Patent Picks—Lightening, Substantivity, Flavonoids and More in Skin Care

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 skin care.

Ampholyte polymers to treat keratin substrates
US Patent RE42025
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: Nalco Company

This patent discloses novel conditioning polymers containing (meth) acrylamidopropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, meth (acrylic acid) or 2-(meth)acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and optionally, a C1-C22 alkyl (meth) acrylate for the treatment of keratin-containing substrates. According to the patent, the instant ampholyte polymers and polymer compositions condition and improve the skin and nails.

Polyquaternary alkyl polymers to condition hair, skin
US Patent 7868208
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: Surfatech Corp.

The present invention relates to a novel class of polymeric compounds having specific highly cross-linked cationic or amphoteric structure. These products are reportedly produced without free radical monomers and are based upon an alkyl diamine that has been reacted to produce a di-tertiary amine compound. The diamine has alkyl groups present that are said to contribute hydrophobicity to the molecule and, once cross-linked, to provide outstanding benefits vis-à-vis conditioning and softening to the hair and skin.

Cellulose ethers for optimized viscosity, good substantivity
US Patent 7868164
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Technology Corp.

This patent describes a cellulose ether that provides hair or skin care compositions with an optimized viscosity and/or good substantivity. A preferred embodiment describes cellulose ethers that are useful for preparing hair care compositions with good wet and dry combability and/or good wet and dry feel. Another preferred object of the present invention to provide new cellulose ether derivatives for preparing skin care embodiment comprises a moisturizing agent, particularly for preparing skin care compositions that leaves a high level of moisturizing agent such as sunflower seed oil on the skin.

Acne treatment using 0.3% w/w 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthoic acid
US Patent 7868044
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: Galderma Research and Development

This patent discloses a method for treating acne involving the administration of a topically applied aqueous gel consisting essentially of an effective amount of 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthanoic acid (adapalene) at 0.3% w/w, wherein adapalene is the only active anti-acne ingredient in the composition. Further, the aqueous gel medium comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of: carbomers, polymeric emulsifying agents, polysaccharidic biopolymers, gums, alginates, modified celluloses, starch derived products, polysorbate 80 (and) isohexadecane (and) acrylamide/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate, and mixtures thereof.

Oxidized flavonoid derivatives for skin protection, anti-aging 
US Patent 7867993
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH

The invention relates to cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical compositions or food supplements comprising at least one oxidized flavonoid derivative, and to novel uses of the oxidized flavonoid derivatives. The object of the invention is to provide an antioxidatively active composition in which the active has adequate solubility so that it may be present in the composition in the concentration necessary for the strength of action desired in each case, and/or which has a protective action against UV rays and/or counters skin aging.

Composition for washing keratin materials comprising a magnesium salt anionic surfactant
US Patent 7867969
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: L'Oreal S.A.

Disclosed in this patent is an improved cosmetic composition for washing keratin materials such as the hair and/or the skin comprising an original combination of at least one surfactant and at least one polymer. The composition includes at least two different anionic surfactants, at least one amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant, at least one oxyethylenated sorbitan ester, and at least one polymer chosen from cationic polymers and amphoteric or zwitterionic polymers. In addition, a cosmetic treatment process using such a cosmetic composition is disclosed.

Mono-, di- and polyol phosphate esters for skin benefits
US Patent 7867963
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: Rhodia Inc.

This invention uses mono-, di- and polyol phosphate esters, e.g. PEG phosphate esters, PPG phosphate esters, and glycerin phosphate esters, to provide multiple benefits to typical personal care formulations. These molecules are adsorbed onto the skin from a formulation as they are applied and render many various benefits. The concentrations in which they may be used can vary depending on the intended purpose and the amount of benefit desired. A hydrophilized personal care formulation is described that can be in the form of a hand or body soap (liquid or bar), lipstick, body wash, makeup remover, skin cleaner, hair conditioner, skin or hair moisturizer.

Two-phase, striped liquid cleansing article comprising a high internal phase emulsion
US Patent 7867962
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company

This patent describes two-phase personal cleansing compositions including a cleansing phase containing surfactant and water, and a separate benefit phase comprising at least one high internal phase emulsion. Within this invention, the cleansing and benefit phases are packaged together and are in physical contact. The described compositions and corresponding methods reportedly improve cosmetics, skin feel, and/or skin benefit efficacy.

Wash composition for excellent foam, washing power
US Patent 7867961
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc. 

This invention describes a wash composition comprising an N-long-chain-acyl amino acid and/or its salt, especially an N-long-chain-acyl neutral amino acid and/or its salt, and hydroxypropyl starch phosphate to provide excellent foam properties, washing power and feel upon use. Further, the wash composition includes a fatty acid to improve foaming speed and an acyl acidic amino acid ester to provide a moisturized feeling after drying.

Guanidine for physiological strengthening in cosmetic preparations, nutritional supplements, animal feed additives and plant stimulants
US Patent 7867948
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: Alzchem Trostberg GmbH

This patent dicloses guanidine compounds or their salts, especially creatinol, creatinol-O-phosphate or one of their salts, with aspartic acid, ascorbic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, acetic acid or phosphoric acid. These compounds serve as physiological strengthening agents in the form of nutritional supplements, feed additives or in cosmetic preparations in the non-medicinal field.

Goya (Momordica charantia) and pine extract for skin lightening
US Patent 7867527
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: Conopco, Inc.

The present patent discloses skin lightening composition designed to reduce dark melanin and/or increase the ratio of light melanin to dark melanin production. The composition includes goya (Momordica charantia), also known as bitter melon, or an extract thereof, and pine bark extract, preferably from French maritime pine (Pinus pinatus). One such preferred extract is available commercially as Pycnogenol.

The compositions described may be provided in forms for topical and/or systemic administration. For example, both the goya and pine bark extract may be dosed systemically, or both topically, or one may be dosed systemically and the other topically. Preferably, where the goya and pine bark extract are provided in separate dosage forms, the dosage form comprising the pine bark extract lacks goya, and vice-versa.

Method of wound/burn healing using copper-zinc compositions
US Patent 7867522
Publication date: Jan. 11, 2011
Assignee: JR Chem, LLC

This invention describes a composition and methods for alleviating or eliminating wounds and/burns by providing an effective amount of one or more copper, zinc and copper-zinc compositions topically. The copper constituent and zinc constituent, which may be cations, may be combined within a single molecule or used individually in separate molecules during topical application to treat wounds or burns. For example, copper and zinc constituents may be topically applied simultaneously to the skin in order to combine the catalytic properties of each constituent. Moreover, the copper and zinc constituents may be topically applied in the same molecule to combine the catalytic properties of each constituent. Accordingly, the combined application of copper and zinc constituents in the same topical treatment provides enhanced wound and/or burn healing biological activity than the use of either constituent alone. 

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