WO1999038473A2

WO1999038473A2 - Cosmetic product kit

Info

Publication number: WO1999038473A2
Application number: PCT/EP1999/000494
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin John Kells; Elizabeth Ball; Peter Bertolini
Original assignee: Unilever Plc; Unilever N.V.; Hindustan Lever Limited
Priority date: 1998-01-30
Filing date: 1999-01-26
Publication date: 1999-08-05
Also published as: AU2922799A; AR018054A1; WO1999038473A3

Abstract

A cosmetic product kit and method is provided for removing keratotic plugs from pores on various areas of the face. Included within the kit are at least two different types of strips each with differing geometry for placement along specific portions of a person's facial anatomy. For instance, there may be specific strips for the forehead, nose and chin/cheeks. These strips are flexible substrate sheets upon which an adhesive polymer is deposited. The method involves wetting the strip to tackify the polymer and activate the adhesivity. The strips are applied to the relevant area of the face, allowed to air dry and peeled away thereby removing the keratotic plugs from the pores.

Description

COSMETIC PRODUCT KIT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention concerns a kit with differently sized adhesive strips and a method for applying them to skin for removing keratotic plugs from pores along various areas of the face.

The Related Art

Highly visual pores on facial skin surfaces are perceived, especially by women, to be a serious beauty problem. The conspicuous nature of this problem is caused by keratotic plugs formed within pores of the skin. Keratotic plugs are dead epidermal cells keratinized together with sebaceous matter and dirt. Absent proper treatment, not only will beauty suffer but also various dermatological problems may arise. Removal with detergents or with make-up removers

(e.g. cold cream) have not provided an adequate solution to the problem. Squeezing the skin in an attempt to remove keratotic plugs can lead to infections which can damage skin.

Peelable masks have been employed to attack plugged facial pores. They are applied as mobile films to the skin and peeled off after drying. Typically, the film is a nonionic polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl pyrrolidone. Unfortunately, the mask approach is still not sufficiently effective for removing dirt from skin pores and especially for removing keratotic plugs.

U.S. Patent 5,512,277 (Uemura et al.) has reported a keratotic plug remover composition including use of a peelable mask formed from a resin functionalized with salt forming groups. Particularly preferred are cationic polymers which may be delivered as a poultice.

U.S. Patent 4,126,142 (Saute) describes the use of sodium polystyrene sulfonate applied as a film to the face for cleansing skin and diminishing wrinkles. While apparently effective, further improvements in this technology are still necessary.

Within the last two years, cleansing pore strips have entered commerce in a number of countries. Products such as Kao Biore® and Pond' s® Cleansing Pore Strips are sheets of an adhesive coated flexible band-aid shaped strip which when wetted have sufficient adhesivity to remove keratotic plugs from skin pores. The strips are left on the skin for approximately 15-30 minutes to allow adhesive polymer to penetrate the pores. Removal of the strip rips away the plugs and accumulated dead skin cells. These products have been directed to treat skin surfaces of the nose.

Apparently, significant design efforts have been applied to providing the strips with an appropriate geometry for this region of the face. No such effort has been applied to developing adhesive strips directed to skin pores situated on other parts of the face. In fact, very little has been suggested concerning cleansing of pores other than those found on the nose.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a kit for removing keratotic plugs from skin pores located in a variety of facial areas including nose, forehead and chin/cheeks.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for removing keratotic plugs from skin pores located in a variety of facial areas including nose, forehead and chin/cheeks .

These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent through the following summary and detailed discussion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cosmetic product kit is provided for removing keratotic plugs from skin pores on various areas of the face, the kit including :

(i) at least one of a first strip including an adhesive polymer deposited onto a flexible substrate sheet, the polymer having an adhesive strength between 0.1 and 4 Newtons; (ii) at least one of a second strip differing in geometry from the first strip, the second strip including an adhesive polymer deposited onto a flexible substrate sheet, the polymer having an adhesive strength between 0.1 and 4 Newtons; and (iii) optionally at least one of a third strip differing in geometry from that of the first and second strips, the third strip including an adhesive polymer deposited onto a flexible substrate sheet, the polymer having an adhesive strength between 0.1 and 4 Newtons;

wherein instructions are provided for applying the first strip to a specific portion of a person's facial anatomy and the second strip to a different portion of the person' s facial anatomy.

Further, a method is provided for removing keratotic plugs from skin pores on various areas of the face, the method including:

(A) obtaining a cosmetic product kit, the kit including:

(i) at least one of a first strip including an adhesive polymer deposited onto a flexible substrate sheet, the polymer having an adhesive strength between 0.1 and 4 Newtons;

^* (ϋ) at least one of a second strip differing in geometry from the first strip, the second strip including an adhesive polymer deposited onto a flexible substrate sheet, the polymer having an adhesive strength between 0.1 and 4 Newtons; and (iii) optionally at least one of a third strip differing in geometry from that of the first and second strip, the third strip including an adhesive polymer deposited onto a flexible substrate sheet, the polymer having an adhesive strength between 0.1 and 4 Newtons;

wherein instructions are provided for applying the first strip to a specific portion of a person' s facial anatomy and the second strip to a different portion of the person' s facial anatomy;

(B) selecting one of the first strips from the kit;

(C) causing the strip to be wetted thereby increasing tackiness of the adhesive polymer;

(D) applying the first strip to an area of the face; and

(E) peeling away the strip from the skin thereby removing keratotic plugs now adhesively attached to the flexible substrate sheet.

The method may further include repeating steps (B) through (E) except with one of the second strips. The second strip is applied to an area of the face other than the area to which the first strip was applied. This sequence may even be ^* followed by repeating steps (B) through (E) except with one of a third strip. Still a different area of the face is treated with this strip.

Of particular advantage in the present invention are kits which include strips sized to fit nose, forehead and chin/cheeks. After study of the areas where pores are located, it has been determined that surface area of the forehead strip must be larger than that of the nose strip which in turn must be larger than that of the chin/cheek strip.

Configuration of the strips is preferably T-shaped. By the term "T-shaped" is meant an approximately rectangular configuration including an orthogonally arranged protrusion at mid-point along a longest dimension of the rectangle. Corners and edges of the T-shape are preferably rounded and undulating.

Each of the strips may be individually sealed within a moisture-proof pouch to prevent onset of tackiness prior to use. Kits of the present invention may include at least two pouches with each containing a different sized strip. Most preferably, a kit consists of nose, forehead and chin/cheek strips each packaged individually within a pouch. The number of nose to forehead strips per kit may range from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably from 3:1 to 1:3, optimally 1:1. The ratio of nose to chin/cheek strips per kit may range from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably from 3:1 to 1:3, optimally 1:2. Most preferably a kit will include a ratio of nose to forehead to chin/cheek strips of 1:1:2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be more fully be appreciated through the following detailed discussion, reference being made to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a strip suitable for the forehead; Fig. 2 illustrates a strip suitable for the nose; Fig. 3 illustrates a strip suitable for either the cheek or chin; Fig. 4 illustrates application of a strip sized for the forehead applied to that section of the face; Fig. 5 illustrates application of a strip sized for the nose applied to that section of the face; Fig. 6 illustrates application of a strip sized for the chin applied to that section of the face; and Fig. 7 illustrates application of a strip sized for the cheek applied to that section of the face.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now it has been discovered that the removal of keratotic plugs with adhesive strips requires customization of strip geometry to the intended facial treatment areas. Minimization of size to cover only areas of highest sebaceous glands permits a more effective and economical use of the product. Forehead, nose and cheek/chin should not be treated with a "one size fits all" product. For instance, the forehead normally needs treatment only in a central area directly above the eyebrows and in a bridged section of skin ^* between the eyebrows. For this reason, it has been found that the optimum shape is a T-shaped geometry.

Fig. 1 illustrates a forehead strip 2 dimensioned as a T- shaped article having a pseudo rectangular area 4 and an outwardly projecting area 6 along a midpoint of a length of area 4. A gently sloping convex border 8 defines a siαe of area 4 opposite to that of projection 6.

Fig. 2 illustrates a nose strip 10. This strip includes a pseudo rectangular area 12 and a projection 14. Opposite projection 14 along a length of area 12 is a concave border 16.

Fig. 3 illustrates a chin/cheek strip 18. This strip includes a pseudo rectangular area 20 and a projection 22 along a midpoint of a length thereof. Opposite projection 22 defining a length of area 20 is a concave border 24. This configuration is also considered T-shaped according to the present invention. Corners of all these strips are rounded. None of the corners being angled to a point.

Fig. 4 illustrates placement of forehead strip 2 on an area above the eyebrows with projection 6 oriented between the eyebrows. Fig. 5 illustrates placement of nose strip 10 over nose areas of the face. Fig. 6 illustrates chin/cheek strip 18 being placed along a chin area of the face. Fig. 7 illustrates chin/cheek strip 18 being placed beneath an eye along a cheek area of the face.

The product is used by removing the strip from its usually individually wrapped pouch and either directly wetting the composition on the sheet or indirectly by wetting the face in areas to be contacted by the composition. In either instance, the wetting agent interacts with the composition so it becomes tacky and sufficiently mobile to flow into skin pores. The time between removal of strip from the pouch and use may be anywhere from 5 seconds to several hours, usually from 10 to 20 seconds. Pure water is the preferred wetting agent. However, other liquid systems or gels could be employed. Suitable wetting agents would include alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and especially mixtures of these alcohols with water. Gels would normally consist of structured liquids (particularly water) thickened with structuring agents such as Carbomer.

Subsequent to wetting, the composition is allowed to dry over the area of treatment. During drying the keratotic plugs stickingly adhere to the composition. Advantageously the drying period ranges from 1 minute to 5 hours, preferably from 5 minutes to 1 hour, optimally from 10 to 20 minutes. Thereafter, the dried composition with adhered plugs is peeled from the skin.

Mobility of the composition may be measured by yield point. The yield point should range from 1 to 400 Pascals, preferably from 20 to 200, optimally from 50 to 100 Pascals. Adhesivity of polymers according to the present invention will range between 0.1 and 4 Newtons (force) as measured by an Instron Tester. Preferably the adhesivity will range from 0.5 to 2.0 Newtons.

The composition will include an adhesive polymer which may either be anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic or mixtures thereof. Mixtures may be of polymers within any one category or between different category types. Illustrative of the latter, and a preferred embodiment, is a combination of an anionic and nonionic polymer .

Examples of nonionic polymers suitable for adhesive film deposition are the copolymers of vinyl acetate and crotonic acid, terpolymers of vinyl acetate, crotonic acid and a vinyl ester of an alpha-branched saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid such as vinyl neodecanoate; copolymers of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride (molar ratio about 1.1) wherein such copolymers are 50% esterified with a saturated alcohol containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as ethanol or butanol; and acrylic copolymers, terpolymers, etc., containing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid with one or more saturated alcohols having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, t-butyl acrylate, t-butyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, n-hexyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate and behenyl acrylate, glycols having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as hydroxypropyl methacrylate and hydroxyethyl acrylate, styrene, vinyl caprolactam, vinyl acetate, acrylamide, alkyl acrylamides and methacrylamides having 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group such as methacrylamide, t-butyl acrylamide and n-octyl acrylamide, and other compatible unsaturated monomers. One specific example is the emulsion polymerized terpolymer of methacrylic acid, n-butyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate (e.g., in a weight percent ratio of 31:42:27, respectively).

Further examples of nonionic adhesive polymers are homopolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with compatible nonionic monomers such as vinyl acetate and terpolymers of ethyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate. Nonionic polymers containing N-vinylpyrrolidone in various weight average molecular weights are available commercially from ISP Corporation such as homopolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight of about 630,000 under the trademark PVP K-90 and those having an average molecular weight of about 1,000,000 sold under the trademark of PVP K-120. Particularly preferred is poly (methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) as an unneutralized resin available from ISP Corporation under the trademark Gantrez® S-97 BF.

Anionic adhesive polymers often are derived from the nonionic types which include carboxylic acid functions.

Alkaline agents are employed to neutralize the carboxylic acid or anhydride transforming them into anionic salts.

Examples of suitable neutralizing agents include

2-amino-2-methyl-l, 3-propanediol (AMPD) ; 2-amino-2-ethyl-l, 3-propanediol (AEPD) ;

2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol (AMP) ; 2-amino-l-butanol (AB) ; monoethanolamine (MEA) ; diethanolamine (DEA) ; triethanolamine (TEA) ; monoisopropanolamine (MIPA) ; diisopropanol-amine (DIPA); triisopropanolamine (TIPA); and dimethyl stearamine (DMS) . Most preferred is AMP.

Particularly preferred anionic polymers are the salts of poly (methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) and polystyrene sulfonic acid. The former is obtained by at least partial neutralization of Gantrez® S-97 BF and the latter available from the National Starch & Chemical Company under the trademarks Versa TL-501 and Flexan© 130 having respective molecular weights of about 500,000 and 100,000. Other polymer films which may be employed and are commercially available as listed in the Table below.

TABLE I

Cationic adhesive polymers suitable for the present invention may be prepared as homo- or copolymers from monomers including:

Dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate (DMAEA), Dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), Dimethylaminopropylacrylamide (DMAPAAm) , and Dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide (DMAPMAAm) which are all (meth) acrylamides or (meth) acrylic acid esters having a dialkylamino group;

Dimethylaminostyrene (DMASt) and Dimethyaminomethylstyrene (DMAMSt) and the like which are styrenes having a dialkylamino group;

4-Vinyl pyridine and 2-vinyl pyridine which are vinyl pyridines; and

Quaternized products of these with a known quaternizing agent such as alkyl halide, benzyl halide, alkyl or aryl sulfonic acid, or dialkyl sulfate.

Among suitable amphoteric adhesive polymers are those derived from monomers such as:

N- (3-sulfopropyl) -N-acryloyloxyethyl-N, N-dimethylammonium betaine, N- (3-sulfopropyl) -N-methacroylamidepropyl-N, N- dimethylammonium betaine, N- (3-carboxymethyl) -N- methacroylamidepropyl-N, N-dimethylammonium betaine and N- carboxymethyl-N-methacroyloxyethyl-N, N-dimethylammonium betaine. When the salt forming group of the cationic and amphoteric polymers is not ionized, it is preferred to ionize it via neutralization with known acids such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid which are inorganic acids; acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, glycol acid which are organic acids, or with known bases such as triethylamine, trimethylamine which are tertiary amines; ammonia; or sodium hydroxide.

Most polymers suitable for the present invention will be relatively brittle when dried. Therefore, they require a supporting surface which is a flexible substrate sheet. Substrate sheets of the present invention may either be occlusive or non-occlusive. Preferably but not necessarily the sheets are non-occlusive to allow water evaporation from the deposited polymer as the film maturates. Non- occlusivity or breathability is achieved either through use of a hydrophobic substrate having physical porosity (e.g. pore channels) or a hydrophilic substrate wherein the material of construction inherently allows for breathability. Suitable materials include cellulosics such as rayon, wool, cotton, linen, thermoplastic fibers and combinations thereof. They may be woven or nonwoven. Nonwoven rayon is a preferred substrate. Materials formed from combinations of cellulosic with thermoplastic fibers may also be employed. For instance, a hydrophilic polypropylene/rayon combination can be employed for the present invention.

Particularly suitable substrate sheets for the present invention are PGI 5255 (a rayon resin bonded material) , Veratec 9408810 (a polyester/cellulose wet laid material) , Veratec 2006094 (a polypropylene thermal bonded material) and Veratec polyethylene.

It is advantageous to employ a ratio of composition to substrate sheet in amount ranging from 0.1:1 to 1,000:1, preferably 0.5:1 to 100:1 and optimally 0.8:1 to 10:1 by weight. The polymer ordinarily will constitute from 50 to 100%, preferably from 75 to 99%, optimally from 85 to 95% by weight of the composition deposited onto the substrate sheet .

Minor adjunct ingredients may also be included such as fragrances, opacifiers and colorants, each in their effective amounts to accomplish their respective functions.

Pouches for storing strips of the present invention are normally of the laminated foil variety. These are heat sealed and utilize foils with very low vapor (e.g. moisture) transmission rates (a rate of transmission less than 5% per day, preferably less than 1% per day volatile fluid gain or loss). Walls suitable for the pouch may utilize polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene sheets, several layers of which can be laminated together. These layers may also be ^* provided with a coating of wax or other volatile fluid impermeable material.

Claims

1. A method for removing keratotic plugs from skin pores on various areas of the face, the method comprising:

(A) obtaining a cosmetic product kit, the kit comprising:

(i) at least one of a first strip comprising an adhesive polymer deposited onto a flexible substrate sheet, the polymer having an adhesive strength between 0.1 and 4 Newtons; (ii) at least one of a second strip differing in geometry from the first strip, the second strip comprising an adhesive polymer deposited onto a flexible substrate sheet, the polymer having an adhesive strength between 0.1 and 4 Newtons; and (iii) optionally at least one of a third strip differing in geometry from that of the first and second strips, the third strip comprising an adhesive polymer deposited onto a flexible substrate sheet, the polymer having an adhesive strength between 0.1 and 4 Newtons;

wherein instructions are provided for applying the first strip to a specific portion of a person' s facial anatomy and the second strip to a different portion of the person's facial anatomy; - l i

(B) selecting one of the first strips from the kit;

(D) applying the first strip to an area of the face; and

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the surface area of the first strip is smaller than that of the second.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the first strip is sized for coverage of the nose and the second strip is sized for coverage of the forehead.

. The method according to any preceding claim wherein the third strip is present and sized for coverage of chin or cheeks.

5. The method according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second strips are T-shaped.

6. A cosmetic product kit for removing keratotic plugs from skin pores on various areas of the face, the kit comprising:

wherein instructions are provided for applying the first strip to a specific portion of a person's facial anatomy and the second strip to a different portion of the person's facial anatomy.

7. The kit according to claim 6 wherein the first strip is sized for coverage of the nose and the second strip is sized for coverage of the forehead.

8. The kit according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the third strip is present and sized for coverage of chin or cheeks .

9. The kit according to any of claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein the first and second strips are T-shaped.

10. The kit according to claim 7 wherein the number of nose and forehead strips are present in a ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 per kit, each strip being individually packaged within a sealed pouch.

11. The kit according to claim 10 wherein the ratio is 1:1.