Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Inorganic active ingredient containing – Aluminum – calcium or magnesium element – or compound containing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-29
2003-10-07
Pryor, Alton N. (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Inorganic active ingredient containing
Aluminum, calcium or magnesium element, or compound containing
C424S709000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06630175
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of reducing eye irritation in cosmetic compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cosmetics, such as facial moisturizing creams and lotions, sunscreen compositions, and shampoos are often applied near the eye. These compositions can come into contact with the eye either during application, following subsequent rubbing of around the eye, or as a result of perspiration. As the eye only has an epithelial barrier, it is more sensitive to cosmetic compositions than the skin, which possesses both a stratum corneum and epidermal barrier layers. Thus, compositions that are otherwise non-irritating to the skin can often irritate, e.g., sting, the eye.
The present invention relates to a method of reducing eye irritation in cosmetic compositions by adding mineral water, e.g., in place of some or all of the distilled water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention features a method of reducing eye irritation such eye redness (e.g., the appearance of blood vessles in the eye) or eye sting (e.g., pain in the eye), caused by a cosmetic composition, comprising incorporating a reducing amount of mineral water into the cosmetic composition. In one embodiment, the method reduces the eye irritation, sting, or redness of the composition by at least about 5% such as at least about 20%.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the invention and from the claims
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is believed that one skilled in the art can, based upon the description herein, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The following specific embodiments are to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. Also, all publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a method of reducing eye irritation caused by a cosmetic composition comprising incorporating mineral water into said cosmetic composition.
What is meant by mineral water is water having mineralization (i.e., the sum of the concentrations of anions and cations present in the water) of at least about 200 mg/L (e.g., at least about 300 mg/L such from about 400 mg/L to about 1000 mg/L). Examples of such anions and cations include, but are not limited to, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonates, sulfates, potassium, sodium, chlorides, nitrates, phosphates, lithium, manganese, sulfites, fluoride, and iodide. In one embodiment, the mineral water has at least about 5 mg/L, e.g., at least about 10 mg/L, of magnesium and at least about 10 mg/L of calcium, e.g., at least about 20 mg/L.
The mineral water may be a naturally mineralized water, e.g., a mineral water suitable for consumption, or a thermal spring water, which is often not consumable. Examples of mineral water include, but are not limited to, eau d′Evian (Evian Eau Minerale Naturelle or Evian® Natural Spring Water referred herein as Evian® Mineral Water), eau Volvic, and eaux de Vittel (e.g., Grande Spring or Hepar Spring). Examples of thermal spring waters include eau de la Bourboule, eau d′Enghien-les-bains, eau d′Allevard-les-bains, eau de Digne, eau des Maizieres, eau de Nyrac-les-bains, eau de Lons le Saunier, Eaux Bonnes, eau de Rochefort, eau de Saint Christau, eau des Fumades, eau de Tereau de. Vittel, eaux du bassin de Vichy, eau d′Uriage, eau d′Avene, and eau de la Roche Posay.
In one embodiment, the mineral water comprises (a) from about 30 mg/L to about 150 mg/L of calcium; (b) from about 10 mg/L to about 50 mg/L of magnesium; (c) from about 150 mg/L to about 700 mg/L of bicarbonates; (d) from about 0.1 mg/L to about 5 mg/L of potassium; (e) from about 1 to about 20 mg/L of sulfates; (f) from about 1 to about 10 mg/L of sodium; (g) from about 1 mg/L to about 10 mg/L of chlorides; and (h) from about 1 mg/L to about 10 mg/L of nitrates.
In one embodiment, the mineral water is Evian® Mineral Water that comprises: (a) about 78 mg/L of calcium; (b) about 24 mg/L of magnesium, (c) about 357 mg/L of bicarbonates; (d) about 1 mg/L of potassium; (e) about 10 mg/L of) sulfates; (f) about 5 mg/L of sodium, (g) about 4 mg/L of chlorides; and (h) from about 1 to about 4 mg/L nitrates.
What is meant by a reducing amount of mineral water is an amount capable of reducing the undesired effect of the composition (e.g., eye irritation, redness, or a sting). In one embodiment, the composition comprises at least about 1%, by weight, of mineral water, e.g. about 10% to about 99%, by weight, of mineral water.
The compositions of the present invention may further comprise one or more of the following compounds: creatine, carnitine, or pyruvic acid, or a cosmetically acceptable salt or ester thereof. What is meant by cosmetically acceptable salt or ester is one that does not eliminate the therapeutic benefit of the compound (e.g., its hydrating, nourishing, metabolic enhancing properties). Examples of cosmetically acceptable salts, include, but are not limited to, those with cosmetically acceptable organic acids (e.g., acetic, lactic, maleic, citric, malic, ascorbic, succinic, benzoic, methesulfonic, toluenesulfonic, or pamoic acid), as well as polymeric acids (e.g., tannic or carboxymethyl cellulose) and salts with inorganic acids such as a hydrohalic acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or phosphoric acid). Examples of cosmetically acceptable esters include, but are not limited to, C2-C6 alkyl esters such as methyl esters and ethyl esters. Examples of such compounds include, but are not limited to, creatine monohydrate, creatine hemisulfate, D-carnitine, L-carnitine, L-carnitine hydrochloride, sodium pyruvate, and pyruvic acid methyl ester. As used herein, if the stereochemistry of the compound is not indicated, then the compound includes all stereoisomers, if any.
The amount of carnitine or a cosmetically acceptable salt or ester thereof, creatine or a cosmetically acceptable salt or ester thereof, or pyruvic acid or a cosmetically acceptable salt or ester thereof, in the composition varies (e.g., depending on the intended use or the form of the composition) being administered and will typically be present in the composition in an amount from about 0.001% to about 10%, by weight, of the topically applied composition, e.g., from about 0.01% to about 5%, by weight, such as from about 0.01% to about 1%, by weight, of such carnitine, creatine, pyruvic acid or cosmetically acceptable salt or ester thereof.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises administering (e.g., in a composition) another cosmetically active agent. What is meant by a “cosmetically active agent” is a compound that has a cosmetic or therapeutic effect on the skin, e.g., agents to treat wrinkles, acne, or to lighten the skin. In one embodiment, the agent is selected from, but not limited to the group consisting of hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, sulfur resorcinol, ascorbic acid, D-panthenol, hydroquinone, sunscreen agents, anti-inflammatory agents, skin lightening agents, antimicrobial and antifungal agents, estrogens, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, lipoic acid, amino acids such a proline and tyrosine, lactobionic acid, acetyl-coenzyme A, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, ribose, electron transporters such as NADH and FADH2, botanical extracts such as aloe vera and soy, and derivatives and mixtures thereof. The cosmetically active agent will typically be present in the composition of the invention in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of the composition, e.g., about 0.01% to about 10% such as about 0.1% to about 5%.
Examples of hydroxy acids include, but are not limited, to (i) alpha-hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid, (ii) beta-hydroxy acids such as sal
Shapiro Stanley S.
Wiegand Benjamin C.
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc.
McGowan WIlliam E.
Pryor Alton N.
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