This invention relates to certain skin and hair care agents of formula (I), derived from natural amino acids and peptides. These agents provide multi-functional treatment of enzyme-related topical problems, for example, darkened skin including age spots, circles around eyes and stretch marks; skin conditions related to acne including excess facial oil and facial pore size; premature hair aging including hair loss and graying; inflammation including intra-cellular and extra-cellular inflammation; skin aging including wrinkles and fine lines; loss of collagen including thinning skin and loss of skin pliability; malfunction of tyrosinase group of enzymes; malfunction of matrix metalloprotease group of enzymes; and combinations thereof: ##STR00001## Wherein, R, R', and R''=any substituent(s); and M=H, Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Co, Mo, V, Cr, Ammonium, Alkyl ammonium, and Nitrogen Heterocyclic ammonium.