A, allantoin, panthenol, lanolin, (pseudo-) ceramides, glycosphingolipids, phytosterols, chitosan, mannose, lactose, β-glucans, and extracts or fractions from camomile, aloe vera, oats, calendula, arnica , honeysuckle, rosemary, witch hazel, ginger or echinacea , and mixtures thereof.

6. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising desquamating agents selected from the group consisting of sulphonic acids, calcium chelators, ascorbic acid and its derivatives, nicotinamide, urea, (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethane)sulphonic acid (HEPES), β-hydroxy acids, retinoids and mixtures thereof.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein larixol is present in an amount of about 000001 to about 30% b.w.—calculated on the final composition.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the phenylethyl resorcinol is present in an amount of about 0.00001 to about 30% b.w.—calculated on the final composition.

9. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising additional ingredients sun protection factors; antioxidants; anti-inflammatory agents; and desquamation agents, independently from each other are present in an amount of about 0.00001 to about 30% b.w.—calculated on the final composition.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition is selected from the group consisting of a cosmetic composition, a pharmaceutical composition and a dietary supplement composition.

11. A medicament for inhibiting melanin formation in melanocytes or interleukin- (IL-) 1α biosynthesis containing the composition of claim 1 .

12. A non-therapeutical method for lightening skin and hair by applying a working amount of the composition of claim 1 to a human.

13. A preparation comprising the composition of claim 1 wherein the preparation is selected from the group consisting of a foot care, product, an insect repellent, a shaving product, aftershave balm, pre-shave lotion, a dietary supplement, a candy, and a chewing gum.

14. A hair-lightening preparation comprising the composition of claim 1 .

15. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one of the components (b1) to (b5) selected from:

(b1) tyrosinase inhibitors selected from the group consisting of kojic acid, beta- and alpha-arbutin, hydroquinone, nicotinamide, dioic acid, Mg ascorbyl phosphate and vitamin C and its derivatives, mulberry extract, Bengkoang extract, papaya extract, turmeric extract, nutgrass extract, licorice extract containing glycyrrhizin, alpha-hydroxy-acids, 4-alkylresorcinols, 4-hydroxyanisole and mixtures thereof;

(b2) sun protection factors;

(b3) antioxidants

(b4) antiinflammatory agents; and

(b5) desquamating agents.