Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-19
2001-05-29
Delcotto, Gregory (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S136000, C510S137000, C510S151000, C510S153000, C510S158000, C510S159000, C510S382000, C510S383000, C510S470000, C510S495000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239088
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cleansing compositions. More specifically, the invention relates to cleansing compositions which are mild and gentle to the skin and eyes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the most difficult problems for the cosmetic user is the effective removal of her makeup. As the demand for long-wearing makeup has increased, the task has become even more difficult. Traditional water-based makeup removers rely in large part on a fairly high concentration of surfactants to aid in the cleansing function. Unfortunately, such surfactants, while effective in removing makeup and other soil from the skin, can be very drying; they are also often very irritating to the eyes, and therefore, unsuitable for use in this area. Oil-based makeup remover is generally milder and very effective in removing mascara, lipstick and other cosmetics containing high levels of oil; however, these products can leave an unpleasant oily residue on the skin, leaving the user with a less than clean feeling. Thus, the ideal makeup remover, which is both mild, effective, and non-greasy, is still a very much sought-after commodity.
Any woman who has ever sobbed through a sad movie knows that nature in fact provides a very effective, if unintended, remover for makeup: lachrymal fluid. There are few women who have not experienced the inconvenience, if not embarrassment, of rivulets of mascara running down her cheeks after a good cry. The present inventors have now found a way to turn the power of tears to a more useful purpose, with the intended result of thoroughly and gently removing makeup or other soil and dirt from the skin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a skin-cleansing composition that in composition mimics lachrymal fluid, or tears. In one embodiment, the composition comprises an ionic aqueous base containing electrolyte components within the range of normal physiological fluids; in particular, the composition comprises physiological amounts of at least one, preferably at least two, and more preferably at least three, electrolytes selected from the group consisting of bicarbonate, chloride, sodium and potassium ions, in combination with a basic protein or amino acid component in amounts sufficient to buffer the composition to a pH of about 7.0-7.4, and in a preferred embodiment, the composition also comprises cleansing-effective amounts of a sialic acid compound and a lysozyme. In another embodiment, the composition comprises a cleansing effective amount of sialic acid with or without a lysozyme in an aqueous base, with or without the electrolyte and basic protein or amino acid components. The compositions of the invention are useful in a method for cleansing the skin and hair, and also, in a more specific embodiment, in a method for removing makeup from the lashes and face.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The composition of human lachrymal fluid is well-known, and has components that can be divided into two main categories: structural and active. The structural components are primarily lipidic, mucinic, and aqueous, whereas the active components comprise nutrients and antimicrobial enzymes. The composition of natural tears has been previously mimicked to some extent in “artificial tears”, which are recommended for use by individuals suffering from dry eyes; these products attempt to mimic the functional characteristics of the natural tear composition, while not necessarily mimicking the chemical identity. See, for example, J. Murube et al.,“Classification of Artificial Tears”, in
Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes
2, Sullivan et al., eds., Plenum Press, 1998, pp. 693-704.
The compositions and methods of the invention are unique, in that it has not previously been suggested to employ a lachrymal fluid-like composition to cleanse the skin or hair. Unlike artificial tears, however, the cleanser of the present invention affirmatively attempts to directly mimic, to the extent possible, the actual composition of natural tears. Surprisingly, a cleansing composition mimicking the composition of lachrymal fluid provides a very effective cleansing properties, and is even useful in the difficult task of removing makeup. The compositions of the invention are also quite gentle, causing substantially no greater level of irritation to the skin than would the user's own tears.
A first component of the composition is an ionic aqueous base. The base of the composition contains physiologically acceptable levels of at least one of sodium, potassium, bicarbonate and chloride ions, and preferably a combination of two or more of these. Physiological levels of these electrolytes varies over a fairly wide range in physiological fluids, and any physiologically acceptable amount of the ions can be employed (see for example, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Hardman et al., eds., Ninth Edition, Chapter 34, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference). In a preferred embodiment, however, the electrolytic concentration approximates that of the lachrymal fluid, which contains about 142 meq/l sodium ions, 3-6 meq/l potassium ions, 115 meq/l chloride ions, and 5-25 meq/l bicarbonate. Preferably, ionic concentrations for each individual electrolyte will be less than about 1% by weight, more preferably about 0.5% by weight or less. In particular, in the composition, the amount of sodium ions to be used is typically, in weight percent, between 0.1% to about 0.5%, preferably about 0.2 to about 0.4%. Potassium is present in an amount of about 0.002-0.2%, preferably about 0.004-0.1%. Chloride ions are preferably used in an amount of about 0.1% to about 0.5% preferably about 0.2% to about 0.4%. Bicarbonate ions should normally be used in an amount of about .005% to about 0.3%, more preferably about 0.01 to about 0.15%. These ions can be provided in the formulation in any cosmetically acceptable form, but will normally be added in the form of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium or potassium bicarbonate, although magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, zinc chloride, sodium phosphate, or any other cosmetically acceptable material can be used.
A second component is one intended to mimic the mucinic properties(i.e., mucomimetic) of the natural tear fluid. In order for a component to perform the function of the natural mucin, it should be water soluble, confer good oncotic pressure to the fluid, and have some surfactant properties. This component is the primary surfactant of the composition and can be a naturally occurring mucopolysaccharide, mucoprotein,or mucolipid, or a surfactant effective portion thereof. Mucopolysaccharides, mucoproteins and mucolipids are obtainable commercially. Any of these materials can be used, but the preferred mucopolysaccharides, mucoproteins or mucolipids are those that contain a sialic acid component. If mucopolysaccharides are used, they are preferably present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 10%, more preferably 0.1 to about 2% by weight of the composition.
As an alternative to the use of a whole mucopolysaccharide, it is also possible to employ a sialic acid-containing portion thereof or a sialic acid per se. A sialic acid can itself provide the necessary mucomimetic properties to the formulation. This component, which also occurs naturally in lachrymal fluid, provides a substantial increase in the cleansing properties of the composition, as they can reduce the surface tension of water. Sialic acids (nonulosaminic acids) are a family of amino sugars that are N- and O-substituted derivatives of neuraminic acid. They exist naturally, and regularly, as components of all types of mucoproteins, mucopolysaccharides, and some mucolipids. N-acetylneuraminic acid is the most common of the sialic acids and is an important component of lachrymal fluid.
Sialic acid is available from a broad range of sources, for example, by isolation from sialic acid-associated proteins, poly- and oligosaccharides, and lipids contained in eggs, milk, and mammalian submandibular glands (FR 2325329; US
Bevacqua Andrew J.
George Liliana
Miklean Saul
Toma Daniela
Color Access Inc.
Delcotto Gregory
Kenyon & Kenyon
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