Compositions including bauhinia, methods of making and using the same in skin anti-aging and other skin applications

A method of improving the appearance of skin or at least one sign of aging in the skin, the method comprising topically applying to the skin a composition in a cosmetically effective amount sufficient to improve the appearance of the skin or the at least one sign of aging in skin, wherein the composition comprises:

• a. an amount of a plant ingredient or plant extract from Bauhinia, individually or in combination with an amount of a plant ingredient or plant extract from Sesamum, the amounts, individually or in combination, effective to improve the appearance of skin or at least one sign of aging in skin;
• and
• b. at least one pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable vehicle.

A method of stimulating or increasing Quinone Reductase activity in a skin cell comprising applying to the skin a composition in a cosmetically effective amount sufficient to stimulate or increase Quinone Reductase activity in the skin, wherein the composition comprises:

• a. a plant ingredient or plant extract from Bauhinia, individually or in combination with an amount of a plant ingredient or plant extract from Sesamum, the amounts, individually or in combination capable of stimulating or increasing Quinone Reductase activity;
• and
• b. at least one pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable vehicle.