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  Topical use of post-application expanding cosmetic compositionUSPTO Application #: 20060088486Title: Topical use of post-application expanding cosmetic composition Abstract: The present invention provides a method for imparting to the lips the appearance of more fullness and to the skin, particularly the face, the masking of surface irregularities, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes, by applying thereto a post-application expanding composition. The composition comprises one or more surfactants, a solvent for the surfactant(s), a volatile agent, a film forming agent and, optionally, a colorant, preferably a pigment. (end of abstract)
Agent: Charles J Zeller Avon Products - Suffern, NY, US Inventors: William E McNamara, Derrick B McKie, John S Kurek, Giovana A Sandstrom USPTO Applicaton #: 20060088486 - Class: 424064000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Drug, Bio-affecting And Body Treating Compositions, Live Skin Colorant Containing, Lip The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060088486. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/331,069, filed Dec. 27, 2002. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention provides a method for improving the appearance of the skin by topically applying thereto a leave-on post-application expanding composition. The composition comprises an agent which, due to its volatility, will expand after it is applied to skin ("a volatile agent"), a film forming agent and, optionally, a colorant, preferably a pigment. The method of the present invention can be employed to provide fullness to the lips, mask skin fine lines, wrinkles, depressions, acne scars and level the surface of the skin. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Post-application expanding compositions are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,541,581 discloses a cleansing or cosmetic composition in the form of a stable, post-foaming shaving gel. The disclosed gel has a yield value sufficiently high to substantially restrain the composition from foaming for at least about 60 seconds under static ambient conditions. The '581 patentee states that an object of the invention is to provide a lather-producing composition that, in addition to possessing the desirable properties of prior art compositions, is characterized by being discharged as a stable gel that is substantially free from foaming. After it is spread over the skin and beard, the gel produces a post generating foam. The purpose of the invention is to provide a lather, in-situ, on the surface of the skin so as to facilitate shaving of facial hair. The invention is also disclosed to be useful in topical applications for cleansing. Moreover, coloring materials, such as dyes may be used if desired. However, unlike the present invention, this composition is not a leave-on composition [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,111 discloses a stable shaving cream gel that is asserted to possess superior foaming and after-feel characteristics. Various compatible additives which do not adversely affect the gel structure may be added in minor amounts. Coloring materials are included among the materials exemplified as suitable for such purpose. A combination of the dyes D & C Yellow #10 and F D & C Blue #1 is employed in Examples 6 through 10. They are however used in very low concentration. For example 1.2% of a 1% trituration of D& C Yellow #10 dye and 0.45% of a 1% trituration of F D & C Blue #1 dye are employed in Example 7. Moreover, this composition is not a leave-on composition. [0007] Though the post-foaming compositions of the prior art have been used for shaving facial hair and though such compositions may contain minor amounts of a dye to impart to the composition a coloration more pleasing to the consumer, such compositions have heretofor found no further use. Moreover, such compositions are applied then soon removed. For example, a post-application expanding shave gel is applied to the face then promptly removed by the razor during the shaving process. Prior to the present invention, post-application expanding compositions have not been employed as leave-on compositions. [0008] The present inventors has discovered that compositions that expand after application, such as the delayed post-foaming compositions of the prior art, can be surprisingly and advantageously modified, applied to the skin and allowed to remain thereon to improve the aesthetic appearance of skin surfaces, especially skin of the lips and face. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention relates to the topical use of a leave-on composition that expands after application, such as a post-foaming composition. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for imparting an improvement in the appearance of skin, such as the appearance of fullness, particularly the lips, or the masking of skin fine lines, wrinkles, depressions and acne scars or the appearance of a leveling of the skin. The method entails topically applying to the skin a leave-on composition that expands after application. [0010] The method of the present invention utilizes a composition that contains a surfactant, a solvent for the surfactant, a film former and a volatile agent that will expand after the composition is applied to the skin. [0011] The film-forming agent is present in an amount effective to form a film after the composition is applied to the skin. Alternatively, a colorant (preferably, a pigment) is present in an amount sufficient to mask the color of the foam formed after the composition is applied to the skin. Preferably, both the film-forming agent and the colorant are present. When it is desired that the skin of the lips be treated, the colorant can be employed in an amount effective to impart a color to the lips. [0012] The volatile agent can be maintained in a dispersed state in the composition by storing the composition in a pressurized container (hereinafter referred to as the "Pressurized System"). [0013] Alternatively: [0014] 1) the volatile agent can be solubilized in the composition by including in the composition a solubilizing amount of a solubilizing agent such as: [0015] (i) a block polymer, preferably a block polymer ether, such as MEROXAPOL block polymers, POLOXAMER block polymers, POLOXAMINE block polymers, or mixture thereof; [0016] (ii) polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol alternative, such as (PEG-800/polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, sodium MA/vinyl alcohol copolymer, acetylated polyvinyl alcohol, vinylamine/vinyl alcohol copolymer, VP/NA copolymer, polyvinyl acetate and polyvinylacetal diethylaminoacetate, (PEG-800/polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, sodium MA/vinyl alcohol copolymer, acetylated polyvinyl alcohol, vinylamine/vinyl alcohol copolymer and VP/VA copolymer are preferred polyvinyl alcohol alternatives); or [0017] (iii) a mixture thereof (this alternative is herein referred to as the "Solubilization System"); [0018] 2) the volatile agent can be dispersed throughout the composition in nanometer sized droplets, in which case the composition is preferably in the form of a microemulsion (this alternative is herein referred to as the "Microemulsion System"); or [0019] 3) the volatile agent can be generated in situ on the skin or just prior to application to the skin, preferably by reaction of a cosmetically acceptable acid, such as citric acid, with a cosmetically acceptable base, such as sodium or potassium bicarbonate, in the presence of water, in which case the volatile agent, carbon dioxide, is produced (this alternative is referred to herein as the "Two Part System"). [0020] The Solubilization, Microemulsion and Two Part Systems (corresponding respectively to the above alternatives 1, 2 and 3 (hereinafter referred as the "Non-Pressurized Systems") obviate the need for storing the composition in a pressurized container. [0021] In its broadest form, the present invention includes the topical use of any cosmetically acceptable composition for application to the skin, especially the skin of the lips or face, wherein the composition expands when applied to the skin, upon application or after a predetermined time period thereafter, then sets up in its expanded state, to provide beneficial characteristics to the skin, such as, in the case of the lips, the appearance of greater fullness or, in the case of the face, a leveling effect. [0022] The method of the present invention involves applying a leave-on post-application expanding composition to an area of the skin where an improvement in appearance is desired. The composition is a leave-on composition because it is permitted to remain on the skin for a period of at least one hour, preferably several hours, more preferably at least 4 hours, and most preferably at least 8 hours. [0023] Preferably, the container for the post-application expanding composition employed in the method of the invention contains on its label, outer package, product insert or promotional material, written indicia instructing that the composition be applied and maintained on the skin for such period. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0024] The method of the present invention employs a composition that is comprised of (i) a post-foaming component comprising a volatile agent, one or more surfactants, and a solvent for the surfactant(s) and (ii) a film forming agent or colorant. Preferably, the composition is comprised of (i) a post-foaming component comprising a volatile agent and one or more surfactants and (ii) a film forming agent. More preferably, the composition is comprised of (i) a post-foaming component comprising a volatile agent, one or more surfactants, and a solvent for the surfactant(s), (ii) a film forming agent and (iii) a colorant, preferably, a pigment. Post-Foaming Component [0025] The first necessary component of the post-application expanding composition utilized in the method of the present invention is a post-foaming component comprised of one or more surfactants, a solvent for the surfactant(s), and a volatile agent (blowing agent) that foams the surfactant(s). [0026] Post-foaming compositions, particularly post-foaming gel compositions, are known in the art. For purposes of the present invention, a post-foaming composition is a composition that does not create a foam as it is dispensed from its container, but creates a foam after exposure to atmospheric pressure for at least 2 seconds. However, a post-foaming composition may foam even sooner when exposed to mechanical manipulation and/or to temperatures greater than ambient temperature. The topical use of such post-foaming compositions is also within the scope of the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Topical use of post-application expanding cosmetic composition Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Topical use of post-application expanding cosmetic composition patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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