COSMETIC TREATMENT PROCESS

Abstract

A process for subjecting a surface of the skin or of the hair to an abrasive and/or stimulating action, including projecting onto the surface a flow of at least one composition including a vector liquid and solid particles, the flow being generated from the collision of at least two jets generated by at least two nozzles of a dispensing device, the nozzles oriented such that their jets encounter one another, and at least one nozzle being supplied with a pressure of at least 4 bar and with a vector-liquid flow rate of less than or equal to 10 L/min.

Claims

1. A process for subjecting a surface of the skin or of the hair to an abrasive and/or stimulating action, comprising projecting onto said surface a flow of at least one composition comprising a vector liquid and solid particles, the flow generated from the collision of at least two jets generated by at least two nozzles of a dispensing device, the nozzles oriented such that jets emanating therefrom encounter one another, at least one nozzle supplied with a pressure of at least 4 bar and with a vector-liquid flow rate of less than or equal to 10 L/min.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the vector liquid comprises water.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate is between 0.4 L/min and 4 L/min.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the pressure is greater than or equal to 6 bar.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the nozzles are oriented with an angle of between 30 and 120° with respect to one another.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing device comprises a hand piece having a opened to the outside, within which the jets emitted by the nozzles encounter one another.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the solid particles are present in the composition upstream of the nozzle(s) in a concentration by weight of greater than or equal to 0.5% relative to the total weight of the composition.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the particles have a hardness on the Mohs scale of greater than or equal to 3.

9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the particles are chosen from powders of alumina, of silica, of aluminosilicates, of carbonates, or of a material coated with a silica, an alumina or an aluminosilicate, and mixtures thereof.

10. Process according to claim 1, wherein the particle speed at the moment they impact said surface being greater than or equal to 8 m/s.

11. The process according to claim 1, wherein the surface is a surface of the hair.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the surface is a skin surface.

13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the particle size is between 0.1 and 500 microns.

14. The process according to claim 1, further comprising the step consisting in rinsing said surface with the same device as that used for projecting the composition, by projecting water without said solid particles and/or water with a surfactant or a compound capable of dissolving the particles.

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein the particles are suspended by mechanical stirring in a reservoir and they are left to settle, and, during the settling, the composition is suctioned from this reservoir so as to allow the nature and/or the concentration of the particles present in the flow distributed to vary due to the settling taking place in the reservoir.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein at least two powders of different densities are mixed in said reservoir.

17. The process according to claim 1, wherein the particles have a density of less than 1 g/cm.sup.3.

18. The process according to claim 1, wherein the particles being water-soluble and taken from a reservoir where they are in suspension in a liquid in which they are not soluble.

19. The process according to claim 1, wherein the particles being generated at the time of use by bringing together two compounds which react together to form solid particles.

20. A device for treating the skin or hair, comprising: a device for dispensing a liquid cosmetic composition comprising a vector liquid and solid particles entrained by this liquid, this device comprising at least two nozzles oriented such that their jets encounter one another to generate a flow that is dispensed on the skin or hair, at least one nozzle being supplied with the vector liquid at a pressure of at least 4 bar so as to deliver a flow of composition at a flow rate of less than or equal to 10 L/min, and a reservoir containing said composition or the solid particles to be mixed with the vector liquid, or at least one reservoir containing a compound capable of generating, by reacting with at least one other compound, said solid particles.

21. The device according to claim 20, further comprising a pump connected to said at least one nozzle.

22. The device according to claim 20, further comprising two nozzles oriented such that their jets encounter one another, the axes of the nozzles making an angle between them of between 60° and 120°.

23. The device according to claim 20, further comprising a stirrer for suspending said particles in the reservoir.

24. The device according to claim 20, wherein the device is arranged to remove the composition to be dispensed by suctioning from this reservoir, the suctioning being carried out at a distance from the bottom of the reservoir.

25. The device according to claim 20, further comprising two reservoirs containing compounds which react together, and a system for injecting these compounds so as to allow them to mix with the vector liquid and to react, the reaction of the compounds producing solid particles.

Description

[0105] The invention may be understood more clearly from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof and from studying the appended drawing, in which:

[0106] FIG. 1 is a partial schematic representation of an example of a device according to the invention,

[0107] FIGS. 2 and 3 are views similar to FIG. 1 of implementation variants, and

[0108] FIG. 4 shows an example of arrangement of the nozzles within the hand piece.

[0109] A treatment device 10 according to the invention, comprising a hand piece 11, also referred to as low-flow showerhead, for delivering, onto the surface to be treated, a composition comprising solid particles, in accordance with the invention, has been represented in FIG. 1. The solid particles are for example particles having a hardness greater than or equal to 3 on the Mohs scale, for example an alumina powder, a silica powder, an aluminosilicate powder or a carbonate powder or any other matter covered with a hard material such as silica, alumina or aluminosilicate.

[0110] The hand piece 11 preferably comprises, as illustrated, a dispensing head 12 having at least two nozzles 13 each delivering a respective jet under pressure.

[0111] The X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 axes of the nozzles 13 are oriented such that their jets collide, thereby making it possible to reduce the size of the droplets. The nozzles 13 allow the drops to reach a small size and a speed preferably greater than 8 m/s and preferably greater than 15 m/s. The surface treated by the flow emitted while keeping the hand piece immobile ranges for example from 10 to 100 cm.sup.2.

[0112] Such an arrangement of nozzles is described in patent EP 1 954 893 B1 from the company Creaholic S.A. and can be reproduced. The angle between the X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 axes is for example about 90°.

[0113] The hand piece 11 can have a cavity 89 opened to the outside, within which the jets emitted by the nozzles 13 encounter one another, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This cavity 89 can diverge towards the outside, with a recess 91 further widening it in proximity to its opening. The cavity 89 can participate in guiding the flow generated after the encounter of the jets in the axis of said cavity, towards the outside.

[0114] The speed of the drops, measured at the opening of the cavity 89, in the axis thereof, can be greater than or equal to 8 m/s.

[0115] The device 10 operates in this example with a supply of composition from a reservoir 16.

[0116] The device 10 can comprise a pump 14 for raising the pressure upstream of the nozzles 13 to a value greater than or equal to 4 bar. The pump 14 is for example a centrifugal pump. As a variant, the composition is pressurized by other means, such as for example the use of a sufficient level change between the reservoir 16 and the hand piece 11.

[0117] An electronic control system 19, for example comprising a microcontroller, is advantageously provided for controlling the operation of the various constituent elements of the device 10, and in particular obtaining, at the outlet, the desired concentration of solid particles and the desired flow characteristics.

[0118] The control system 19 can comprise, where appropriate, a man-machine interface 20 making it possible to regulate various operating parameters.

[0119] The device 10 can comprise, as illustrated, at least one solenoid valve 21 which makes it possible to open or close the water supply from a network of running water R for example.

[0120] The flow of water dispensed has, in the example under consideration, a flow rate of less than 10 L/min, and preferentially of between 0.4 L/min and 4 L/min. The solid particles are preferably present in the water at a concentration by weight of 1% or more, and preferentially between 4% and 30%.

[0121] The reservoir may be equipped with a stirrer 22, which can optionally be activated throughout the treatment, depending for example on whether it is desired to vary by settling out the concentration of solid particles during the treatment.

[0122] One or more filters 92 can be placed upstream of the nozzles 13 in order to prevent particle agglomerates passing through and blocking the nozzles, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0123] In the example of FIG. 1, the solid particles are introduced into the supply of the pump 14 upstream thereof, namely into the reservoir 16.

[0124] It is also possible to supply solid particles by adding to the water supply of the pump, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0125] In this case, it is possible to use, as illustrated, an additional pump 22 for injecting, into the water circuit 23 downstream of the pump 14, a powder or a liquid composition containing the solid particles, contained in a reservoir 24. The injection into the water circuit 23 leads to a dilution, which is preferentially (by weight) by a factor of 100 to 1.5, and more preferentially from 10 to 2.

[0126] In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the injection of the solid particles takes place downstream of the pump 14 in order to reduce the wear thereof. This injection can also be carried out upstream of the pump 14, which makes it possible to reduce the pressure required to carry out the injection.

[0127] In FIG. 2, the reservoir 24 equipped with a stirrer 25 for stirring its content has been represented.

[0128] In one exemplary embodiment applicable both to the example of FIG. 1 and to that of FIG. 2, the reservoir 16 or 24 containing a liquid, for example water, is filled with a powder such as a fine sand for example. Stirring is firstly carried out, and the stirring is interrupted. The liquid which is suctioned and sent in the flow and thus onto the hair then contains powder. Then, naturally, the powder sediments in the reservoir 16 or 24 and the liquid which is suctioned becomes clear, then making it possible to automatically carry out a rinsing operation.

[0129] In the case where the particles are water-soluble, they can be taken from a reservoir where they are in suspension in a liquid in which they are not soluble, this liquid being for example ethanol in the case of a powder of a mineral salt, for example NaCl. In this case, the particles do not have time to entirely dissolve before reaching the surface onto which they are projected.

[0130] In one implementation variant, illustrated in FIG. 3, the particles are generated at the time of use by bringing together two compounds which react together to form solid particles, these compounds being in particular injected into the water circuit 23 supplying the hand piece 11, upstream of the pump 14.

[0131] In FIG. 3, two solenoid valves 26 and 27 which make it possible to control the injection of these two compounds, contained in respective reservoirs 30 and 31, have been represented. These solenoid valves are connected to the abovementioned control system 19, not shown on this figure.

[0132] The compounds intended to react together are for example ammonium carbonate and calcium chloride.

EXAMPLES

[0133] The following formulas are prepared (proportions expressed by weight relative to the total weight of the mixture).

[0134] Formula 1:

TABLE-US-00001 Alumina 400 μm (GF09529768 from the company Aldrich) 20% Water 80%

[0135] Formula 2:

TABLE-US-00002 Alumina 45 μm (GF18024511 from the company Aldrich) 20% Water 80%

[0136] Formula 3:

TABLE-US-00003 Alumina 0.1 μm (GF29729650 from the company Aldrich) 20% Water 80%

[0137] Formula 4:

TABLE-US-00004 KCl (average size of 420 μm) 20% Ethanol 80%

[0138] Formula 5:

TABLE-US-00005 Expanded perlite 25 microns  4% (Optimat 2550 OR from World Minerals-Imerys) Water 96%

Example 1

[0139] A device according to the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is used with a flow rate of 2 L/min. This device has a pump delivering the composition under a pressure of 10 bar, two single-orifice nozzles of circular cross-section, oriented towards one another at 90°, a grid upstream of the nozzles serving as a filter for preventing particles of more than 500 μm from reaching the nozzles, and a reservoir.

[0140] The device is supplied with water. The formulas mentioned above are introduced into the reservoir. The device allows an injection at 30% by weight of the formulas into the flow of water.

[0141] Three heads of hair having previously undergone two successive bleaching operations (length 30 cm caucasian initially chestnut brown) are treated for 10 seconds.

[0142] On each of the heads of hair, the device is used for 20 seconds while taking care to move the hand piece so as to treat the whole of one half-surface.

Comparative Example 1

[0143] The settings of the device of Example 1 are changed: The supply of the pump is turned off. In so doing, the pressure is limited to 3.4 bar, which is the water supply pressure. The two-nozzle head is replaced with a single nozzle, with an orifice 5 mm in diameter. In so doing, the flow rate is 12 L/min.

[0144] The device is used with these new settings and the same formulas. The other half of each of the heads of hair is targeted.

[0145] At the end of treatment, the heads of hair are rinsed with 2 l of water applied with a flow rate of 12 L/min.

[0146] Each head of hair is shampooed and the feel is noted on wet hair and on dry hair. A difference in quality of feel is noted on wet hair in favour of the first setting. A better sheen (on dry hair) is also noted for Formulas 2 and 3.

Example 2

[0147] The same settings are performed for treating a scalp with dandruff. In the case of Formulas 1 and 2, an improvement in the dandruff state is noted in the case of the device according to the invention, compared with the starting state. The dandruff flakes are, according to the visual observation, to a large extent removed. This is due in particular to the size of the particles, which is preferentially between 10 and 300 microns for a treatment of a dandruff state of the scalp. Conversely, when the same composition, sent in a conventional stream (10 L/min), is used, no improvement in the dandruff state is observed.

Example 3

[0148] Formula 1 is introduced into a 2-litre reservoir. The device is used by supplying it by means of the reservoir, as in the example of FIG. 1. The pump supply tube is immersed in the reservoir. The hand piece is used for treating the head of hair, then the body, making it possible to exfoliate the front and back of the body without difficulty.

Example 4

[0149] Formulas 1 and 2 are mixed in a ratio of 50/50 by volume. The whole mixture is introduced into a 2-litre tank. The device is used by supplying it with this formula, as for the previous example, the pump supply tube being immersed in the tank. The tank is stirred, then the stirring is stopped and its content is dispensed onto the head of hair. Firstly, the large particles are dispensed. The individual feels the activation and can indicate whether they wish to stop or to continue. If the device is left to continue dispensing the composition, the device sends the finer particles, then water, because of the settling which occurs in the tank.

Example 5

[0150] Formula 4 is used in the device according to the invention of Example 1. A head of hair is treated in order to activate the scalp. The treatment lasts approximately 10 minutes. After a pause of 5 minutes, the head of hair is rinsed for 1 minute with a supply without Formula 4. By virtue of the invention, the water consumption is limited (22 l). Finally, the scalp and the head of hair contain no powder residue.

Example 6

[0151] Formula 5 is used in the device according to the invention of Example 1. A head of hair is treated in order to activate the scalp. The treatment lasts approximately 10 minutes. After a pause of 5 minutes, the head of hair is placed in a sink and then rinsed for 5 minutes with a supply without Formula 4 while at the same time keeping the sink filling. The hair is left to bathe, leaving the particles to rise to the surface. Once the head of hair has been removed from the sink, the particles floating at the surface are then recovered. The scalp and the head of hair contain no powder residue. In addition, such a treatment is economical.