COMPOSITION FOR SHAVING

Abstract

The invention provides a non-greasy skin conditioning composition and related wipes that may be used as a pre-shave and/or after-shave composition with enhanced lubricity and balanced humidity along with an optional odorant that obviates the use of any aftershave.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The physical applicator of claim 12, wherein said anti-irritant agent further comprises an agent selected from bisabolol, tocopherol, saw palmetto extract and combinations of any of these anti-irritant agents.

6. The physical applicator of claim 12, wherein said composition further comprises 0.1-5% by weight of a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG).

7. The physical applicator of claim 12, wherein said composition further comprises a thickener agent in an amount of 0.1-5% by weight.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. The physical applicator of claim 12 wherein said composition is in the form of solution, emulsion, spray, gel or in solid or semi-solid form such as stick or roll-on.

11. The the physical applicator of claim 12, wherein said composition is impregnated in or applied to a physical applicator selected from wipe, pad, towelette, cloth, tissue, swab and bandage.

12. A physical applicator for a composition for use in shaving, the applicator comprising: a flexible substrate made of an absorbent material; and a skin conditioning composition impregnated in or applied on said flexible substrate, the skin conditioning composition comprising 1%-80% by weight volatile agent, 0.1-10% by weight lubricating agent and 0.1-10% by weight anti-irritant agent comprising one or more aqueous-soluble trivalent cation of the lanthanide series, the wipe intended for application on a user's skin before or after shaving.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. The physical applicator of claim 12, wherein said trivalent cation of the lanthanide series is selected from La.sup.3+, Ce.sup.3+ and Pr.sup.3+ and salts of any of these cations.

16. The physical applicator of claim 12, wherein said trivalent cation of the lanthanide series is in the form of a trivalent salt of La.sup.3+.

17. The physical applicator of claim 12, wherein said trivalent cation of the lanthanide series is in the form of lanthanum nitrate (La(NO.sub.3).sub.3) or lanthanum nitrate hexahydrate.

18. The method according to claim 23, further comprising applying said composition on a user's skin to be shaved thereby leaving a layer on the skin surface for facilitating shaving, with the proviso that the layer is not in the form of foam and does not form foam upon application on the skin.

19. The physical applicator of claim 12, wherein said skin conditioning composition further comprises at least one additional agent selected from the group consisting of skin conditioner, humectant, antiseptic agent, anti-allergic agent, color, fragrance, antioxidant, natural extract, vitamin, UV light absorber, solvent and combinations of these.

20. The physical applicator of claim 12, wherein said skin conditioning composition comprises 0.01-10.0% w/w lanthanum nitrate or lanthanum nitrate hexahydrate, 1-70% w/w alcohol, 0.01-5.0% w/w tocopherol, 0.01-10.0% w/w bisabolol and 0.01-10.0% w/w saw palmetto extract.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. A method of conditioning a skin area before or after shaving comprising applying the physical applicator of claim 12 to a hairy skin area so as to apply the composition in an amount effective to prepare the area to be shaved.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the shaving is by electric razor.

25. A method of conditioning a skin area after shaving comprising applying the physical applicator of claim 12 to a hairy skin area so as to apply the composition in an amount effective to condition the shaved skin in that area.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the composition is applied to the skin at least 2 seconds before shaving to reduce friction between an electric razor and a skin surface.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the composition is applied to the skin at least 2 seconds before shaving to reduce friction between an electric razor and a skin surface.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details set forth in the following description or exemplified by the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

[0029] Thus, according to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an all-in-one pre- and/or after-shave composition that makes shaving smooth, leaving the skin soft, moisturized, with a pleasant odor and with minimal irritation. Preferably, the composition of the invention is suitable for use before, during and/or after shaving with an electric shaver.

[0030] The skin conditioning composition may be used as a pre-shave and/or after-shave composition with enhanced lubricity and balanced humidity along with an optional odorant that obviates the use of any aftershave. The composition of the invention also has disinfectant properties to prevent skin infection and anti-allergic properties to prevent irritation.

[0031] The composition of the invention conditions the skin in shaving, especially before shaving with an electric shaver, by providing at least one of the following properties to the skin: enhanced lubricity, balanced humidity, disinfectant properties and anti-irritant properties.

[0032] The composition comprises a lubricating agent, or a mixture of such agents, and one or more aqueous-soluble trivalent cations of the lanthanide series in the form of salts, preferably a lanthanide salt. Surprisingly, these lanthanide salts have anti-irritant properties that are especially beneficial in the composition of the invention when applied before or after shaving.

[0033] Anti-irritant agents are intended to reduce the irritation potential of other agents that may cause skin irritation, sufficiently to be tolerated when such irritants are applied to the body. Different mechanisms are postulated for the activity shown by various anti-irritants: some operate by complexing the irritant itself, others react with the skin, blocking reactive sites so that the irritant cannot react with it, and another group seems to protect by preventing complete physical contact between irritant and skin.

[0034] A lubricating agent for purposes of this invention is a substance that reduces friction between the surface of a razor blade in contact with a skin surface.

[0035] The skin conditioning composition of the invention comprises a trivalent cation of the lanthanide series selected from La.sup.3+, Ce.sup.3+ and Pr.sup.3, and salts of the foregoing cations. Preferably, the trivalent cation is La.sup.3+ in the form of a salt, such as, for example, lanthanum nitrate or lanthanum nitrate hexahydrate. The composition may additionally comprise anti-irritation agents selected from a long chain fatty alcohol, tocopherol, bisabolol and saw palmetto extract.

[0036] The skin conditioning composition of the invention is adapted for use before or after shaving, particularly before or after shaving with an electric shaver. The composition comprises l%-80% by weight volatile agent, preferably a liquid alcohol, 0.1-10% by weight lubricating agent, 0.1-5% by weight lanthanum salt and at least one anti-irritant agent selected from, bisabolol, tocopherol, saw palmetto extract and combinations of any of these anti-irritant agents.

[0037] The composition may further comprise 0.1-5% by weight of a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG), 0.1-5% by weight of a thickener agent and/or at least one additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of skin conditioner, humectant, antiseptic agent, anti-allergic agent, color, fragrance, antioxidant, natural extract, vitamin, UV light absorber, solvent and combinations of these.

[0038] The composition can be in the form of a solution, emulsion, spray, gel or in solid or semi-solid form, such as stick or roll-on. Alternatively, the composition can be impregnated within or applied onto a physical applicator, preferably a flexible substrate selected from wipe, pad, towelette, cloth, tissue, swab and bandage, hereinafter collectively termed wipe or wet wipe.

[0039] The flexible substrate is preferably manufactured from an absorbent or a porous material. The use of an absorbent or porous material advantageously assists in maintaining the composition in or on the substrate.

[0040] The substrate may include, but is not limited to, non-woven substrates and woven substrates. The term non-woven means that the substrate, or at least a layer of the substrate, is formed of fibers which are not woven into a fabric and are, therefore, formed into a sheet, mat, or pad layer. The fibers can either be random (i.e., randomly aligned) or they can be carded (i.e., combed to be oriented in primarily one direction). Furthermore, the non-woven substrate can include a combination of layers of random and carded fibers.

[0041] When the substrate is a woven substrate, it is envisaged that it may include woven cotton and polyester substrates.

[0042] It is particularly preferred that the substrate is in the shape of a substantially flat sheet, such as a wipe, towelette, pad, cloth, tissue, swab or the like. It is envisaged that the shape of the substrate may be, for example, square, circular, oval, or rectangular.

[0043] Production of the wipes can be performed in a special dedicated machine in which the roll of the fabric is conveyed into a pool containing the composition. The wet fabric is then cut into pieces. The machine folds the wet wipe and packs it in a hermetic closed aluminum sachet.

[0044] Alternatively, the composition of the invention may be applied in solid form within a stick or in solid, semi-solid or liquid form in a roll-on device.

[0045] According to embodiments of the invention, the wipe comprises the skin conditioning composition of the invention for applying on a user's skin to be shaved, thereby leaving a. layer on the skin surface for facilitating shaving, with the proviso that the layer is not in the form of foam and does not form foam upon application on the skin, thus being suitable for use before any shave, especially before shaving with an electric razor. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a skin conditioning composition is provided which is non-greasy to the skin and touch and which forms a layer on the skin surface for facilitating shaving. The layer is preferably non-foaming. The skin conditioning composition of the invention, which may be in the form of a solution, an emulsion, a spray, gel or the like, may comprise one or more skin-conditioning agents and/or skin feel enhancers and/or humectants, one or more lubricants, one or more disinfectants, one or more anti-allergic agents, optionally one or more preservatives, and water. The composition of the invention also optionally includes one or more colorants and/or fragrances.

[0046] As indicated, the composition of the invention includes a unique combination of ingredients that aids in forming a skin-conditioning composition designed to be used pre shave and after shave, which combination comprises ingredients which are beneficial in general as skin-conditioning agents for the pre-shave step and for the after-shave step.

[0047] As formulated for use with electric or regular razors, the composition of the invention incorporates volatile agents that impart a drying ability to the pre-shave aspect. Preferably these volatile agents are liquid alcohols, such as ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. The amount of volatile agent in the composition is at least 1% by weight, preferably at least 20% by weight, more preferably at least 50% by weight, most preferably 70% or 80% per weight. These ranges ensure desirable drying characteristics of the composition before the application of a razor. The high volatility of the volatile agent stiffens the beard hairs, making them stand-up more readily and thus permits easier cutting.

[0048] The composition also contains various lubricants and moisturizers or emollients. Suitable lubricants and moisturizers or emollients include hydrocarbons, silicones, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, synthetic or natural esters, combinations thereof and the like. Suitable lubricants and moisturizers or emollients can be included in an amount between about 0.1% to about 20%, preferably in an amount ranging from about 0,1% to about 15%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 10%. Non limiting examples of lubricant and moisturizers or emollient agents that can be used in the composition of the invention are isopropyl palmitate, octyldodecanol, octyl alcohol, decyl alcohol, dodecyl alcohol, tetradecyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, eicosyl alcohol, bis-PEG-18 methyl ether dimethylsilane, C12-15 alkylbenzoates, polyethylene glycols, siloxan derivatives, e.g., cyclic or linear dimethylpolysiloxanes, silicon polymers and copolymers, and many others.

[0049] Other ingredients suitable for use in the composition of the invention include, but are not limited to, skin conditioners, humectants, color, fragrance, antioxidants, natural extracts, vitamins, UV light absorbers, solvents, surfactants and combinations thereof.

[0050] Natural extracts suitable for use in the composition of the invention include extracts of saw palmetto, derivatives thereof and of components being part of said extract. The composition according to the present invention advantageously comprises saw palmetto extract, from 0.01-20.0%, preferably between 0.01-10% and more preferably between 0.1-5% by weight.

[0051] Water is employed in the composition of the invention as a solvent and carrier and will be present in an amount within the range of from about 10% to about 70% by weight.

[0052] Skin conditioning agents with efficient anti-irritant effects which are present in the composition of the invention include trivalent cations of the lanthanide series, selected from La.sup.3+, Ce.sup.3+ and Pr.sup.3, and salts of the foregoing cations. Such conditioning agent may be present in an amount within the range of from about 0.1-20%, preferably from about 0.1 to about 15%, more preferably from 0.1% to about 5% by weight.

[0053] The anti-irritant effects of the lanthanide cations can be optimized by suitable selection of the accompanying anionic species. Especially preferred cation-anion pairs include chloride and nitrate salts of the lanthanides. The appropriate cation concentration can be achieved using a single metal cation species, or multiple different cation species may be combined to yield the total desired cation concentration. A preferred anti-irritant agent is lanthanum nitrate. Lanthanum nitrate may be present in free salt form or as hydrate.

[0054] Skin conditioning agents with efficient anti-irritant action which may be present in the composition of the invention also include bisabolol from synthetic or natural origin. However, the bisabolol used in the context of the present invention can principally be of natural origin, and is preferably alpha-bisabolol. If natural bisabolol is used, this can also be employed as a constituent of an essential oil or of a plant extract or of a fraction thereof.

[0055] Further skin conditioning agents with anti-irritant action which may be present in the composition of the invention also include limonene, linalool, tocopherol and others. Such conditioning agents may be present in an amount within the range of from about 0.1-10%, preferably from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight.

[0056] The composition of the present invention may further include a detergent. Detergents most commonly used are known as amphoteric surfactants. An exemplary surfactant used in the composition of the invention is Cocoyl proline preferably from vegetable origin. Cocoyl proline is a lipoaminoacid obtained by acylation of fatty acids from coconut with proline and is used as surfactant in order to solubilize essential oils and fragrances.

[0057] Humectants may be added to prevent premature drying of the solution and contribute to skin pores contraction.

[0058] Other ingredients may include preservatives, to ensure the solution does not support microbial growth.

[0059] The skin preparations may include, in addition to the ingredients set out above, certified water-soluble colorants as deemed necessary, fragrances in amounts within the range of from about 0 to about 5% and preferably from about 0.1 to about 3% by weight, depending upon the ultimate use of the skin preparation, solubilizing agents, and the like.

[0060] The composition of the invention may also optionally include from 0% to about 10% by weight of one or more sun screen agents.

[0061] The composition may also include 0.1-5% of thickener and/or gelling agent for aqueous or oil-in-water emulsions. Thickeners are used to control the viscosity of the finished product and keep it the right consistency. Examples of suitable thickeners include sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, acrylamide/sodium acryloyldirnethyltaurate copolymer, ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, ammonium acryloydimethyl taurate/VP copolymer, and combinations thereof. Preferred are the materials available under the tradename Aristoflex AVC from the company Clariant, consisting of ammonium acryloydimethyl taurate/VP copolymer.

[0062] The composition may also contain cosmetically acceptable additives or adjuvants as well as cosmetic or dermatologic active agents. Additives and adjuvants may be present in the compositions in amounts generally ranging from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight. These ingredients may be soluble or dispersible in whatever phase or phases is/are present in the composition.

[0063] The Preparation Method:

[0064] The ingredients used in the composition according to the invention that may be applied by a wipe may be prepared in large batch tanks. Depending on the formula requirements, the tank is charged with the first ingredient, which is usually water. The tank may be heated during manufacturing to facilitate blending of powders that must be dissolved or other solids that must be melted. The other ingredients are added sequentially and mixed until homogenous. An emulsion or other homogeneous solution is formed and is moved to the wipes automatic machine which is based on a wet laid process. In this wet process, the rollers of the fabric are soaked in the bath. These rolls are then further processed and slit into narrow widths and then perforated or cut into individual sheets. The finished sheets are then automatically folded, stacked, and transferred into sachet so that they can easily be removed.

EXAMPLES

[0065] The following table depicts some non-limiting examples of pre- and after-shave compositions according to embodiments of the present invention:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Ingredient in % w/w Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 ALCOHOL 50 60 65 50 25 35 ISOPROPYL 17 10 13 20 25 35 PALMITATE OCTYLDODECANOL 1.6 2.0 1.0 2.5 BIS-PEG-18 METHYL 1.0 1.5 1.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 ETHER DIMETHYL SILANE FRAGRANCE 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.75 LIMONENE 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 LINALOOL 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 LANTHANUM 2.5 1.5 2.0 3.0 3.5 4.0 NITRATE SAW PALMETTO 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 4.0 TOCOPHEROL 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.004 1.0 0.5 BISABOLOL 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 0.5 COCOYL PROLYNE 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.5 5.0 ACRYLOYL 1.0 1.5 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 DIMETHYLTAURAT E/VP COPOLYMER C12-15 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 ALKYLBENZOATE HEXYL CINNAMAL 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 PRESERVATIVE 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 WATER Ad 100 Ad 100 Ad 100 Ad 100 Ad 100 Ad 100

[0066] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.