Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser – Synthetic resins – At least one aryl ring which is part of a fused or bridged...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-17
2004-01-06
Niland, Patrick D. (Department: 1714)
Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser
Synthetic resins
At least one aryl ring which is part of a fused or bridged...
C424S001290, C424S400000, C424S401000, C424S417000, C424S421000, C424S065000, C523S105000, C524S493000, C524S494000, C524S499000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06673863
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substantially anhydrous gel composition that imparts a powdery, non-oily feel to the skin. The present invention also relates to a gel composition useful as a vehicle or base for cosmetic, skin care, and medicinal ingredients.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Gel compositions are employed in the cosmetic and skin care industries to impart or deliver a variety of cosmetic and skin care ingredients to the skin. Gel compositions have proven desirable because they are easy to manufacture and can be formulated to be translucent or transparent.
A problem with employing gel compositions is that they sometimes impart an oily feel to the surface of the skin or leave a perceptible film-like residue. Another problem is that they frequently employ significant concentration of volatile organic compounds that may require explosion-proof equipment and/or special handling in the manufacturing process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,361 relates to a make-up composition having a fatty phase and a pulverulent phase. The pulverulent phase has silica or thermoplastic microspheres with a specific gravity not exceeding 0.07. The fatty phase may be fatty oils of animal, vegetable, mineral or synthetic origin, as well as waxes. The fatty phase includes oils, such as hydrocarbon oils and silicone oils. There is no disclosure that the composition is in gel form, or that it imparts a powdery feel upon application to skin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,560 relates to a replacement for petroleum jelly as a base for skin care products. The base has a vegetable oil and a fumed silica. There is no disclosure that the composition imparts a powdery feel upon application to skin.
Thus, there is still a need for a gel composition that imparts a powdery feel to the skin upon application. It is also desired to have a gel composition that is substantially free of volatile organic compounds. It would also be desirable to have a gel composition that is useful as a vehicle or base for cosmetic, skin care, and medicinal ingredients.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to have a gel composition that imparts a powdery, non-oily feel to the skin upon application.
It is another object of the present invention to have a gel composition that is substantially free of volatile compounds.
It is still another object of the present invention to have a gel composition that is useful as a vehicle or base for cosmetic, skin care, and medicinal ingredients.
It is a further object of the present invention to have a gel composition that has less than about 5 wt % of a volatile compound.
It is still a further object of the present invention to have a gel composition that has less than about 5 wt % water.
These and other objects and advantages are achieved by a gel composition of the present invention. The gel composition has a silica powder and a non-volatile compound. The silica powder particles are spherical and porous. The silica powder has a specific gravity about 0.09 to about 0.6, and is present in an amount about 10 wt % to about 50 wt %. The non-volatile compound is present in an amount about 35 wt % to about 90 wt %.
The present invention also includes a cosmetic for application to the skin. The preferred cosmetic is a composition, preferably having a gel matrix, with a silica powder and a non-volatile hydrocarbon oil, and a color pigment. The present invention also provides a method for imparting a powdery feel to the skin that includes applying the composition to the skin. The present invention further provides a method for treating a cosmetic or medical condition of the skin, nail/cuticle, lips or hair that includes applying an amount of the composition to the affected area.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It was found surprising that a composition, that is in a gel form in a container, could impart a pleasant, powdery feel to the skin upon application. It was also surprising that the gel composition could be formulated without a volatile organic compound. It was also surprising that such a gel composition could be used as a vehicle or base for cosmetic or skin care ingredients.
In the present invention, a silica powder and a non-volatile compound are processed to form a gel matrix that is spongy and soft to the touch. When applied to the skin, the matrix in the form of a composition imparts a powdery feel to the surface thereof, without any oily film residue.
The silica powder functions as a gelling agent in the composition to form a gel matrix with the non-volatile compound. The silica powder has particles that are spherical and porous.
The silica powder has a specific gravity of about 0.09 to about 0.6, preferably about 0.2 to about 0.5, and most preferably about 0.3 to about 0.4. The silica powder has an average particle size about 2 microns (&mgr;m) to about 20 &mgr;m, preferably about 3 &mgr;m to about 15 &mgr;m, and more preferably about 3 &mgr;m to about 5 &mgr;m. A most preferred average particle size is about 3 &mgr;m.
The silica powder preferably has an oil absorption about 100 to about 300 grams of oil, more preferably about 120 to about 170 grams of oil, and most preferably about 150 grams of oil, per 100 grams of silica.
The silica powder preferably has a specific surface area about 100 m
2
to about 1,000 m
2
, more preferably about 600 m
2
to about 800 m
2
, and most preferably about 700 m
2,
, per gram of silica powder. The silica powder is preferably non-fumed.
The silica powder is present in the gel composition in an amount about 10 percentage by weight or weight percent (wt %) to about 50 wt % of the total weight of the composition. Preferably, the silica powder is present in an amount about 15 wt % to about 45 wt %, and more preferably about 25 to about 35 wt %, of the total weight of the composition.
A non-volatile compound useful in the present composition is preferably one with a viscosity less than about 50 centistokes (cst) at 25° C., preferably less than about 30 cst, more preferably less than about 20 cst, and most preferably less than about 10 cst. Preferred non-volatile compounds include one or more non-volatile hydrocarbon compounds, particularly oil, such as hydrocarbon oil. Such hydrocarbon oils include, but are not limited to, squalane, liquid paraffin, C
12-15
alcohol benzoates, hydrogenated polyisobutene, and hydrogenated polydecene. Squalane is preferred.
The non-volatile compound is present in the composition in an amount about 35 wt % to about 90 wt % of the total weight of the composition. The non-volatile compound is preferably present in an amount about 40 wt % to about 70 wt %, and more preferably about 45 wt % to about 65 wt %, of the total weight of the composition.
The gel composition is substantially anhydrous or free of water. The composition preferably has less than about 5 wt % water. More preferably, the composition has less than about 1 wt % water based on the total weight of the composition. Most preferably, the composition is free of water.
A surprising, unexpected attribute of the present invention is its translucent/transparent appearance. The composition may further be colored with the addition of a pigment or colorant. The superiority in clarity of the base of the composition provides a finished product that is more true to the pigment/colorant shade.
The present composition may optionally include a non-aqueous vehicle in addition to the non-volatile compound. Suitable vehicles and/or vehicle components include, but are not limited to, one or more vegetable oils; esters such as octyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate and isopropyl palmitate; ethers such as dicapryl ether and dimethyl isosorbide; fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol; isoparaffins such as isooctane, isododecane and isohexadecane; silicone oils such as dimethicone and polysiloxane; hydrocarbon oils such as petrolatum, isoeicosane and polyisobutene; polyols such as propylene glycol, glycerin, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol and hexylene glycol; or any combinations of
Lamberty Lisa
Pahlck Harold
Travkina Irina
Avon Products Inc.
Niland Patrick D.
Ohlandt Greeley Ruggiero & Perle
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