Patent Picks—Nude-toned UV Absorption; On-demand Protection; Tight Junction Function; and After-sun Repair

Patent Picks are compiled by the editors from publicly available sources and cover recent patents issued, or applied for, in the cosmetic and personal care industries and relevant peripheral markets. This edition features the latest inventions related to sun protection and after-sun repair.

Sunscreen body wash
U.S. Patent Application 20140086858
Publication date: March 27, 2014
Assignee: Solise LLC

Disclosed in this patent is a body wash composition including sunscreen or UV screening materials. The body wash may be applied during normal hygiene activities; however, the composition applies an effective level of sunscreen or UV screen to provide effective solar protection even after rinsing or washing. Further, the material is a non-greasy, easy to apply material that may be used similar to bar soap or cleanser. The composition includes octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate and titanium dioxide for sun protection, and testing shows the product provides an SPF of approximately 14 even after multiple rinsings. Further embodiments have achieved an SPF of at least ~17.

UV-shielding agent, method, dispersion liquid and cosmetic preparation
U.S. Patent Application 20140086966
Publication date: March 27, 2014
Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.

These inventors have discovered that when resin particles formed by coating a core portion made of: a) any one resin of an organic, UV-absorbent-containing resin; and an inorganic, particle-containing resin; b) with a coating layer made of the other resin or both resins, the UV-shielding effect is enhanced. The resulting agent can be applied to the formulation of o/w aqueous cosmetic preparations and is described for application in a variety of cosmetics such as skin care, makeup and body care cosmetics, particularly for preparations that require UV-shielding, i.e., whitening cosmetics, base and sunscreens. The resin powder is highly transparent, excellent in terms of feel during use, and has an average particle diameter of 0.1 μm to 1 μm. Further, it reduces the chance of recrystallization and dermal irritation.

Silicone compound and photoprotective compositions
U.S. Patent Application 20140086856
Publication date: March 27, 2014
Assignee: Unilever N.V.

This technology relates to silicone compounds that have photoprotective properties and personal care compositions comprising the same. While developing a sunscreen that protects against both UV radiation and visible radiation, these inventors found that when certain moieties generally occurring in nature, i.e., hydroxyanthraquinone, having UV-visible absorption activity are attached to cross-linked silicone polymers, they provide not only the desired photoprotection, but also excellent spreadability on the skin.

Nude-toned UV absorption
European Patent Application EP 2710996
Publication date: March 26, 2014
Assignee: BASF SE

Disclosed herein are cosmetic compositions incorporating micronized and/or soluble UV absorbers and one or more color pigments. Specifically described are particulates having an absorption in the range of 400 to 800 nm, and UV filters selected from particulate organic UV-filters and soluble organic UV filters. Surprisingly, it has been found that the combination of particulate or soluble organic UV filters with one or more color pigments provides cosmetic sunscreen formulations with a hue that corresponds to the natural skin tone, and therefore does not appear unnatural white on the skin.

On-demand, dual-mode UV protection
WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/041362
Publication date: March 20, 2014
Assignee: University of Bath

The present invention relates to a compound, which when exposed to UVA radiation, is cleaved to produce a first compound that is a transition metal-chelating compound, and a second compound that has antioxidant and/or UV-absorbing and/or photostabilizing properties. According to the patent, this invention seeks to address the limitations of existing sunscreens with a single sunscreen component that provides a dual mode of protection, not only protecting against the effects of labile iron with an iron-trapping agent (i.e., iron chelator), but also generating a scavenger of harmful ROS (i.e., antioxidant). Importantly, both these protective effects are triggered upon demand, to provide protection when and where required.

Tight junction modulators
U.S. Patent Application 20140086977
Publication date: March 27, 2014
Assignee: The University of Manchester

Described by this invention is a new therapy aimed at restoring or improving skin's tight junction (TJ) functioning. According to the inventors, aberrant TJ function is characteristic of many chronic skin diseases. In relation, plant polyphenols or flavonoids and cis-Urocanic acid have been found to modulate tight junction structure and function in mammalian keratinocytes. Improving TJ function in skin improves skin hydration and improves skin moisturization, tone and texture.

Natural/synthetic skin-lightening synergy
U.S. Patent Application 20140086860
Publication date: March 27, 2014
Inventors: P Bandyopadhyay, S Jha, SA Vora and A Damodaran

The present invention relates to a skin-lightening composition that derives its activity from the synergy between actives of natural and synthetic origin. The inventors have combined a selective salt of a dicarboxylic acid viz. disodium fumarate, along with a specific extract of a plant source, e.g., Salvia officinalis, rich in certain organic aromatic acids, to provide synergistic skin-lightening benefits.

Calcium citrate, ceramidase inhibitor for anti-aging
U.S. Patent Application 20140086863
Publication date: March 27, 2014
Assignee: Cognis IP Management GmbH

Discussed in this patent are cosmetic compositions comprising calcium citrate and at least one N-acylated aminoalcohol. The composition is used to prevent skin and/or to help to maintain or improve moisture retention and/or to fight against the signs of skin aging. The N-acylated aminoalcohol acts as a ceramidase inhibitor, and its combination with calcium citrate stimulates keratinocyte differentiation.

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