Abstract: Lactic acid and its derivatives such as D-lactic acid, L-lactic acid, DL-lactic acid, and their nonmetallic derivatives and lactates of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal exhibit a strong skin-whitening effect at a concentration of 5 w/w % or higher in pigment cell. The skin-whitening effect is augmented by unsaturated fatty acids having a carbon number of 12-22.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a melanogenic inhibitor and a pigmentation-lightening agent containing the same, more particularly, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a novel melanogenic inhibitor which is obtained by proliferating an established cell line from a warm-blooded animal, homogenizing the proliferated cells and recovering the same from the resultant homogenate, as well as to a pigmentation-lightening agent containing the same.