A method for treating skin, reducing oxidative damage to a skin cell, reducinglipoxygenase (LO) activity in a skincell, reducing cyclooxygenase (COX) activity in a skin cell, reducing tumornecrosis factor alpha (TNF-.alpha.) in a skin cell, orreduction matrix metalloproteinase enzyme activity in a skin cell comprisingcontacting skin or a skin cell with an aromatic skin-activeingredient.