A whitening embellisher includes, as an active ingredient, teprenone (chemical name: geranylgeranylacetone). A whitening and beautifying composition includes teprenone and one or more substances selected from kojic acid, L-ascorbic acid and the like. The whitening embellisher, and whitening and beautifying composition prevent the skin from pigmenting and darkening due to sunburn and/or aging, and quicken fading, and hence make spots and freckles inconspicuous when the preparations are used for external application as a cream or milky lotion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1 Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a whitening embellisher which inhibits the 
production of melanin in the epithelia and the like, and more specifically 
to whitening embellishers suitable for external application and use in a 
bath. 
2 Description of the Related Art 
The whiteness and transparency of the skin have traditionally been basic 
requirements for polished beauty in Japan. In recent years, the 
development of some excellent materials has brought about common use of 
cosmetic preparations which directly act on the biosynthetic mechanism of 
melanin. For example, as compounds having an action to inhibit the 
activity of an oxidase, tyrosinase which promotes a melanin synthesis from 
tyrosin through dopachrom, there may be mentioned kojic acid, L-ascorbic 
acid and derivative thereof, various sulfur compounds, and the like. In 
addition, as a compound having an action to inhibit the synthesis of 
tyrosinase, there may be mentioned arbutin. 
Common defects of these compounds are that since their actions themselves 
are mild, a continuous application for about 1 month is required to 
actually feel their effects, and from the viewpoint of their physical 
properties, they are highly soluble in water, tend to undergo oxidative 
decomposition and discoloration, and encounter difficulties upon providing 
stable preparations. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide preparations 
suitable for external application and use in a bath, which prevent the 
formation of melanin in the skin or the like and whiten the skin. 
Another object is to more enhance and accelerate the development of the 
whitening and beautifying effect exhibited by kojic acid, L-ascorbic acid 
or the like. 
The present inventors have noticed that teprenone has actions of, for 
example, protecting and repairing the mucous membrane, multiplying and 
activating cells, and accelerating the synthesis of phospholipids and 
combines extremely high stability with preferred natures from the 
viewpoint of physical properties, and hence have carried out an extensive 
investigation of teprenone in an experimental system making use of 
cultured cells. As a result, it has been found that teprenone which has 
been widely used as a remedy for gastric ulcer or gastritis to date 
surprisingly has an action to strongly inhibit the biosynthesis of 
tyrosinase. 
The present inventors have conducted a further extensive investigation of 
teprenone. As a result, it has been found that teprenone develops a still 
stronger whitening and beautifying action by a synergism with the 
conventionally-known substance having a whitening and beautifying action, 
such as kojic acid or L-ascorbic acid. 
The present invention has been completed on the basis of these findings. 
In an aspect of the present invention, there is thus provided a whitening 
embellisher comprising, as an active ingredient, teprenone. 
The whitening embellisher may preferably be a preparation suitable for 
external application or use in a bath, which has an action to whiten and 
beautify the skin. 
In another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a 
whitening and beautifying composition comprising (1) teprenone and (2) one 
or more substances selected from kojic acid, L-ascorbic acid and arbutin, 
and derivatives thereof and having a whitening and beautifying action. 
The whitening and beautifying composition of the present invention means a 
whitening and beautifying preparation suitable for external application, 
use in a bath, or the like. 
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily 
appreciated from the preferred embodiments of the present invention, which 
will be described subsequently in detail. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Teprenone useful in the practice of the present invention is a compound 
represented by the following structural formula: 
##STR1## 
and having geranylgeranylacetone as its chemical name. 
In the whitening embellisher according to the present invention, the amount 
of teprenone to be used can not be absolutely specified because it varies 
according to the form of preparation. However, it is generally 0.1-20 wt. 
%, preferably 0.5-10 wt. %, more preferably 1.0-10 wt. % based on the 
whole weight of the whitening embellisher. 
The composition according to the present invention is characterized by the 
fact that teprenone is mixed with one or more substances selected from 
kojic acid, L-ascorbic acid, arbutin and chemical derivatives thereof. 
Among the latter substances, kojic acid or L-ascorbic acid is a 
particularly preferred compound. 
In the composition according to the present invention, the amount of 
teprenone to be used can not be absolutely specified because it varies 
according to the form of preparation. However, it is generally 0.1-20 wt. 
%, preferably 0.5-10 wt. %, more preferably 1.0-10 wt. % based on the 
whole weight of the composition. 
In the composition of the present invention, the amount of kojic acid, 
L-ascorbic acid, arbutin and/or a chemical derivative thereof to be used 
is generally 0.1-20 wt. %, preferably 0.5-10 wt. %, more preferably 1.0-10 
wt. % based on the whole weight of the composition. 
No particular limitation is imposed on the forms of the whitening 
embellisher and whitening and beautifying composition according to the 
present invention. They can be formulated in desired forms including 
cream, ointment, lotion, milky lotion, plasters, etc. No specific 
limitation is also imposed on the forms of preparations for a bath 
according to the present invention. They may be formulated into the 
conventionally-used forms. As base materials for these preparations, there 
may be used a wide variety of materials used conventionally in cosmetics, 
quasi-drugs, drugs and the like. The formulation of such whitening and 
beautifying preparations for external application or for a bath may follow 
the generally-performed production processes for cosmetics. 
As exemplary base materials usable in the present invention, there may be 
mentioned known materials such as animal and vegetable oils, mineral oils, 
ester oils, waxes, higher alcohols, fatty acids, silicone oils, 
surfactants, phospholipids, alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, water-soluble 
polymers, clay minerals and purified water. Further, pH regulator, 
antioxidants, chelating agents, antiseptic and mildewproofing agents, 
coloring matter, perfume bases, and the like may be added suitably as 
needed. In addition, other active ingredients having a whitening and 
beautifying action or skin-beautifying action, blood 
circulation-facilitating agents, disinfectants, antiphlogistics, cell 
activators, vitamins, amino acids, moisturizers, keratolytics and the like 
may also be incorporated. 
The external whitening embellisher according to the present invention may 
be used as cosmetics, and also as drugs. 
The external preparation containing teprenone and having a whitening and 
beautifying action according to the present invention can be formulated in 
accordance with any process conventionally used. For example, in order to 
formulate a cream preparation, squalane, isopropyl myristate, cetostearyl 
alcohol, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate and the like are mixed 
with teprenone while heating them to about 80.degree. C. to form an oil 
phase. On the other hand, glycerol and/or the like is dissolved in 
purified water, and the resulting solution is heated to about 80.degree. 
C. to form an aqueous phase. The thus-formed aqueous phase is added to the 
oil phase under stirring. The resultant mixture is emulsified by a 
high-speed emulsifier and then cooled to room temperature, thereby 
permitting the provision of the cream preparation containing teprenone 
therein. 
The whitening and beautifying preparation suitable for use in a bath 
according to the present invention means a preparation which can be 
dissolved in hot water in a bathtub upon bathing to use it, and can be 
provided as tablets, granules, powder, liquid or the like. It can be 
formulated according to any process generally used. It is however 
essential to add a surfactant because teprenone is insoluble in water. 
The effect of the whitening and beautifying preparation suitable for 
external application or use in a bath is considered to be attributed to 
the fact that the preparation inhibits the biosynthesis of tyrosinase in 
pigment cells. As described in the following experimental examples, this 
is suggested from the fact that the external application of the compound 
according to the present invention reduces the amount of melanin without 
exhibiting any cytotoxicity. 
More specifically, teprenone did not exhibit any action to inhibit the 
enzyme activity on an enzyme, tyrosinase, derived from mushroom even in a 
concentration of 0.01-0.1%. On the other hand, with respect to its effect 
to restrain the production of melanin on B16 melanoma cells derived from a 
mouse, it was recognized that the production of melanin is restrained by 
85%, 80% and 70%, respectively, in sample concentrations of 
1.times.10.sup.-4 %, 2.times.10.sup.-4 % and 3.times.10.sup.-4 % to 
control. In this experiment, the amount of proteins in the B16 melanoma 
cells did not change, the amount of mitochondria tended to increase, and 
no cytotoxicity was recognized in these sample concentrations. The amount 
of tyrosinase in the B16 melanoma cells in each culture system added with 
teprenone was determined by SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate 
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). As a result, it was found that the 
amount of tyrosinase is decreased in proportion to the concentration of 
teprenone added. When the B16 melanoma cells in which the amount of 
melanin had been restrained by the addition of teprenone were cultured 
again in a system containing no teprenone, the amount of melanin in the 
cells was greatly increased. Therefore, it has also been confirmed that 
this inhibiting action is a reversible inhibiting action. 
A detailed knowledge relating to the action mechanisms as to the inhibition 
of the synthesis of a tyrosinase enzyme group by teprenone used in the 
preparations according to the present invention and the restraint of 
melanin production owing to this inhibition is unapparent at present. 
Teprenone according to the present invention is however considered to act 
like a scavenger on active enzymes and radical products, which serve as 
inducers for tyrosinase in pigment cells. 
The whitening and beautifying composition according to the present 
invention is considered to develop its effect owing to the synergism of 
teprenone with other substance having a whitening and beautifying action, 
such as kojic acid or L-ascorbic acid. The reason is considered to be that 
the action of kojic acid or L-ascorbic acid resides in inhibiting the 
activity of tyrosinase, and the action of teprenone resides in inhibiting 
the synthesis of tyrosinase. More specifically, since teprenone inhibits 
the synthesis of tyrosinase, the amount of tyrosinase in cells is 
decreased, and moreover the activity of the tyrosinase produced is 
inhibited by kojic acid or L-ascorbic acid. It is therefore inferred that 
both compounds would strongly inhibit the synthesis of melanin. 
How far the combined use of teprenone with the whitening and beautifying 
material already known, which is an object of the whitening and 
beautifying composition according to the present invention, raises the 
limit of potency of the known material is demonstrated by an experiment. 
Namely, when B16 melanoma cells derived from a mouse were cultured for 5 
days in a medium added with kojic acid in an amount of 0.01-0.03%, the 
amount of melanin was reduced to 98-80% compared with the control culture 
cells, while the amount of melanin in the melanoma cells in a culture 
system added further with 1.times.10.sup.-4 -3.times.10.sup.-4 % (1-3 ppm) 
of teprenone was decreased to 65-63%. When arbutin is used for attaining 
the same effect of the combined use as kojic acid, it is essential to add 
arbutin in a concentration of 1.times.10.sup.-3 -3.times.10.sup.-3 % 
(10-30 ppm). 
It has thus been confirmed that the combined use of teprenone according to 
the present invention with the already known material is excellent in 
effectiveness. This is attributed to the fact that teprenone according to 
the present invention is an inhibitor against the synthesis of tyrosinase, 
which has a unique feature from the viewpoint of physical properties and 
also of action mechanism. 
As described above, the whitening embellisher, and whitening and 
beautifying composition according to the present invention have an action 
to strongly inhibit the production of melanin in the epithelia. Therefore, 
the color of spot portions caused by abnormal pigmentation can be 
lightened quickly, the pigmentation due to sunburn can be prevented 
highly, and the pigmentation caused by sunburn can be faded more quickly 
by using them after the sunburn.

The present invention will hereinafter be described more specifically by 
the following examples and utility tests. It should however be borne in 
mind that the present invention is not limited to these examples only. 
Example 1 
Cream containing 1% of teprenone 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Raw material Proportion (wt. %) 
______________________________________ 
1) Teprenone 1.0 
2) Squalane 10.0 
3) Isopropyl myristate 
7.0 
4) Behenyl alcohol 1.0 
5) Cetostearyl alcohol 
5.5 
6) Glycerol monostearate 
2.0 
7) d-.alpha.-Tocopherol 
0.05 
8) POE (20) sorbitan monostearate 
2.0 
9) Xanthan gum 0.1 
10) 1,3-Butylene glycol 
2.0 
11) Glycerol 3.0 
12) Sorbitol 5.0 
13) Paraben 0.2 
14) Purified water To 100.0 .sup. 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Preparation process&gt; 
Raw materials 1-8 were weighed out and heated to 80.degree.-90.degree. C. 
into a solution, thereby providing an oil phase. Raw materials 9 and 10 
were mixed with each other, and raw materials 11-14 were added thereto. 
The resulting mixture was heated to 80.degree.-90.degree. C. and stirred 
into a solution, thereby providing an aqueous phase. The oil phase was 
added to the aqueous phase under stirring to emulsify them by a homomixer. 
The resulting emulsion was then cooled to room temperature under stirring, 
thereby obtaining a cream containing 1% of teprenone. 
Example 2 
Ointment containing 3% of teprenone 
TABLE 2 
______________________________________ 
Raw material Proportion (wt. %) 
______________________________________ 
1) Teprenone 3.0 
2) PLASTIBASE 50W 
97.0 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Preparation process&gt; 
Raw material 1 was weighed out, and raw material 2 was gradually added 
thereto under stirring or kneading. The resulting mixture was thoroughly 
kneaded to obtain an ointment containing 3% of teprenone as an intimate 
mixture. Example 3: Lotion containing 0.5% of teprenone 
TABLE 3 
______________________________________ 
Raw material Amount formulated 
______________________________________ 
1) Teprenone 0.5 g 
2) Purified soybean lecithin 
0.7 g 
3) Ethanol 10.0 ml 
4) d-.alpha.-Tocopherol 
0.02 g 
5) Propylene glycol 
3.0 g 
6) Xanthan gum 0.1 g 
7) Paraben 0.1 g 
8) Purified water To 100.0 ml 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Preparation process&gt; 
Raw materials 6 and 7 were mixed with raw material 5, and 40 ml of purified 
water was added to the mixture. The resultant mixture was heated to 
85.degree. C. and stirred into a solution. The resulting solution was then 
cooled to room temperature. Raw materials 1-4 were mixed with each other, 
and the resulting mixture was heated to 60.degree. C. into a solution. The 
thus-formed solution was added to 40 ml of purified water under stirring 
to prepare an emulsion. The aqueous solution previously prepared was mixed 
with the emulsion, and the resulting mixture was added with purified water 
to 100 ml, thereby obtaining a lotion containing 0.5% of teprenone. 
Example 4 
Bath preparation 
TABLE 4 
______________________________________ 
Raw material Amount formulated 
______________________________________ 
1) Sodium sulfate 69.2 g 
2) Sodium hydrogencarbonate 
24.0 g 
3) Sodium chloride 4.0 g 
4) Teprenone 1.0 g 
5) Polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil 
0.8 g 
6) Perfume base 1.0 g 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Preparation process&gt; 
The above-described compounds were intimately mixed with each other to 
obtain a bath preparation containing teprenone. 
Comparative Example 1 
Comparative Example 1 was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 in 
accordance with the following formulation: 
TABLE 5 
______________________________________ 
Raw material Proportion (wt. %) 
______________________________________ 
1) Squalane 10.0 
2) Isopropyl myristate 
7.0 
3) Behenyl alcohol 1.0 
4) Cetostearyl alcohol 
5.5 
5) Glycerol monostearate 
2.0 
6) d-.alpha.-Tocopherol 
0.05 
7) POE (20) sorbitan monostearate 
2.0 
8) Xanthan gum 0.1 
9) 1,3-Butylene glycol 
2.0 
10) Glycerol 3.0 
11) Sorbitol 5.0 
12) Paraben 0.2 
13) Disodium hydrogenphosphate 
Proper amount 
14) Purified water To 100.0 .sup. 
______________________________________ 
Utility Test 1 
&lt;Testing method&gt; 
The two preparations obtained in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were 
tested in the following manner. Namely, 19 women of 22-49 years of age 
were chosen as panelists. Proper amounts of the preparations were coated 
on the face and 4 portions of the forearms of each panelist after washing 
the face twice in the morning and evening every day each for 3 weeks and 
over 6 weeks in total to evaluate their effects as a whitening embellisher 
both in accordance with the following standard and by a color difference 
meter. Incidentally, this test was conducted by a blind test in which the 
panelists were left uninformed of the formulations of the samples. 
&lt;Standard&gt; 
+: Spots and freckles became inconspicuous; 
.+-.: Spots and freckles became scarcely conspicuous; 
-: Not changed. 
&lt;Results of test&gt; 
With respect to each panelist, the lightness of the skin at the portions of 
the forearms before and after the use of each preparation were measured by 
a color difference meter, and the effect on the spots and freckles on the 
face was observed. The results shown in the following Table 6 were 
obtained. 
TABLE 6 
______________________________________ 
Lightness of skin 
Whitening and 
YI (Average 
Whitening and 
value of color 
beautifying difference) 
effect Before After 
Sample + .+-. - coating 
coating 
______________________________________ 
Example 1 11 7 1 58.3 47.7 
Comparative 
0 2 17 62.5 60.5 
Example 1 
______________________________________ 
As apparent from these results, the cosmetic preparation according to the 
present invention is excellent in whitening and beautifying effect and is 
effective in preventing and improving the blackening and darkening of the 
skin, spots, and freckles, which are caused by sunburn, aging and/or the 
like. 
Example 5 
Teprenone cream containing 1% of L-ascorbic acid 
TABLE 7 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Formulation&gt; 
Raw material Proportion (wt. %) 
______________________________________ 
1) Teprenone 1.0 
2) L-Ascorbic acid 1.0 
3) Squalane 10.0 
4) Isopropyl myristate 
7.0 
5) Behenyl alcohol 1.0 
6) Cetostearyl alcohol 
5.5 
7) Glycerol monostearate 
2.0 
8) d-.alpha.-Tocopherol 
0.05 
9) POE (20) sorbitan monostearate 
2.0 
10) Xanthan gum 0.1 
11) 1,3-Butylene glycol 
2.0 
12) Glycerol 3.0 
13) Sorbitol 5.0 
14) Paraben 0.2 
15) Disodium hydrogenphosphate 
Proper amount 
16) Purified water To 100.0 .sup. 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Preparation process&gt; 
Raw materials 1 and 3-9 were weighed out and heated to 
80.degree.-90.degree. C. into a solution, thereby providing an oil phase. 
Raw materials 10 and 11 were mixed with each other, and raw materials 
12-14 and 16 were added thereto. The resulting mixture was heated to 
80.degree.-90.degree. C. and stirred into a solution, thereby providing an 
aqueous phase. The thus-obtained aqueous phase was added with raw 
materials 2 and 15. The oil phase was added to the aqueous phase under 
stirring to emulsify them by a homomixer. The resulting emulsion was then 
cooled to room temperature under stirring, thereby obtaining a cream 
containing 1% of teprenone and 1% of L-ascorbic acid. 
Example 6 
Teprenone cream containing 1% of Kojic acid 
TABLE 8 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Formulation&gt; 
Raw material Proportion (wt. %) 
______________________________________ 
1) Teprenone 1.0 
2) Kojic acid 1.0 
3) Squalane 10.0 
4) Isopropyl myristate 
7.0 
5) Behenyl alcohol 1.0 
6) Cetostearyl alcohol 
5.5 
7) Glycerol monostearate 
2.0 
8) d-.alpha.-Tocopherol 
0.05 
9) POE (20) sorbitan monostearate 
2.0 
10) Xanthan gum 0.1 
11) 1,3-Butylene glycol 
2.0 
12) Glycerol 3.0 
13) Sorbitol 5.0 
14) Paraben 0.2 
15) Purified water To 100.0 .sup. 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Preparation process&gt; 
Raw materials 1 and 3-9 were weighed out and heated to 
80.degree.-90.degree. C. into a solution, thereby providing an oil phase. 
Raw materials 10 and 11 were mixed with each other, and raw materials 
12-15 were added thereto. The resulting mixture was heated to 
80.degree.-90.degree. C. and stirred into a solution, thereby providing an 
aqueous phase. The thus-obtained aqueous phase was added with raw material 
2. The oil phase was added to the aqueous phase under stirring to emulsify 
them by a homomixer. The resulting emulsion was then cooled to room 
temperature under stirring, thereby obtaining a cream containing 1% of 
teprenone and 1% of kojic acid. 
Example 7 
Teprenone bath preparation containing 1.0% of L-ascorbic acid 
TABLE 9 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Formulation&gt; 
Raw material Proportion (wt. %) 
______________________________________ 
1) Sodium sulfate 69.2 
2) Sodium hydrogencarbonate 
24.0 
3) Sodium chloride 3.0 
4) Teprenone 1.0 
5) L-Ascorbic acid 1.0 
6) Polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil 
0.8 
7) Perfume base 1.0 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Preparation process&gt; 
The above-described composition was intimately mixed to obtain an 
L-ascorbic acid-containing teprenone preparation suitable for use in a 
bath. 
Example 8 
Teprenone cream containing 1% of d-.delta.-tocopherol 
TABLE 10 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Formulation&gt; 
Raw material Proportion (wt. %) 
______________________________________ 
1) Teprenone 1.0 
2) d-.delta.-Tocopherol 
1.0 
3) Squalane 10.0 
4) Isopropyl myristate 
7.0 
5) Behenyl alcohol 1.0 
6) Cetostearyl alcohol 
5.5 
7) Glycerol monostearate 
2.0 
8) POE (20) sorbitan monostearate 
2.0 
9) Xanthan gum 0.1 
10) 1,3-Butylene glycol 
2.0 
11) Glycerol 3.0 
12) Sorbitol 5.0 
13) Paraben 0.2 
14) Purified water To 100.0 .sup. 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Preparation process&gt; 
Raw materials 1-8 were weighed out and heated to 80.degree.-90.degree. C. 
into a solution, thereby providing an oil phase. Raw materials 9 and 10 
were mixed with each other, and raw materials 11-14 were added thereto. 
The resulting mixture was heated to 80.degree.-90.degree. C. and stirred 
into a solution, thereby providing an aqueous phase. The oil phase was 
added to the aqueous phase under stirring to emulsify them by a homomixer. 
The resulting emulsion was then cooled to room temperature under stirring, 
thereby obtaining a cream containing 1% of teprenone and 1% of 
d-.delta.-tocopherol. Comparative Examples 2-5: 
Comparative Examples 2-5 were performed in the same manner as in Examples 
5-6 in accordance with their corresponding formulations shown in the 
following Table 11: 
TABLE 11 
______________________________________ 
&lt;Formulation&gt; 
Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. 
Raw material Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 
______________________________________ 
L-Ascorbic acid -- 1.0 -- -- 
Kojic acid -- -- 1.0 -- 
Teprenone -- -- -- 1.0 
Squalane 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 
Isopropyl myristate 
7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 
Behenyl alcohol 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 
Cetostearyl alcohol 
5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 
Glycerol monostearate 
2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 
d-.alpha.-Tocopherol 
0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 
Sorbitan fatty acid ester 
2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 
Xanthan gum 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
1,3-Butylene glycol 
2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 
Glycerol 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 
Sorbitol 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 
Paraben 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
Disodium hydrogenphosphate 
-- Proper -- -- 
amount 
Purified water To 100 To 100 To 100 
To 100 
______________________________________ 
Utility Test 2 
&lt;Testing method&gt; 
The six preparations obtained in Examples 5-6 and Comparative Examples 2-5 
were tested in the following manner. Namely, 19 women of 22-49 years of 
age were chosen as panelists. Proper amounts of the preparations were 
coated on the face and 6 portions of the forearms of each panelist after 
washing the face twice in the morning and afternoon every day each for 3 
weeks and over 18 weeks in total to evaluate their effects as a whitening 
embellisher both in accordance with the following standard and by a color 
difference meter. 
&lt;Standard&gt; 
+: Spots and freckles became inconspicuous; 
.+-.: Spots and freckles became scarcely conspicuous; 
-: Not changed. 
&lt;Results of test&gt; 
The six creams prepared in accordance with the formulations of Examples 5-6 
and Comparative Examples 2-5 were separately applied to the 19 panelists 
by a blind test in which the panelists were left uninformed of the 
formulations of the samples. With respect to each panelist, each 
preparation was used twice a day for 3 weeks, and the lightness of the 
skin at the portions of the forearms before and after the use of the 
preparation were measured by a color difference meter. Further, the effect 
on the spots and freckles on the face was observed. The results shown in 
the following Table 12 were obtained. 
TABLE 12 
______________________________________ 
Lightness of skin YI 
Whitening and 
(Average value of 
beautifying 
color difference) 
effect Before After Improvement 
Sample + .+-. - coating 
coating 
degree (%) 
______________________________________ 
Example 5 
13 6 0 59.8 47.1 21.2 
Example 6 
16 2 1 59.2 43.0 27.4 
Comparative 
0 2 17 62.5 60.5 3.2 
Example 2 
Comparative 
5 6 8 61.3 55.4 9.6 
Example 3 
Comparative 
8 5 6 60.9 49.8 18.2 
Example 4 
Comparative 
11 7 1 58.3 47.7 18.2 
Example 5 
______________________________________ 
##STR2## 
As apparent from Table 12, the cosmetic preparations according to the 
present invention, which have been obtained in Example 5-6, are far more 
excellent in whitening and beautifying effect and are effective in 
preventing and improving the blackening and darkening of the skin, spots, 
and freckles, which are caused by sunburn, aging and/or the like.