WO2012146926A1

WO2012146926A1 - Tacky cosmetic formulation

Info

Publication number: WO2012146926A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/050916
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robin Brown; Stephen George Edward Barker
Original assignee: Stuff Of Life Limited
Priority date: 2011-04-27
Filing date: 2012-04-26
Publication date: 2012-11-01
Also published as: GB201106958D0

Abstract

A cosmetic formulation comprising a tacky component is intended to be used such that, when the formulation is applied to the skin, it provides enhanced grip to a garment in contact therewith.

Description

TACKY COSMETIC FORMULATION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a formulation that enhances skin grip and that can be used to help prevent or reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Background of the Invention

Stretch marks typically occur around the abdomen during periods of rapid growth in that area. In particular, they appear during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and in the development of obesity, particularly in older children and adolescents. They can also occur on the arms, the upper thighs and the breasts. Although they are not immediately threatening, and would not generally be classified as a therapeutic condition, they may have undesirable implications for the subject. They are certainly unsightly, and their prevention/mitigation is the subject of a valuable cosmetics industry. However, there is little or no evidence that the creams that are widely sold, to pregnant women in particular, have any effect. Indeed, a proper understanding of the likely cause of stretch marks, i.e. that the body has undergone an irreversible structural change, suggests that topical application of a cream is unlikely to have any effect once stretch marks have formed.

Various devices are known, intended to be worn in contact with the abdomen, and that may have a local effect. For example, WO2008/131307 discloses a band having internal "pressure applicators" to be pressed against the body, for muscle support. See also US2009/0192423.

GB2152383A discloses a belt having a protuberance that is held against the abdomen, providing pressure that is intended to decrease the wearer's appetite and the ability of the wearer's stomach to hold large amounts of food. JP10234757A discloses a similar belt, for a similar purpose, having a plurality of protrusions in an array that may be regular or, even if irregular, includes spaces between the protrusions that allow straight lines to be drawn between them.

WO201 1/1 17603 (published 29.09.201 1 , after the priority date claimed in connection with the present specification) discloses that, although stretch marks are visible because of a thinning of the outer layers of skin, they may be caused by propagation, probably starting from a single point of stress weakness in fibrous connective tissue, e.g. collagen, below the skin. It is noteworthy that stretch marks almost invariably lie substantially vertically, although they may curve inwards slightly, especially towards the groin, reinforcing the propagation theory, and against the direction of known lines of skin formation and collagen deposition (Langer's lines).

WO201 1/1 17603 discloses a garment that comprises, on its inner surface, an irregular array of tacky areas, e.g. in the form of protrusions, that aim to dissipate such foci of stress building in the skin. Such a garment can be used for therapeutic and/or cosmetic purposes, to prevent or reduce the likelihood of stretch marks around the abdomen or elsewhere.

The utility of such a garment is based at least in part on the hypothesis that a focus of stress builds in the skin at a specific point (in a pregnant woman, for example, due to forces exerted from the growing child within), that becomes akin to a stress fracture. The skin "breaks" but, because of its living nature, only partly tears, giving rise to an irregular, red, warm, typically itching stretch mark that propagates vertically downwards (against the pattern of Langer's lines). Wearing such a garment can prevent or dissipate foci of stress, e.g. in the abdominal wall, that might form the starting point for a stretch mark to develop.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is a cosmetic formulation that can have typical characteristics for an effective moisturising agent but, in addition, is formulated specifically to have a tacky component, providing an enhanced grip on the surface of the skin. The consideration is that it should complement, or work synergistically with, a garment of the type described above. In addition, or alternatively, the new cosmetic formulation may instead provide the desired tackiness, rather than using pads of a tacky material on the garment, to enhance grip between the garment and the skin.

Description of the Invention

As suggested in WO201 1/117603, the band or garment is preferably used when the skin has been washed clean such that no grease is left on the skin surface that would minimize friction, which is desirable. It is preferably used in conjunction with a cosmetic preparation of the present invention, e.g. a skin- moisturising 'lotion' that leaves a 'tacky' residue on the skin, to create more friction with the device.

Accordingly, the tackiness required in a preparation of the invention, which is contrary to the usual requirement for a moisturising cosmetic that still has moisturising capability, is that a material in contact with the skin should grip or adhere to the skin to a greater extent in the presence of the novel formulation that in its absence. This allows the garment, or a material on a garment, e.g. on a band of the type described above, to provide friction-creating areas, so that when underlying skin moves in contact with those areas, the device grips the skin. This contact between the garment or material on the garment and the body, with stretching or other movement, aims to minimise any foci of stress that might form in the skin that could act as a nidus for the development and subsequent propagation of any stretch mark.

In other respects, a preparation of the invention may have properties and ingredients that are conventionally associated with standard cosmetics. Accordingly, the preparation may comprise one or more components selected from perfumes, essential oils, moisturising agents, cleansing agents, antiinflammatory agents, preservatives, emollients, penetrating agents (humectants), emulsifying agents, lubricants and thickening agents. Examples of such agents are given below.

One ingredient given below is glycerin. This can provide the desired tackiness. Others will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and include as examples, glyceryl polymethcrylate, various mixtures of glyceryl polymethacrylate and propylene glycol, glyceryl polymethacrylate clathrate and carbopol ultraz (ICNI name carbomer). A combination of vitamin E with a gel formulation also gives the desired degree of tack.

The formulation may also comprise an agent that is known to prevent or reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Although few have proved efficacious, such agents include vitamin A, vitamin B5, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and Centella asiatica.

A preparation of the invention may be in any suitable semi-solid form, e.g. as a lotion or gel, that is readily applied to the skin. It typically has an aqueous base, but might have a non-aqueous base. It may be required, for the purposes of accommodating both water-soluble and fat-soluble agents in a given formulation, that the preparation is an emulsion. Depending on the components of the composition, e.g. if an organic component is present, an emulsifying agent may be required.

The following Example illustrates the invention: Example

A gel was formulated from water and the following components:

Glycerin - considered to lubricate the skin to help retain moisture, but here to leave a 'tacky' residue. It also acts as a humectant, to help penetration of active ingredients in to deeper skin layers.

Glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid co-polymer - is another humectant and viscosity- controlling agent. It aids in penetration of compounds deeper in to the skin and helps moisturise the skin.

Vitamin A palmitate - helps keep skin soft and supple. It may help collagen deposition and can help improve skin elasticity. It supports skin cell formation and maturation and regeneration. It helps block harmful effects of UVA and UVB by acting as an anti-oxidant, but is not a direct sunscreen. It has been shown to have an effect to help prevent stretch marks.

Vitamin E - a powerful anti-oxidant to help minimise the effects of damaging free radicals in the skin. Helps protect against the harmful effects of UVA and UVB, but is not a direct sunscreen. It helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles most likely by helping minimise water loss from skin, aiding skin plumpness. There is some evidence that it helps to prevent stretch marks.

Centella asiatica - an anti-oxidant shown to increase collagen synthesis and deposition. Proven to reduce stretch marks and to improve wound healing.

Allantoin - a skin moisturising agent, that acts by increasing the water content of skin. It enhances also desquamation of dead skin cells from the outer epidermal layer; which helps makes the skin feel smooth and soft. It promotes skin cell growth and is a known soothing agent on sensitive skin.

Kotilan - described here as a solubilising agent.

Chamomile - considered as an anti-inflammatory which may have some wound healing properties and which may help promote skin regeneration.

Naticide - a vegetable-based cosmetics preservative helping maintain compound stability in formulations and helping inhibit bacterial growth.

The gel is formulated as follows:

(1 ) Infuse C. asiatica leaves in proportion of 1 part C. asiatica to 5 parts water. Water should be warm, i.e. blood heat. (2) Mix vegetable glycerine with ¾rd total volume of water. This is mixed thoroughly for about ½ hour then left to stand for at least 1 hour. Repeat this process twice more.

(3) Add vitamin E acetate and vitamin A palmitate to kotilan and stir well.

(4) Add allantoin to barely warm water. Stir and immediately stir into stage (2) mixture. Blend thoroughly and leave for about an hour.

(5) Add stage (3) mix to stage (4) mix. Blend thoroughly and leave to stand. Repeat blending and standing at least twice more, the rest periods being an hour at least.

(6) Filter the infusion of C.asiatica and mix the filtrate into stage (5).

(7) Add the preservative to stage (6) and mix well, leaving to stand as before.

(8) Check the "tackiness" and add water as required. Leave overnight.

The following are examples of further specific components that can be used in a formulation of the present invention.

Cetyl alcohol - an emollient to help soften and smooth the skin and an emulsifying agent to stabilise emulsions. In part also, a thickening agent.

Isopropyl myristate - a humectant that acts to help agents penetrate down in to deeper skin layers.

Stearic acid - a lubricant, a thickening agent and an emulsifying agent.

Cetyl palmitate - a lubricant and oiling agent.

Coconut acid - inc. sodium cocoate - a well known skin moisturiser and softener. Cetaryl alcohol - an emulsifying agent and product thickener.

Potassium stearate - a lubricant, emulsifying agent and thickener. It helps to make the finished product white; less clear.

Potassium cocoate - an emulsifying agent and skin moisturiser (derived from coconut).

Sodium stearate - the basis of many soaps. Helps clean and moisturise.

Claims

1. A cosmetic formulation comprising a tacky component.

2. A formulation according to claim 1 , comprising an anti-oxidant.

3. A formulation according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a moisturising agent.

4. A formulation according to any preceding claim, comprising an antiinflammatory agent.

5. A formulation according to any preceding claim, comprising a preservative.

6. A formulation according to any preceding claim, comprising an emollient.

7. A formulation according to any preceding claim, comprising a penetrating agent (a humectant).

8. A formulation according to any preceding claim, comprising a lubricant.

9. A formulation according to any preceding claim, comprising a thickening agent.

10. A formulation according to any preceding claim, comprising a cleansing agent.

1 1. A formulation according to any preceding claim, additionally comprising an agent that prevents or reduces the appearance of stretch marks.

12. A formulation according to claim 1 1 , wherein the agent is selected from vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and Centella asiatica.

13. A formulation according to any preceding claim, in the form of a water- based emulsion, and including a solubilising agent.

14. A formulation according to any preceding claim, additionally comprising an essential oil.

15. A formulation according to any preceding claim, additionally comprising an emulsifying agent.

16. A formulation according to any preceding claim, which is semi-solid.

17. A formulation according to any preceding claim, wherein the tacky component is such that, when the formulation is applied to the skin, it provides enhanced grip to a garment in contact therewith.