Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Solid synthetic organic polymer as designated organic active... – Aftertreated polymer
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-26
2003-09-09
McKane, Joseph K. (Department: 1617)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Solid synthetic organic polymer as designated organic active...
Aftertreated polymer
C424S401000, C514S772400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06616923
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improving facial skin with an aqueous composition containing one or more non-volatile, slowly absorbed, water-miscible, liquid organic substances.
BACKGROUND
There are a number of facial skin care products on the market, most of which are in the form of cream, ointment, lotion, gel or emulsion. The majority of these products are not miscible with water and generally contain numerous ingredients (e.g., about 20 to 40 different ingredients). One problem with these complex facial skin care products is that they are relatively difficult to prepare, often requiring special skills and facilities. Additionally, due to their numerous ingredients and methods of preparation, the products are often very expensive.
Current facial skin care products are also relatively unstable in physical shape and form as well as in chemical composition. This instability, which includes thermal instability, may have a drastic effect on the usefulness of a product which has been exposed to variable temperatures (e.g., ranging from about 0° to about 40° C.) during shipping, storage, or use. Additionally, many of the ingredients present in commercial facial skin care products may break down or degrade quickly upon contact with the environment.
Furthermore, most of the ingredients in commercial facial skin care products are foreign to the human body, and may often cause allergic reactions in those who use these products. Those with sensitive skin may find many of the ingredients in commercial facial skin care products harsh and thus, unacceptable for use.
Thus, there exists a need for facial skin care methods and formulations that are hypo-allergenic, natural, inexpensive, easy to prepare, and highly stable, as well as highly effective in producing facial cosmetic benefits or improvements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Unlike the complex facial skin care products described above and currently on the market, the present invention provides for a surprisingly simple, clear, transparent, safe, water-miscible, hypo-allergenic, natural, inexpensive, easy to use, easy to prepare, extremely stable, highly efficient and effective composition for improving the facial skin of humans. This unconventional and yet simple approach for facial skin care comprises a method of using an aqueous composition, i.e., composition or mixture containing one or more nonvolatile, slowly absorbed, water-miscible, liquid organic substance(s) and water for achieving facial cosmetic improvements. For example, a single application of the aqueous, facial cosmetic composition of the present invention results in several beneficial cosmetic effects which last for a long period of time, for example, for at least about 4 to 18 hours. The slowly absorbed, nonvolatile, liquid organic substance and water, preferably in the form of a solution, serves as a very simple, inexpensive, highly effective, protective, mechanical barrier or coating on the facial skin surface which prevents or minimizes evaporation of body water from the surface of the facial skin. Additionally, the facial cosmetic composition of the invention is a highly effective moisturizing agent. Since a liquid organic substance of the present invention, for example, glycerin, is a human endogenous substance, its combination with water provides a composition which is practically free of allergic reactions and extremely safe.
One feature of the present invention is the unexpected discovery that water can be used as a highly effective and efficacious anti-wrinkle and/or anti-line agent. In one embodiment, water is continuously and constantly delivered to the facial skin (excluding chapped or burned skin) for an extended period of time (e.g., for about 4 to about 18 hours, preferably for about 8 to about 15 hours) after a single application of a thin layer of a clear, transparent aqueous composition containing water and one or more nonvolatile, slowly absorbed, water miscible, liquid organic substances. The extended effect of the applied water on the facial skin is analogous to the “morning dew” phenomenon (refreshing and re-vitalizing of the withered leaves and flowers) observed on plants or flowers in the early morning following a light rain or foggy night; watering of withering domestic plants or flowers has been repeatedly observed to result in a reappearance of fresh, shiny, dewy, healthy, wrinkle-free smooth leaves or flowers the next day. Therefore, continuous/daily use of the aqueous composition of the present invention serves as a prophylactic treatment to prevent or minimize the formation of wrinkles and/or lines on the facial skin (see Examples II and III). The beneficial cosmetic effects of the present invention is especially useful on post-menopausal women (see Example III).
A particular embodiment of the present invention is a method of using a facial skin care composition containing glycerin and water, at appropriate ratios, such as one to one, to provide effective improvement of the facial skin of humans. For example, the present invention provides methods for treating lines, wrinkles, and dark spots on the skin. Additionally, the methods of the present invention are capable of treating dry skin and signs of aging. The methods of the present invention are also capable of improving the elasticity and appearance of skin.
The present invention provides a method for cosmetically improving facial skin of humans by administering to the facial skin surface an aqueous composition comprising an effective amount of one or more nonvolatile (not evaporating at normal temperatures and pressures with boiling points higher than about 150° C.), pharmacologically acceptable (not irritating to the skin and causing no adverse effects after being administered and/or absorbed through the skin to the circulating blood), slowly absorbed (absorption occurring for about 4 to about 18 hours, preferably from about 8 to about 15 hours), water-miscible (capable of being mixed homogeneously with water at any ratio) liquid organic substances (e.g., liquid substances with organic chemical structures). The present invention performs much more effectively, up to 36-fold better, than conventional, complex and expensive products (see Example I for moist, dewy and shiny effects).
The invention also provides a method for treating wrinkles on facial skin of a human by administering to the facial skin surface an aqueous composition comprising an effective amount of one or more nonvolatile, slowly absorbed, water-miscible liquid organic substances.
The invention also provides a method for treating age spots on facial skin of a human by administering to the facial skin surface an aqueous composition comprising an effective amount of one or more nonvolatile, slowly absorbed, water-miscible liquid organic substances.
The invention also provides a method for treating lines on facial skin of a human by administering to the facial skin surface an aqueous composition comprising an effective amount of one or more nonvolatile, slowly absorbed, water-miscible liquid organic substances.
The invention also provides a method for treating the signs of aging on facial skin of a human by administering to the facial skin surface an aqueous composition comprising an effective amount of one or more nonvolatile, slowly absorbed, water-miscible liquid organic substances.
The invention also provides a method for increasing the elasticity of facial skin of a human by administering to the facial skin surface an aqueous composition comprising an effective amount of one or more nonvolatile, slowly absorbed, water-miscible liquid organic substances.
The invention also provides a method for improving the texture or appearance of facial skin of a human comprising administering to the facial skin surface an aqueous composition of an effective amount of one or more nonvolatile, slowly absorbed, water-miscible liquid organic substances.
The invention further provides a method for promoting shiny, moist facial skin lasting for at least about 4 hours and up to about 18 hours by administering to the
Chiou Linda L.
Chiou Win L.
Chiou Consulting, Inc.
McKane Joseph K.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Sackey Ebenezer
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