Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Face or body powders for grooming – adorning – or absorbing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-15
2001-10-16
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Face or body powders for grooming, adorning, or absorbing
C424S400000, C424S401000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06303108
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a warming and foaming anhydrous pulverulent composition, having a deformable solid appearance. The composition may be used, for example, for cleaning in depth and/or caring for the skin. This composition may be applied both to the human face and to the human body, and may have a very soft feel. This composition, with a dry feel, may be hydrated before use. The present invention also relates to a process for cleaning and/or caring for the skin.
2. Description of the Background
Cleaning compositions for the skin are usually provided in the form of solid bars, such as soaps, or in the form of more or less viscous liquids.
In cleaning with a soap, consumers generally make use of the whole soap. In point of fact, soap has a tendency to soften as it is used, due to its contact with water, and to age badly. In addition, it is often the case that it breaks up and that consumers find themselves with small bits of soap which are difficult to use. Furthermore, a wet soap is generally slippery, which makes it difficult to use, in particular for young children. For this reason, it has become common to use liquid cleaners in place of soaps. Unfortunately, the more liquid the compositions, the more difficult it is to measure them out, in particular because they have a tendency to escape between the fingers, and the more they have a tendency to escape from their packaging, which can be a great nuisance when they come into contact with clothing.
It is also known to use cleansing masks for the deep cleaning of the face. These masks are generally provided in the form of a gel or cream, to be applied as a thin layer over the skins comprising powders capable of absorbing the fatty substances produced by the skin, such as sebum. These masks can optionally comprise cosmetic or dermatological active agents of the skin for completing the cleaning and/or contributing well-being to the skin. Such masks are disclosed in particular in U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,945 and WO-A-86/05394. These masks are often heavy to wear and not very comfortable (tightness) and the cleaning is not always felt to be effective. Furthermore, these masks are difficult to rinse off.
Moreover, users are increasingly looking for novel textures and novel types of product. Accordingly, there remains a need for novel compositions for cleaning and/or caring for human skin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide compositions which may be used to clean and/or care for human skin, which overcome the disadvantages discussed above.
It is another object of the present invention to provide methods of cleaning and/or caring for human skin with the inventive compositions.
It is another of the present invention to provide methods for making the inventive compositions.
The objects of the present invention, and others, may be accomplished with a warming anhydrous pulverulent composition, which is capable being hydrated and suitable for cleaning and/or caring for the skin, comprising:
(a) a cosmetically acceptable powder comprising solid particles of an expanded polymer, and
(b) a cosmetically acceptable binder comprising an effective amount of an agent capable of giving off heat during hydration.
This composition is a warming and foaming anhydrous composition which is easy to apply, which is very light, which has great softness and which gives an effect of well-being after application. In addition, it has the advantage of rinsing off in an outstanding way and of exhibiting an entirely unusual texture.
The objects of the invention may also be accomplished with a method of a method of cleaning and/or caring for human skin, by applying the inventive composition to the skin.
The objects of the invention may also be accomplished with a method of cleaning and/or caring for human skin, comprising contacting the inventive composition with water, to hydrate the composition, causing the composition to foam, and then applying the hydrated composition to the skin.
The objects of the invention may also be accomplished with a method of cleaning land/or caring for human skin, comprising contacting the inventive composition with water, to hydrate the composition, and then applying the hydrated composition to the skin.
The objects of the invention may also be accomplished with a method of preparing the inventive composition, comprising combining (a) and (b).
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The term “warming: composition” as used herein refers to a composition where the user experiences warming during the application of the hydrated composition on the skin. A warming composition is where contacting the anhydrous composition cold water (having a temperature less than 37° C.), causes an instantaneous rise in the temperature of the composition from several degrees (one to ten degrees).
As will be readily appreciated, the term “anhydrous” as used herein refers to a composition which is free of added water. The composition may contain relatively small amounts of water which may be present in the constituents of the composition. A feature of the inventive composition is that it is anhydrous. Upon contact with water, the composition becomes hydrated. During hydration the composition warms by the release of heat.
The composition of the invention may be used to clean and/or care for human skin, such as facial and/or body skin. The composition is especially useful for cleaning and/or caring for the human face. The composition is provided in the form of a deformable or malleable dry solid which does not stain and which resembles marshmallow (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,659, incorporated herein by reference, for the consistency of marshmallow). This solid can be modeled like children's plasticine. It can be easily broken by hand in order to remove only the necessary amount of product. In particular, the composition may be packaged in single-dose form, which is particularly advantageous from the viewpoint of hygiene, for example in the form of small cubes, of balls or in the form of tetrahedra.
By virtue of this solid texture there is no risk of the composition of the invention escaping from its packaging, in particular during transportation. Furthermore, this composition is very easy to grasp and does not flow between the fingers; it is much simpler to measure out than standard liquid cleaners and the problem of wear of hard soaps does not exist. Furthermore, it is easy, light and pleasant to apply. Moreover, its storage does not present any problems and its contamination by the surroundings and/or the handling by the consumer is relatively reduced and in any event much less than that of the known products. In particular, it is not necessary to introduce a preservative in order to provide for its antimicrobial protection.
Without being limited to any particular theory, the deformable solid texture of the inventive composition is believed to be due mainly to the powder.
For the purpose of obtaining a solid with a pleasant and soft touch, it is preferable to use powder particles having a particle size of 1 &mgr;m to 300 &mgr;m, for example of 5 &mgr;m to 200 &mgr;m and preferably of 10 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m and better still of 15 &mgr;m to 40 &mgr;m. These ranges include all specific values and subranges therebetween including 2, 20, 25, 30, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 250 &mgr;m.
The great softness contributed by these particles makes it possible for consumers with sensitive skin to use the composition of the invention without difficulty.
By virtue of the presence of the agent capable of giving off heat in the composition, cleaning takes place in depth, owing to excretion of the fatty substances and impurities being facilitated by an opening of the pores of the skin. These impurities and fatty substances are absorbed by the powder as they emerge from the skin
Daubige Therese
Roulier Veronique
L'Oreal
McQueeney P. E.
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Page Thurman K.
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