Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Cosmetic – antiperspirant – dentifrice
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-13
2001-05-15
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Cosmetic, antiperspirant, dentifrice
C424S069000, C514S937000, C514S938000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231874
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to aqueous cosmetic compositions. In particular, the invention relates to cosmetic compositions which have improved properties by virtue of the use of structured water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Water is the predominant component of the human body, and in fact of all living things. It is an essential participant in metabolic and synthetic processes in the body. There has been much speculation on how water interacts with cellular components, and many authors have speculated that water may in fact change structure and function once it has been taken into tissues and cells(see, e.g., Benal and Fowler, Trends Biochem. Sci. 8: 1, 1983; Stillinger, Science 209: 4455, 1980; Frank and Wen, Proc. R. Soc. Lond., 1980: A247, 1981; Franks, Water, A Comprehensive Treatise, London, 1981).
In connection with the possible alteration of water's structure, it has been shown (Bernal and Fowler, supra) that an equilibrium exists in water between the (H
3
O)
+
and (OH)
−
structures, in the absence of an ordering electric field. It has been more recently shown (RO 88053/1987; RO 88054/1987; and RO 109835/1995) that if a polarizing electrical field is passed through the water, the equilibrium is destroyed, and the two component ions begin to move independently. Therefore, the generation of this electric field between two electrodes results in a “structuring” process in water, wherein the R
−
H
+
n
structures, in which R
−
represents a polymeric radical, migrates in the direction of the positive electrode, accumulating as “acid water”; similarly, the R′(OH)
−
n
components migrate toward the negative electrode, giving rise to “basic water”. Many phenomena may contribute to the structuring of water, and aqueous solutions, including alignment of the dipole moments of water molecules, transport of existing charges in solutions toward the electrodes, magnitude of the applied potential difference, influence of the nature, size and shape of the electrode surface, and H
+
and OH
−
tunneling. Whatever the influences resulting in structuring, however, the structured (or “activated”) water is defined as water that contains stabilized clusters of ions. The acid fraction is alternately referred to as structured water I for “I water”) containing stabilized clusters of R
+
(H)
−
(Cl
−
, PO
4
3−
, SO
4
2−
) ions. The basic fraction is alternately referred to as structured water S (or “S water”) which contains stabilized clusters of R+(OH)−n (Ca
2+
, Mg
2+
,Na
+
, K
+
, etc.) ions. To further distinguish the two types of water, I water is characterized by a conductivity C(&mgr;S/cm) of about 900-2500 and pH of about 1.9-2.5; S water is characterized by a conductivity C(&mgr;S/cm) of about 400-1500, and a pH of about 10.5-12, each resulting from tap water with C(&mgr;S/cm) of about 330, and a pH of about 7.4.
Substantial differences are found among the UV spectra of I, S. tap and deionized water, particularly in the 200-250 nm band. When their reactivities are measured in an electronographic field, I, S and tap waters also show significant differences. In particular, for tap water, the total light flux after electronographic stimulation has a positive impulse I
+
substantially equivalent to it negative impulse I
−
. For structured water, the S water stimulated in the same way in positive impulse shows a very high light reactivity, whereas the negative impulse reactivity is almost equivalent to that of distilled water, yielding a positive to negative ratio of greater than 1; in contrast, the reactivity of the I water samples shows a high negative impulse, with a positive impulse approximately equivalent to distilled water, the ratio of positive to negative being less than 1. Different biological properties have been suggested for each type of water. These demonstrated differences in structure between the two types of structured waters have been said to correlate with their biological activities: S water is said to have a stimulatory effect on enzymatic and other biosynthetic processes, whereas I water is said to be inhibitory of the same processes.
Structured water has been disclosed for use in cosmetic compositions previously, in, for example RU 107544, RU 107545 and RU 107546, which relate to the use of I water in specific cosmetic products, for the treatment of oily skin, dry skin, or acne. However, a specific biological effect has not been attributed directly to I water in such compositions, and no information has been provided on possible utility of S water in cosmetic compositions. It has now been discovered that the use of S water can have beneficial effects on the moisturizing capacity of compositions for topical application to the skin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to topically applied skin-care compositions containing a moisturizing-effective amount of S water. The invention also relates to a method for increasing the moisturizing capacity of a skin care composition containing an aqueous component, the method comprising incorporating S water as all or part of the aqueous component. The invention also provides a method of moisturizing the skin comprising applying to the skin a moisturizing effective amount of S water
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As noted above, structured water and methods for making same are well known in the art. For example, RO 88053 describes a method for producing “B” or basic (S-type) water, and RO 88054 discloses a method for making “A” or acid (I-type) water. Improvements in making either of these types of water are further described in Wo 9606048. The contents of each of these documents is incorporated herein by reference.
It has now been unexpectedly discovered that S water has a greater moisturization capacity than ordinary water or structured I water. In particular, it has been observed that skin treated with a composition containing S water provides a measurable, significantly increased skin surface water content, when compared with the results observed with other waters. Thus, S water is a particularly useful component in cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions in which moisturizing properties are desired.
The S water can be used alone as a moisturizer, for example as a moisturizing spray or rub-on composition. More often, however, S water will be used a part of a more complex composition, for example as part of a hydroalcoholic product, or as part of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsion. The S water can be used in the composition within the range of from about 1 to about 100% by weight, but generally will be in the range of from about 20 to about 80%, more preferably from about 40 to about 80%, particularly when used as part of an oil/water emulsion. The form the vehicle takes can be any which is suitable for topical application to the skin, for example, solutions, colloidal dispersions, emulsions, suspensions, creams, lotions, gels, foams, mousses, sprays and the like.
S water can be used in virtually any type of skin care product which has an aqueous component. For example, it can be used to confer moisturizing properties to makeup products, such as lipsticks and glosses, foundations, blushes, eyeliners, eyeshadows and the like. It will also be useful in treatment products, including pharmaceutical products, in which moisturizing properties are desired to complement the activity of the principle active, or necessary to offset the drying properties of an otherwise beneficial active. It is particularly contemplated that S water be combined with other moisturizing components, such as emollients, humectants and occlusive agents. Agents of this type are described in the International Cosmetic Ingredients Handbook, Third Edition, 1996, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, however, it can also be beneficial in combination with non-moisturizing topically applied actives, for example, analgesics, anesthetics, anti-acne agents, antib
Bevacqua Andrew J.
Cioca Gheorghe
Gubernick Joseph
Vrabie Nicolae
Color Access Inc.
Kenyon & Kenyon
Page Thurman K.
Seidleck Brian K.
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