The present invention is in the field of personal care compositions； in particular skin lightening compositions. It is believed that niacinamide reduces the melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes thereby bringing about skin lightening. However, niacinamide is known to have little or no effect directly on the melanin content in the melanocytes. Thus a composition with multiple modes of action, that combines the reduction of melanosome transfer and the reduction of melanin content in the melanocytes remains to be desired. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a composition with synergistic amounts of picolinamide and niacinamide, providing improved melanosome transfer inhibition. It has been found that a synergistic skin lightening effect is obtained when niacinamide is combined with its isomer, picolinamide.
