Hydroxytyrosol derivative compositions, methods for their manufacture, and their use in personal care products are disclosed. Lipophilic hydroxytyrosol carbonate ester compound can be made by oxidizing a substituted hydroxybenzaldehyde compound with an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide under mild conditions. The process involves enzymatic esterification of 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenol to form the corresponding ester, the introduction of a formyl group ortho to the phenolic hydroxyl group of the ester to form a lipophilic formyltyrosol ester oxidation of the lipophilic formyltyrosol ester with a peroxide compound to form a lipophilic hydroxytyrosol ester compound and reaction of lipophilic hydroxytyrosol ester compound with carbonic acid ester derivatives to form a lipophilic hydroxytyrosol carbonic ester compound. These compounds are useful is a wide variety of personal care compositions as anti-aging compounds that are stable against oxidation.
