PURPOSE: To obtain the subject cosmetic excellent in skin whitening effect such as preventing or remedying abnormal pigmentation, and having virtually no side effects with high safety to the skin.
CONSTITUTION: This skin whitening cosmetic contains, as active ingredient, a substituted benzoic acid derivative (salt) of formula I [R1 is H, OH, carboxyl, a lower alkoxyl or lower alkoxycarbonyl; R2 is a (substituted) aralkyl or aryl; R3 is H or a lower alkyl], e.g. 4-benzyloxy-2-hydroxybenzoic acid. If desired, this cosmetic may additionally contain a skin whitening agent, ultraviolet light absorber and/or keratinization-remedying agent. Among compounds of formula I, a compound of formula II (R4 is naphthyl, anthryl, carboxyphenyl, mono- or dihydroxyphenyl, pyridyl or 2,3-ethylenedloxyphenyl; R5 is the same as R1; R6 is OH or a lower alkoxyl; (n) is 1-6), e.g. 4-(4'-hydroxybenzyloxy)-2- hydroxybenzoic acid, is a new compound, esp. excellent in skin whitening activity.
OHASHI YUKIHIRO
NISHIZAWA YOSHINORI
KIMURA MITSUTOSHI
MORIZAKI NAOKO
YADA YUKIHIRO
IMOKAWA GENJI
