PURPOSE: To provide the subject cosmetic containing an extract of a natural material, exhibiting an excellent whitening effect in combination with a preventive effect on senescence of the skin and excellent in safety and stability.
CONSTITUTION: The objective cosmetic for whitening the skin or preventing senescence of the skin can be obtained by extracting stems, rhizomes, leaves, flowers, etc., of an Asparagus with a suitable solvent, preferably water or an aqueous solvent, especially water, ethyl alcohol, glycerin or 1,3-butylene glycol at room temperature or with heating and mixing the resultant Asparagus extract as the essential component preferably in an amount of 0.0001 to 10.0wt.%, especially 0.01 to 5.0wt.% on dry solid matter base in the cosmetic. The obtained cosmetic is excellent in whitening effect and, therefore, widely useful, e.g. for improving and preventing blacking of the skin due to sunburn, a spot or a freckle. Further, the above-mentioned cosmetic is excellent in prevention of senescence of the skin and can be used without anxiety because of its stability and its safety.
Minoru Takahashi
Suzuki Masayuki
DOWA MINING CO.,LTD.