GB2082511A - A method of applying cosmetics and means for performing this method - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method of applying cosmetic colours in stick form to the skin, the skin is wetted with a skin- tolerant, slowly vaporizing solvent. In one form of the method, the solvent is applied to the skin first, then the cosmetic colour is applied to the wetted area before the solvent has dried, whereas in another form of the method the solvent is applied selectively to remove cosmetic colouring already applied. A device is disclosed for applying the solvent, which comprises a reservoir 4 containing a solvent-impregnated tampon 5 in contact with a wick 6 of the reservoir to afford an applicator tip 9. A hermetically fitting cap 2 is provided for the device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of applying cosmetics and means for performing this method This invention relates to a method of applying cosmetic colours in stick form to the skin, and means for performing this method.

It is known to make and use cosmetic colours, i.e. make-up, in stick form. Such cosmetics in stick form are, for example, lipsticks, eyelid pencils, mascara and the like.

Depending upon requirements, they are of different compositions, the composition also governing the hardness and hence the intensity of the line they produce. Cosmetic sticks or pencils of this kind, which are primarily intended for simultaneously covering areas of varying size, e.g. lipsticks, eye-shadow pencils and the like, have a relatively soft stick consistency, and of course this is achieved by the addition of oils or greases or fats. In addition, the sticks contain varying quantities of waxes or wax-like substances intended to give them adequate shape stability. Increasing shape stability is usually accompanied by decreasing softness. This relationship is such that it is practically impossible to obtain homogeneous area colouring with sticks or pencils intended for producing very sharp lines, as is the case with ' "eye-liners".

The use of the known make-up sticks and the preparation of professional make-up make considerable demands on the skill and dexterity of the make-up artist. This applies, particularly at professional level, in cases in which, for example, actors and actresses or photographic models have to be made up to conform to a theme and lighting requirements. If the make-up is incorrectly applied then excessive or incorrectly applied make-up must be completely removed with sharp contours as far as possible. Cotton wool sticks or wadding twisting to form a small pad and impregnated with cosmetic oils or the like are usually used for this purpose. Despite these expedients, however, it is often impossible to produce the required make-up without mistakes and without visible traces of correction.

An object of this invention is to enable areas or lines of any desired colour and boundaries to be produced with any make-up sticks, i.e. independently of their consistency.

The term "made-up areas of any colouring" includes those having varying or gradually fading coloration.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of applying cosmetic colours in stick form to the skin, in which method the skin is wetted with a skintolerant slowly vaporizing solvent for cosmetic greases or oils, such wetting operation being carried out either before or after the application of the cosmetic colour.

Thus the method differs in principle from the known make-up methods in that not only is the actual make-up itself used, but also an extra aid, which is applied separately from the make-up.

With the proposed method it is possible to produce areas of homogeneous or graduated colouring even using hard make-up sticks which thus produce sharp lines.

Embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly cutaway, of a device for applying a cosmetic solvent, with a cover cap removed, Figure 2 is a perspective of the cover cap for the device of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a perspective of a retaining ring, with an inserted absorbent pad, incorporated in the cap, and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the retaining ring for the absorbent pad with the latter inserted.

It will be appreciated that Figs. 1, 2 and 3 together form an exploded illustration, and that in the packed condition of the applicator when not in use, the ring 3 with pad 1 3 surmounts the assembly.

In one method embodying the invention, the part of the skin to be treated is first treated with the skin-tolerant, slowly-vaporizing solvent and the cosmetic colour in stick form is then immediately applied-while the solvent is still on the skin-in the form of lines or complete areas and, if required, distributed.

The solvent on the skin has the effect of immediately dissolving the cosmetic oils or fats or greases which are also provided in sticks which draw sharp lines, so that the relatively hard stick softens. It is thus possible to distribute the make-up uniformly or in graduated form as regards shade or intensity of colour. To perform this form of the method it is proposed that s stick-type cosmetic comprising from 40 to 60% by weight of wax, from 5 to 30% by weight of grease or oil and from 10 to 30% by weight of dyes or pigment, should be used.

The above-described form of the method is intended primarily to produce relatively large areas of homogeneous or graduated colouring. If a relatively soft stick is used. e.g. a lipstick, an eye-shadow stick, or the like, the object is that the area coloured substantially uniformly with this soft stick should be sharply defined. This is often impossible without additional aids. According to the method proposed, the part of the skin for treatment is first (as usual) treated with the cosmetic colour and then the edges or required parts of the treated area are wiped away with the slowly vaporizing solvent. Sharp boundaries can be produced in the manner described or alternatively accurately predetermined parts or lines can be removed to a specific pattern within an area and the cosmetics previously applied can be removed.A case of this kind may occur, for example, if a blue eyelid line is required within a specific make-up. If this eyelid line is then to be replaced by a line of a different colour, e.g. green, the line initially applied must first be removed without destroying the remainder of the make-up. This is possible in the manner indicated with the novel process.

The solvent proposed for performing the method preferably comprises from 70 to 95% by weight of aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons containing 6 to 1 2 C-atoms and from 5 to 30% by weight of one or more re-greasing substances.

Instead of the said solvent it is possible to use other solvents, e.g. higher-boiling-point esters, higher-boiling-point alcohols, such as isopropyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, or the like, or glycol monoethyl ether or similar substances known per se. The re-greasing substances are the substances known per se for this purpose in cosmetics, for example isopropyl myristate, lanolin oil, butyl stearate or the like.

For the application of the solvent use is made of the device shown in the drawings, which includes an applicator 1, a cover cap 2 and an absorbent pad ring 3.

The applicator includes a reservoir 4 containing a tampon 5 impregnated with the solvent, a wick 7 projecting from the reservoir and in liquid-conductive communication with the tampon 5. The cover cap 2 is a tight fit on the applicator 1 and is, of course, removed when the applicator is to be used.

The device shown is therefore basically a felt-tip pen but not filled with ink or any other colouring liquid, but with the proposed solvent.

The ring 3 contains an absorbent pad 1 3 to clean the tip of the wick. The ring 3 is detachably fitted to the top end of the cap and the absorbent pad 1 3 located within ring 3 is advantageously interchangeable.

When the device is used, the tip of the wick 7 naturally becomes soiled by the removed make-up. This make-up can readily be removed by means of the absorbent pad 13, simply by placing the tip of the wick in contact with the pad, since when the pad comes into contact with the tip of the wick a slight flow of solvent occurs from the wick into the absorbent pad. This flow cleans off the previously adhering particles of the makeup. In this procedure the absorbent pad becomes saturated with solvent and make-up residues, but when cleaning has been completed the solvent evaporates so that the pad is then ready for the next cleaning.

The absorbent pads 1 3 may be of known soft foam materials, for example polyurethane soft foam or plastics-bonded non-woven materials based on cellulose, viscose rayon, cotton or linters.

The reservoir 4 may be made of plastics or metal. The tampon 5 in the reservoir, which is impregnated with solvent, may consist of a fibre filling or alternatively of open-cell foam plastics. In the example illustrated the reservoir 4 is in the form of a tube of circular cross-section tapering at the top. Alternatively, of course, the reservoir may have any other shape. The top part 6 of the reservoir 4 is necked at 6 and the wick 7 projecting from the reservoir is inserted in this neck 6. The length of the wick is such that its bottom end 8 projects into the tampon 5. It is particularly advantageous that wick 7 be replaceable.

To facilitate the use of the device, the tip 9 of the wick projecting from the reservoir has a bevelled wedge-shape. With a shape of this kind it is particularly simple to draw accurately either straight or curving lines and it is also possible to take out sharp linear areas from a section that has already been made up, and wider zones can also be treated.

When not in use, the wick 7 should be hermetically sealed off from atmosphere to prevent the solvent from evaporating. The cover cap shown in Fig. 2 is used for this purpose and consists of a tubular part 10 formed with facetted surfaces 11 to facilitate its manipulation. The interior of part 10 is so devised as to fit hermetically on the top necked part 6 as known per se in the case of felt-tip pens. Unlike the conventional cap designs, the cap 2 at its upper, closed end, has a portion 1 2 which is of reduced diameter externally, as compared with the part 10, to receive the absorbent pad ring 3 which is a push-fit on the portion 1 2.

Ring 3 is shown in longitudinal section in Fig. 4 and it will be seen that it is a substantially cylindrical part 14, having an annular shoulder 1 5 on the inside. The absorbent pad 1 3 is inserted from below against this annular shoulder and is then retained when the ring 3 is fitted over the portion 12, said portion 1 2 also entering the ring 3 from below and occupying the lower end of the bore in which the pad 1 3 is captive. The external diameter of ring 3 preferably corresponds with that of the part 1 0. In use, when it is desired to clean the tip of the wick 7, the latter is engaged with the pad 1 3 from the upper end of the ring, through the aperture bounded by the shoulder 1 5. The design enables the pad 1 3 to be readily replaced by a new pad.

Claims (11)

1. A method of applying cosmetic colours in stick form to the skin, in which method the skin is wetted with a skin-tolerant slowly vaporizing solvent for cosmetic greases or oils, such wetting operation being carried out either before or after the application of the cosmetic colour.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the part of the skin for treatment is first treated with the slowly-vaporizing solvent and the cosmetic colour in stick form is then immediately applied-while the solvent is still on the skin-in the form of lines or complete areas and, if required, distributed.

3. A method according to claim 2, in which a stick-type cosmetic is used comprising from 40 to 60% by weight of wax, from 5 to 30% by weight of grease or oil and from 10 to 30% by weight of dyes or pigment.

4. A method accbrding to claim 1, in which the part of the skin for treatment is first treated with the cosmetic colour and then the edges or required parts of the treated area are wiped away with the slowly vaporizing solvent.

5. A solvent for use in performing the method of any of claims 1 to 4, and comprising from 70 to 95% by weight of aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons containing 6 to 1 2 Catoms and from 5 to 30% by weight of one or more re-greasing substances.

6. A device for use in performing the method of any of claims 1 to 4, comprising a reservoir containing a tampon impregnated with a skin tolerant, slowly vaporizing solvent, a wick projecting from the reservoir and in liquid-conductive communication with the tampon, and a tightly fitting cover cap which is removable for use.

7. A device according to claim 6 in which the tip of the wick projecting from the reservoir has a bevelled wedge-shape.

8. A device according to claim 6 or claim 7, in which the wick is replaceable.

9. A device according to any of claims 6 to 8, in which the cover cap carried an absorbent pad to clean the tip of the wick.

1 0. A device according to claim 9, in which the absorbent pad is interchangeably secured to the top end face of the cover cap by means of a ring.

11. A method according to claim 1 and substantially as herein before described.

1 2. A device according to claim 6 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

1 3. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.