Patent Picks—Sensory in Personal Care: Oligopeptides to Increase Sensitivity, Mannose-6-phosphate for Anti-redness and More

Chosen biweekly by Rachel Grabenhofer, editor of Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine, for their relevance to personal care, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features recently issued patents related to sensates and feel enhancers in personal care.

Dermatological compositions including oligopeptides for increasing skin sensitivity and neuronal perception
US Patent 7858580
Publication date: Dec. 28, 2010
Assignee: Evonik Goldschmidt GmbH (Essen, DE)

This invention relates to dermatological compositions including at least one oligopeptide with a sequence of 4, 5 or 6 amino acids and/or a derivative thereof as means for increasing the sensitivity of skin, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises the dipeptide sequence Ile-Pro and/or Pro-Ile.

Stable, unctuous w/o emulsion foundation
US Patent 7858104
Publication date: Dec. 28, 2010
Assignee: L'Oreal S.A.

This patent describes a foundation in the form of a w/o emulsion comprising a fatty phase; an aqueous phase; at least one silicone surfacant chosen from C8-C22 alkyl dimethicone copolyols; and at least 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of hydrophobic coated pigments—provided that the composition is free of polyglyceryl-4 isostearate or comprises polyglyceryl-4 isostearate in a quantity such that the weight ratio of the C8-C22 alkyl dimethicone copolyol to the polyglyceryl-4 isostearate is greater than or equal to 2:1, and wherein the foundation composition can exhibit good stability at room temperature and is easy to apply to the skin.

Specifically, the foundation compositions may have good stability at room temperature (25°C), for example, after storage for 4 months, 6 months and even 8 months. In addition, the compositions can be easily applied to the skin with a sensation of unctuousness, softness and non-greasiness; exhibit rapid drying; spread homogeneously on the skin; and exhibit stability of the matte finish over time.

Mechanical treatment of skin using a benefit agent and an apparatus
European Patent Application EP2263580
Publication date: Dec. 22, 2010
Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.

According to this patent, numerous techniques have been proposed to provide cosmetic and/or or skin rejuvenation benefits. One of the more popular, professional microderm abrasion, is a non-invasive procedure in which a device pulls the skin via suction and bombards the skin with abrasive particles to exfoliate the skin. Such microderm abrasion devices, however, occupy a large amount of space and require a high power input. In addition, the patient must make regular visits to the skin care specialist for treatment. This is inconvenient and may be expensive. Furthermore, such devices are reportedly messy and embed the particles into the skin that may be difficult to remove. They also may heat the skin to an uncomfortable temperature and cause excessive irritation to the skin. The present invention relates to a device that imparts benefits to the skin without some or all of the drawbacks of professional microderm abrasion. Disclosed is an apparatus for delivering mechanical energy to an expanse of skin.

Stable cosmetic compositions comprising a self-tanning agent
European Patent EP1481664
Publication date: Dec. 22, 2010
Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company

According to this invention, a variety of cosmetic compositions containing self-tanning agents have been used to create artificial tans, bronzing the skin in a similar fashion as exposure to the sun. These compositions are typically quite unstable, however, which is thought to be due to the highly reactive nature of the self-tanning agents therein. The present invention is directed towards the use of cosmetic compositions comprising a self-tanning agent that have good shelf stability, good application characteristics, and impart excellent skin coloration without the typical and unacceptable orange discoloration often observed.

Self-heating shave gel products
US Patent 7854349
Publication date: Dec. 21, 2010
Assignee: The Gillette Company

Self-heating, post-foaming shave gels and shave gel products are provided in this patent. In some implementations, the shave gels include a non-ionic emulsifier system, e.g., including one or more fatty alcohol ethoxylates. The invention features self-heating post-foaming (or self-foaming) shave gels that are heated after dispensing by an exothermic reaction that occurs when two components of the shave gel that are separated prior to delivery are mixed during or after dispensing. The shave gel composition is divided into two separate components: a) an oxidant component containing a first shave gel base and the oxidizing agent, and b) a reductant component containing a second shave gel base and the reducing agent. Any ingredients that could be easily oxidized by the oxidizing agent during the product shelf life are included in the reductant component.

Anti-skin redness and other uses of mannose-6-phosphate
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/142957
Publication date: Dec. 16, 2010
Assignees: Renovo Limited; Ferguson, Mark; William, James; O'kane, Sharon; Occleston, Nicholas; Nield, Kerry; Mason, Tracey; Bush, James; and Hanak, Julian

This patent discloses the use of mannose-6-phosphate, or a salt, precursor or analogue thereof, for providing and/or maintaining a consistent skin color, particularly to reduce redness of skin. Also provided is the use of mannose-6-phosphate, or a salt, precursor or analogue thereof, as a skin improvement agent and for use in treating skin that has been subject to epidermal and/or dermal damage.

Emulsifier/dispersant for highly liquid w/o emulsion based on partly crosslinked polyglycerol esters of polyhydroxystearic acid
US Patent 7851511
Publication date: Dec. 14, 2010
Assignee: Evonik Goldschmidt GmbH

The present invention relates to polyglycerol partial esters of polyhydroxystearic acid and polyfunctional carboxylic acids that are obtainable by esterification of a polyglycerol mixture with polyhydroxystearic acid, where N=1 to 10 units, and either dimer fatty acids that have been obtained by catalytic dimerization of unsaturated fatty acids having 12 to 22 C atoms and have an average functionality of 2 to 3, or with aliphatic, linear or branched dicarboxylic acids having a chain length of 2 to 16 C atoms and additionally saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched fatty acids having 6 to 22 C atoms, the degree of esterification of the polyglycerol mixture being between 20% and 75%. The present invention also relates to the preparation thereof and their use as w/o emulsifiers in cosmetic or pharmaceutical formulations and as auxiliaries for dispersing inorganic micropigments in oily dispersions.

Temperature-changing wet wipes dispensing system
US Patent 7850041
Publication date: Dec. 14, 2010
Inventors: Amundson, John David; Abuto, Frank P.; Clare, Timothy P.; Foley, Edward John; Winder, Eric Michael; Schmidt, Paul R.; Joseph, Wael R.; and Mcdonald, Duane Lyle

The present disclosure relates to systems for dispensing wet wipes that are capable of changing temperature upon use. In one embodiment, the dispensing system includes a wet wipe container and a lotion container, wherein the wet wipe container contains a lotion that is kept separate from the wet wipes until the wet wipe is dispensed from the wet wipe container. The lotion includes a microencapsulated delivery vehicle that contains a temperature change agent capable of generating a temperature change upon contact with an aqueous solution. Once the wet wipe is dispensed from the system, an applicating device can apply the lotion to the wet wipe to facilitate contact between the temperature change agent in the microencapsulated delivery vehicle and the aqueous solution of the wet wipe.

Metal clad ceramic cosmetic applicator for chilling effect
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/141159
Publication date: Dec. 09, 2010
Assignee: ELC Management LLC and Neuner, Charles P.

This patent describes a cosmetic applicator formed from ceramic material covered in a metal sheath. The tip is designed to provide a product chilling effect when the user applies creams, lotions, treatment products, etc. The applicator is provided with a relatively substantial mass of ceramic material so that it has a greater thermal capacity than the dose of cosmetic and the application area combined. The tip therefore provides a relatively larger product-chilling effect to both the dose of cosmetic applied and to the user's skin in the application area. The applicator also provides a vehicle by which formulations may be activated or enhanced by specific compounds in the ceramic material from which the applicator tip is comprised.

A composition causing different skin sensations
European Patent EP1121927
Publication date: Dec. 8, 2010
Assignee: Takasago International Corp.

The present invention relates to a composition including a cooling sensate, a warming sensate and a tingling-type sensate, which when used in combination, imparts an immediate initial sensation. The initial sensation can best be described as a tingling or a stinging impression, which also enhances the sensation of the other sensates used in the composition. In addition, the composition of the present invention also helps moderate the harsh and stimulative effects of the cooling agents.

Various types of products incorporate ingredients which impart some kind of sensation to the mucous membranes, oral cavity, throat or skin. These ingredients may be used as flavors or fragrances in a wide range of products such as personal care products (perfumes, deodorants, cosmetics, shampoos, skin creams, toothpastes and the like), pharmaceuticals (such as cough syrups, cough drops and the like) and foods (such as chewing gum, soda and the like). For example, ℓ-menthol and 3-(ℓ-menthoxy)propane-1,2-diol are used as active ingredients in products to impart a cooling sensation to the mouth or skin.

In the new sensate of the present invention, Jambu oleoresin is combined with a cooling sensate and a warming sensate to impart an immediate sensation upon contact that also provides an emollient effect on the cooling sensate. The cooling sensate can be a single cooling sensate or a combination of different cooling sensates. The warming sensate can be a single such sensate or a combination thereof. There are no specific limitations to the relative amounts of the compounds of the composition. However, it is preferred that vanillyl butyl ether is used in a relative amount with respect to the cooling agent so that no discernable warming effect occurs. Preferably, vanillyl butyl ether is used on a weight basis, from 1/1000 to 2 times as much as the cooling agent. More preferably, the vanillyl butyl ether is present in the composition from 1/200 to 1 time the amount of the cooling agent on a weight basis.

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