The invention relates to the use of chromen-4-one derivatives of the formula I where R1 and R2 may be identical or different and are selected from H, —C(═O)—R7, —C(═O)—OR7, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, hydroxyalkyl groups and/or cycloalkyl groups and/or cycloalkenyl groups, R3 is H or alkyl groups, R4 is H or OR8, R5 and R6 are selected from —H, —OH, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups, and R7 is H, alkyl groups, a polyhydroxyl compound, such as, preferably, an ascorbic acid radical or glycosidic radicals, and R8 is H or alkyl groups, where at least two of the substituents R1, R2 and R4-R6 are different from H or at least one substituent from R1 and R2 is —C(═O)—R7 or —C(═O)—OR7, for the care, preservation or improvement of the general state of the skin or hair.