Abstract: A skin care composition contains an antioxidant effective amount of a phenolic diterpene compound of the ferruginol type. The compounds can be dissolved, dispersed or encapsulated in cosmetic solutions, lotions, creams and liposomes to provide skin care products which reduce the accumulation of lipid peroxides and other biological oxidation products in the skin. Such compositions are effective agents against the production of peroxides in the skin resulting from sunlight, heat, radiation and the aging process.

Abstract: A skin care composition contains an antioxidant effective amount of a phenolic diterpene compound of the ferruginol type. The compounds can be dissolved, dispersed or encapsulated in cosmetic solutions, lotions, creams and liposomes to provide skin care products which reduce the accumulation of lipid peroxides and other biological oxidation products in the skin. Such compositions are effective agents against the production of peroxides in the skin resulting from sunlight, heat, radiation and the aging process.

Abstract: A process for extracting spice to obtain oleoresin and fractionating the oleoresin into fixed and essential oil components is described. The extraction is performed on the ground spice using supercritical fluid carbon dioxide under a pressure of from about 400 bar to about 600 bar and at a temperature of from about 80.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C. A cascading continuous extraction method is preferred. Oleoresin fractions are precipitated from the supercritical fluid at reduced pressures in the ranges 280-380 bar and 100-200 bar at 80.degree.-100.degree. C., while a last fraction is obtained from the non-critical fluid at a pressure of 30-50 bar and a temperature of 0.degree.-30.degree. C.