The inventive cosmetic preparation of active substances, as such as well as in combination with other active substances, protects the skin against free radical aggression in a particularly effective manner. The preparation consists of a bark extract of quebracho blanco which contains at least 90 wt. % of proanthocyanidine oligomers, a silkworm extract which contains the peptide cecropine, amino acids and a vitamin mixture, a non-ionic, cationic or anionic hydro-gel, phopholipids, a yeast disintegration product and cyclodextrines. The inventive preparation can contain additional active substances such as plant extracts of acerola, sea weed, citrus, bitter orange, cherry, papaya, tea, coffee beans, skin tree and angelica. The preparations have synergistically increased radical protection factors of up to 10,000. Cosmetic compositions containing said preparations have radical protection factors of between 40 and 400 according to the portion of the preparation.