1. A method of lightening the skin, comprising applying to the skin an effective amount of the skin lightening extract selected from the group consisting of Paulownia tomentosa wood extract, Paulownia fortunei wood extract, Paulownia elongata wood extract, Paulownia kawakamii wood extract and combinations of two or more of them. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said extract is a polar extract. The method of claim 2, wherein said polar extract is extracted using one or more solvents containing C-C alcohols, C1-C8 glycols, or a combination of two or more of them. The method of claim 2, wherein said polar extract is extracted using one or more solvents containing ethanol, methanol, or a combination thereof. The method according to claim 2, wherein said extract was extracted using a solvent having a dielectric constant of from about 4 to about 60 at 20 ° C. The method of claim 1, wherein said extract is a non-polar extract. The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises applying to the skin in need of lightening an extract in an amount of from more than zero to about 20%. The method according to claim 1, wherein said application step comprises applying to the skin in need of lightening an extract in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 5%. The method of claim 1, wherein said extract is a polar wood extract of Paulownia tomentosa. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said extract is a polar wood extract of Paulownia tomentosa. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said application step comprises applying to the skin a comp1. Способ осветления кожи, включающий нанесение на кожу эффективного для осветления кожи количества экстракта, выбранного из группы, состоящей из экстракта древесины Paulownia tomentosa, экстракта древесины Paulownia fortunei, экстракта древесины Paulownia elongata, экстракта древесины Paulownia kawakamii и комбинаций двух или более из них.2. Способ по п. 1, в котором указанный экстракт представляет собой полярный экстракт.3. Спос
