WO2026027147A1

WO2026027147A1 - A personal care composition

Info

Publication number: WO2026027147A1
Application number: PCT/EP2025/068444
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xuelan GU; Xue Xiao
Original assignee: Unilever Global IP Ltd; Unilever IP Holdings BV; Conopco Inc
Current assignee: Unilever Global IP Ltd; Unilever IP Holdings BV; Conopco Inc
Priority date: 2024-07-31
Filing date: 2025-06-30
Publication date: 2026-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-31

Abstract

Disclosed is a personal care composition comprising: (a) carboxymethyl cysteine compound and (b) C₆-C₁₂-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof.

Description

A PERSONAL CARE COMPOSITION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a personal care composition comprising (a) carboxymethyl cysteine compound and (b) C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof. It was surprisingly found that the expression of ATG5 (Autophagy related Gene 5) is synergistically elevated by such composition.

Background of the Invention

The skin is a primary barrier of the human body and protects the organs in the body from stimulation caused by external environments such as ultraviolet rays, pollutants, temperature and etc. It is subject to intrinsic aging and extrinsic aging. Skin aging is a complex process, and alterations in human skin due to aging have distinct characteristics as compared to other organs. Characteristics of intrinsic or chronological skin aging include dryness, visible free lines and wrinkles, uneven skin pigmentation, loss of elasticity and skin sagging. Extrinsic factors including exposure to sunlight, pollutants and cigarette smoke can accelerate the skin aging process, especially on the face.

Autophagy is now considered critical in controlling skin aging because it plays an important role in degradation of abnormal proteins accumulated in cells, unnecessary intracellular organelles, pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, autophagy has been shown to regulate color, homeostasis, and functions of keratinocytes, skin dermal fibroblasts, and melanocytes to promote skin aging. ATG5 (Autophagy related Gene 5) is one of the major autophagymodulating genes.

Therefore, the present inventor has recognized there are needs to develop a personal care composition which is capable of upregulating the expression of A TG5, to activate the autophagy of cells of the skin. It was surprisingly found that by combining carboxymethyl cysteine compound and C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof, the expression of A TG5 was synergistically upregulated.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a personal care composition comprising: (a) carboxymethyl cysteine compound and (b) C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof. In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of providing the skin benefits selected from the group consisting of improving skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, reducing sagging, anti-aging and upregulating the expression of autophagy related gene comprising a step of topically applying to the skin the composition of the present invention.

In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to use of the composition of the present invention for providing the skin benefits selected from the group consisting of improving skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, reducing sagging, anti-aging and upregulating the expression of autophagy related gene.

All other aspects of the present invention will more readily become apparent upon considering the detailed description and examples which follow.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use may optionally be understood as modified by the word “about”.

All amounts are by weight of the composition, unless otherwise specified.

It should be noted that in specifying any range of values, any particular upper value can be associated with any particular lower value.

For the avoidance of doubt, the word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of’ or “composed of’. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive.

The disclosure of the invention as found herein is to be considered to cover all embodiments as found in the claims as being multiply dependent upon each other irrespective of the fact that claims may be found without multiple dependency or redundancy.

Where a feature is disclosed with respect to a particular aspect of the invention (for example a composition of the invention), such disclosure is also to be considered to apply to any other aspect of the invention (for example a method of the invention) mutatis mutandis. The carboxymethyl cysteine compound refers to compound selected from carboxymethyl cysteine, salt of carboxymethyl cysteine, ester of carboxymethyl cysteine, amide of carboxymethyl cysteine or a mixture thereof. Preferably, the carboxymethyl cysteine compound comprises carboxymethyl cysteine, ester of carboxymethyl cysteine, and/or salt of carboxymethyl cysteine. More preferably, the carboxymethyl cysteine compound comprises carboxymethyl cysteine, and/or salt of carboxymethyl cysteine. Even more preferably, carboxymethyl cysteine compound comprises salt of carboxymethyl cysteine. Still even more preferably the carboxymethyl cysteine compound comprises lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate and most preferably, the carboxymethyl cysteine compound is lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate.

Preferably, the carboxymethyl cysteine compound is present in amount of at least 0.00001%, more preferably at least 0.0001 %, even more preferably at least 0.001 %, still even more preferably at least 0.01 %, and most preferably at least 0.1 % by weight of the composition. Preferably, the carboxymethyl cysteine compound is present in amount of no greater than 10%, more preferably no greater than 5%, even more preferably no greater than 3%, still even more preferably no greater than 1%, and most preferably no greater than 0.5% by weight of the composition.

Preferably, the lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate is present in amount of no greater than 10%, more preferably no greater than 5%, even more preferably no greater than 3%, still even more preferably no greater than 1%, and most preferably no greater than 0.5% by weight of the composition. Preferably, the lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate is present in amount of at least 0.00001%, more preferably at least 0.0001 %, even more preferably at least 0.001%, still even more preferably at least 0.01 %, and most preferably at least 0.1 % by weight of the composition.

The composition of the present invention comprises C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof, preferably the composition comprises Cs-Cw-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof, and more preferably composition comprises Cg-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof. Preferably, the dicarboxylic acid is linear alkyl acid. Salt of C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide is preferably sodium and/or potassium salt of C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide.

The C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide is preferably represented by the following formula (I): ROC-(CH₂)_n-COR (I) wherein n is integer of 4 to 10, each R is independently a -NR1R2 group wherein each R1 is independently a H or Ci to C4 alkyl group, each R2 is independently a H, Ci to C4 alkyl group, or Ci to C4 carboxy group.

Preferably, in formula (I) n is integer of 4 to 10, each R is independently a -NR1R2 group wherein each R1 is independently a H or Ci to C4 alkyl group and each R2 is independently a Ci to C4 carboxy group.

More preferably in formula (I) n is integer of 6 to 8, each R is independently a -NR1R2 group wherein each R1 is independently H, methyl, or ethyl group and each R1 is independently methyl carboxy group, or ethyl carboxy group. Even more preferably in formula (I) n is integer of 7, each R is independently a -NR1R2 group wherein each R1 is independently H, or methyl group, and R2 is methyl carboxy group.

In preferred embodiment, the C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide is azelaic acid amide. More preferably the C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide is azeloyl diglycine. In particularly preferred embodiment, the C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof is azeloyl diglycine and/or salt thereof, preferably sodium or potassium salt, thereof and most preferably is potassium azeloyl diglycinate. Thus, preferably the composition of the present invention comprises (a) carboxymethyl cysteine compound and (b) azeloyl diglycine and/or salt thereof, preferably sodium or potassium salt of azeloyl diglycine, and most preferably the composition the present invention comprises (a) carboxymethyl cysteine compound and (b) potassium azeloyl diglycinate.

Preferably, the total amount of the C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and salt thereof is 0.0001 to 5%, more preferably 0.001 to 2%, even more preferably 0.005 to 1% and still even more preferably 0.015 to 0.5% by weight of the composition. Preferably, the total amount of azeloyl diglycine and salt thereof is 0.0001 to 5%, more preferably 0.001 to 2%, even more preferably 0.005 to 1% and still even more preferably 0.015 to 0.5% by weight of the composition.

Preferably, the amount of the potassium azeloyl diglycinate is 0.0001 to 5%, more preferably 0.001 to 2%, even more preferably 0.005 to 1 % and still even more preferably 0.015 to 0.5% by weight of the composition.

Preferably, the weight ratio of the carboxymethyl cysteine compound to the total C6-C12- dicarboxylic acid amide and salt thereof is 1 :5000 to 10:1 , more preferably 1 :1500 to 1 :1 , even more preferably 1 :400 to 1:4, still even more preferably 1:100 to 1:10, and most preferably 1:40 to 1:20. Preferably the weight ratio of the carboxymethyl cysteine compound to the total azeloyl diglycine and salt thereof is 1 :5000 to 10:1, more preferably 1 :1500 to 1 :1 , even more preferably 1:400 to 1 :4, still even more preferably 1:100 to 1 :10, and most preferably 1:40 to 1:20. Preferably the weight ratio of the lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate to the total azeloyl diglycine and salt thereof is 1 :5000 to 10: 1 , more preferably 1 : 1500 to 1 : 1 , even more preferably 1 :400 to 1 :4, still even more preferably 1 :100 to 1:10, and most preferably 1 :40 to 1:20. Preferably the weight ratio of the lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate to potassium azeloyl diglycinate is 1:5000 to 10:1 , more preferably 1:1500 to 1:1, even more preferably 1:400 to 1:4, still even more preferably 1 :100 to 1 :10, and most preferably 1:40 to 1:20.

The composition may optionally comprise whitening pigment. Whitening pigments are typically particles of high refractive index materials. For example, the whitening pigment may have a refractive index of greater than 1.3, more preferably greater than 1.8 and most preferably from 2.0 to 2.7. Examples of such whitening pigment are those comprising bismuth oxy-chloride, boron nitride, barium sulfate, mica, silica, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, aluminium oxide, zinc oxide or combinations thereof. More preferred whitening pigment are particles comprising titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, mica, iron oxide or a combination thereof. Even more preferred whitening pigment are particles comprising zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium dioxide or a combination thereof as these materials have especially high refractive index. Still even more preferably the whitening pigment is selected from titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or a mixture thereof and most preferred whitening pigment is titanium dioxide. The average diameter of whitening pigment is typical from 15 nm to 1 micron, more preferably from 35 nm to 800 nm, even more preferably from 50 nm to 500 nm and still even more preferably from 100 to 300 nm. Amount of whitening pigment may be 0.1 to 15%, preferably 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition.

Preferably, the composition comprises a glutamate source selected from the group consisting of glutamine, glutamine ester, glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, salts, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the composition comprises pyroglutamic acid and/or salt of pyroglutamic acid. Even more preferably, the composition comprises sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. Preferably, the glutamate source is present in amount of 0.0001 to 10% by weight of the composition, more preferably 0.001 to 6%, even more preferably 0.01 to 3% by weight of the composition. Preferably, the composition comprises polyhydric alcohol. Polyhydric alcohols may be selected from group of glycerin, propylyene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, hydroxypropyl sorbitol, hexylene glycol, 1 ,3-butylene glycol, isoprene glycol, ethoxylated glycerol, propoxylated glycerol or a mixture thereof. Most preferred polyhydric alcohol is glycerol known also as glycerin. The amount of polyhydric alcohol may range anywhere from 0.1 to 20%, preferably 0.5 to 15% and more preferably 2 and 10% by weight of the composition.

Preferably, the composition comprises emollient materials. Suitable emollient materials include silicones, hydrocarbons, triglycerides or a mixture thereof. These silicones may be organic, silicone-containing or fluorine-containing, volatile or non-volatile, polar or non-polar.

Hydrocarbons may include mineral oil, petrolatum and polyalpha-olefins. Examples of preferred volatile hydrocarbons include polydecanes such as isododecane and isodecane (e.g.

Permethyl-99A which is available from Presperse Inc.) and the C7-C8 through C12-C15 isoparaffins (such as the Isopar Series available from Exxon Chemicals). Illustrative triglycerides but not limiting are sunflower seed oil, cotton oil, canola oil, soybean oil, castor oil, borage oil, olive oil, shea butter, jojoba oil and mixtures thereof. Mono- and di- glycerides may also be useful. Particularly preferable are glyceryl monostearate and glyceryl distearate.

Preferably, the composition comprises moisturizing agents. Particularly preferred moisturizing agents includes, petrolatum, aquaporin manipulating actives, oat kernel flour, substituted urea like hydroxyethyl urea, hyaluronic acid and/or its precursor N-acetyl glucosamine, hyaluronic acid and/or its precursor N-acetyl glucosamine, or a mixture thereof.

Some compositions may include thickeners. These may be selected from cellulosics, natural gums and acrylic polymers but not limited by this thickening agent types. Among the cellulosics are sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and combinations thereof. Suitable gums include xanthan, pectin, karaya, agar, alginate gums and combinations thereof. Among the acrylic thickeners are homopolymers and copolymers of acrylic and methacrylic acids including carbomers such as Carbopol 1382, Carbopol 982, llltrez, Aqua SF-1 and Aqua SF-2 available from the Lubrizol Corporation. Amounts of thickener may range from 0.01 to 3% by weight of the active polymer (outside of solvent or water) in the compositions. In addition, the compositions of the invention may further include 0.5 to 10% by weight of sequestering agents, such as tetra sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), EHDP or mixtures; opacifiers and pearlizers such as ethylene glycol distearate, titanium dioxide or Lytron 621 (Styrene/Acrylate copolymer); all of which are useful in enhancing the appearance or properties of the product.

The composition may comprise water in amount of 10 to 96% by weight of the composition, more preferably from 25 to 92%, even more preferably from 42 to 88%, most preferably from 55 to 82% by weight of the composition.

Preferably, the composition has a viscosity of at least 10 mPa s, more preferably in the range 30 to 10000 mPa s, even more preferably 50 to 5000 mPa s, and most preferably 100 to 2000 mPa s, when measured at 20 degrees C at a relatively high shear rate of about 20 s^-1.

Preferably, the composition is an emulsion, more preferably an oil-in-water emulsion. Preferably the composition is flowable at 25 °C and atmospheric pressure. “Flowable” refers to the ability to move along smoothly with unbroken continuity.

Preferably, the personal care composition is a skin care composition. Skin care composition refers to a composition suitable for topical application to human skin, including leave-on and wash-off products but preferably leave-on compositions. The term “leave-on” as used with reference to compositions herein means a composition that is applied to or rubbed on the skin, and left thereon. The term “wash-off” as used with reference to compositions herein means a skin cleanser that is applied to or rubbed on the skin and rinsed off substantially immediately subsequent to application. The term "skin" as used herein includes the skin on the face, neck, chest, abdomen, back, arms, under arms, hands, and legs. Preferably “skin” means includes the skin on the face and under arms, more preferably skin means skin on the face other than lips and eyelids. The composition is particularly preferably a moisturizer rather than a make-up product.

Preferably, the composition is a topical composition. Preferably, the composition may be in the form of cream, lotion, ointment, solution, suspension, emulsion, paste, gel, powder, powder foundation, emulsion foundation, wax foundation, or spray. More preferably, the composition may be formulated in the form of cream, lotion, ointment, emulsion, gel, or a spray. Preferably, the composition is capable of reducing oxidative stress by at least 45%, more preferably 45% to 90%, more preferably 50 to 70%, typically in comparison to personal care composition comprising neither (a) carboxymethyl cysteine compound nor (b) C6-C12- dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof.

Preferably, the composition is capable of upregulating the gene expression of autophagy related Gene 5, preferably by at least 1.1 fold change, more preferably 1 to 5 and most preferably 1.1 to 3 and most preferably 1.1 to 1.9 fold change, typically in comparison with the composition comprising neither carboxymethyl cysteine compound nor C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof.

Preferably the use is non-therapeutic. Preferably the method is non-therapeutic. The term non- therapeutic typically means for cosmetic purposes and not curative or therapeutic purposes. The following examples are provided to facilitate an understanding of the invention. The examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Examples

Materials

Example 1

This Example demonstrates the synergistic upregulation of gene expression r by combining lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate and Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate.

The normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) (Ep23010401 , Biocell, Xi’an, China) were cultured in keratinocyte culture medium (KcGrowth, Biocell, Xi’an, China) and plated in 6-well plates. When the cell confluency reached 40% to 60%, the culture medium was replaced with medium together with or without actives for 24 hours, the cells, except blank control group, were irradiated with blue light at 10J/cm². After 24 hours incubation, the total RNA for each NHEK was extracted using AG RNAex Pro reagent (Accurate Biotechnology, Cat: AG21102) according to manufacturer’s protocol.

The extracted RNA was quantified using Nanodrop spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, US) and reverse transcribed to generate the template cDNA using the Evo M- MLV (Accurate Biotechnology, Cat: AG117728) according to manufacturer’s protocol. Gene expression of ATG5 gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using SYBR® Green Premix Pro Taq HS qPCR Kit (Accurate Biotechnology, AG11701) on CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR Detection System (BioRad, CA, US). The actin beta (ACTS) gene was selected as the housekeeping gene and all data on relative expression of the target genes was normalized to ACTB gene. The fold changes in expression were calculated relative to the blank control (medium having no active). All tests were conducted at least three times and Table 1 shows the fold changes in gene expression of ATG5. Table 1

#: The level of the active is based on the medium. a: significantly better (p<0.05) than either of single active at same level.

As demonstrated in Table 1 , lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate or potassium azeloyl diglycinate alone even downregulated the expression of ATG5 gene (A or B). However, when combining lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate and potassium azeloyl diglycinate, the expression of ATG5 gene was significantly upregulated, demonstrating synergy between lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate and potassium azeloyl diglycinate.

Claims

1. A personal care composition comprising: (a) carboxymethyl cysteine compound and (b) Ce- Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof, wherein the total amount of the C6-C12- dicarboxylic acid amide and salt thereof is 0.0001 to 2% by weight of the composition.

2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the carboxymethyl cysteine compound comprises carboxymethyl cysteine, ester of carboxymethyl cysteine, and/or salt of carboxymethyl cysteine.

3. The composition according to claim 2 wherein the carboxymethyl cysteine compound comprises salt of carboxymethyl cysteine and preferably the carboxymethyl cysteine compound comprises lysine carboxymethyl cysteinate.

4. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the carboxymethyl cysteine compound is present in amount of at least 0.00001% and no greater than 10% by weight of the composition, preferably carboxymethyl cysteine compound is present in amount of at least 0.01 % and no greater than 3% by weight of the composition.

5. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the C6-C12- dicarboxylic acid amide is preferably represented by the following formula (I): ROC-(CH₂)n-COR (I) wherein n is integer of 4 to 10, each R is independently a -NR1R2 group wherein each R1 is independently a H or Ci to C4 alkyl group, each R2 is independently a H, Ci to C4 alkyl group, or Ci to C4 carboxy group.

6. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the C6-C12- dicarboxylic acid amide and/or salt thereof is azeloyl diglycine and/or salt, preferably the composition comprises potassium azeloyl diglycinate.

7. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the total amount of the C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and salt thereof is 0.005 to 1 %, preferably 0.015 to 0.5% by weight of the composition.

8. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the weight ratio of the carboxymethyl cysteine compound to the total C6-Ci2-dicarboxylic acid amide and salt thereof is 1:5000 to 10:1 , preferably 1:400 to 1 :4.

9. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the weight ratio of the carboxymethyl cysteine compound to the total azeloyl diglycine and salt thereof is

1 :5000 to 10: 1 , preferably 1 :400 to 1 :4.

10. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition is an emulsion, preferably an oil-in-water emulsion.

11. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition is flowable at 25 °C and atmospheric pressure.

12. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition comprises water in amount of 10 to 96% by weight of the composition, preferably from 42 to 88% by weight of the composition.

13. A method of providing the skin benefits selected from the group consisting of improving skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, reducing sagging, anti-aging and upregulating the expression of autophagy related gene comprising a step of topically applying to the skin the composition of any one of the preceding claims.

14. Use of the composition of any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11 for providing the skin benefits selected from the group consisting of improving skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, reducing sagging, anti-aging and upregulating the expression of autophagy related gene.