COSMETIC STRIP WITH AN AGENT FOR INDUCING A TEMPERATURE CHANGE

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive cosmetic strip which comprises a flexible water-insoluble substrate, an adhesive composition deposited onto the substrate and a sufficient quantity of an agent which is capable of interacting with water to induce a change in the temperature of the strip. When applied to the skin, the temperature of the strip is changed by a reaction between water and an exothermic or endothermic agent held within the strip. Moisture within the skin or externally applied water penetrates the strip and will react with the agent to cause an increase or decrease in temperature.

Description: COSMETIC STRIP WITH AN AGENT FOR INDUCING A TEMPERATURE CHANGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to cosmetic dermal strips or patches which provide consumers with a temperature change as a sensorial signal. The Related Art Cosmetics are often provided with consumer perceivable sensorial signals. Most common of these signals are fragrances. Pleasing odour is often the single most important attribute inducing re-purchase by a consumer. Other sensorial attributes are also significant in cosmetic chemistry. The skin-feel of a product is highly important. Creams, lotions, gels and pastes often are judged for their efficacy by the tacticity of their feel. Silky, non-residue leaving cosmetics are much preferred over tacky ones, and the consumer may relate those aesthetics to actual pharmacological performance. Sometimes the sensorial attribute is that of temperature. Coolness is imparted to toothpastes and aftershave lotions through the presence of camphor, menthol or menthol derivatives such as menthol lactate. Some formulations signal efficacy through a temperature increase. Inclusion of capsaicm, an alkaloid extracted from capsicum, gives a brief temperature rise sensation to the human neural system. Temperature sensations of the known art are relatively short lived. Mechanisms to extend the sensation are necessary. Dermal patches or strips have recently become popular as delivery vehicle systems for cosmetic compositions. For instance, WO 98/42303 (Crotty et al.) describes a dry-to- the-touch keratotic plug remover strip. Upon wetting, the strip turns tacky and mobile. This product is placed on the bridge of the nose or other areas of the face requiring keratotic plug removal. Within a short time period, water evaporates from the wetted adhesive, forming a dry film. The consumer then peels the film from the face along with unwanted plugs bonded thereto. The amount of water applied by consumers may vary. Drying times are therefore also variable. A sensorial signal would be helpful for the consumer to know when to begin removing the film. Exothermic and endotherrmc reactions are other sources of temperature signalling. U.S. Patent 5,861,440 (Gohla et al.) describes the use of sugars, especially xylitol, to induce a cooling sensation when contacted with water. Generation of exothermic heat is reported in U.S. Patent 4,379,143 (Sherry et al.), U.S. Patent 4,626,550 (Hertzenberg) , U.S. Patent 4,362,715 (Stπanse et al.) and U.S. Patent 3,250,680 (Menkart et al.). Each of these documents describes the use of an alummosilicate which interacts with water to release momentary heat. It is an advantage of the present invention to be able to provide cosmetic products, especially dermal strips or patches with an improved temperature sensorial signal. Another advantage of the present invention is to be able to provide cosmetic products, especially dermal strips or patches, which impart a temperature change as a sensorial signal that may augment other sensory or emotive aesthetics of such products. These and other advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from consideration of the following summary and detailed discussion. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an adhesive cosmetic strip for placement on skin, which comprises: (l) a flexible water-insoluble substrate; (n) an adhesive composition deposited onto the substrate; and (in) an agent which is capable of interacting with water and which is present in a sufficient quantity to induce a change of temperature in the strip of at least about 2°C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present inventors have found a temperature change sensorial signal to be suitable for use with dermal strips or patches. The present invention relates to the use of agents which are capable of interacting with water and that can be held for long periods of time close to the skin by incorporation into an adhesive portion of a strip or between layers of a strip. Water can be introduced to the area of treatment just prior to applying the patch. Alternatively, the inherent moisture and sweat found on surfaces of the skin can serve to activate the agent, thereby inducing a heating or cooling effect. Flexible water-insoluble substrates are an essential element of the present invention. By "water insoluble" is meant that the substrate does not dissolve m nor readily breaks apart upon immersion in water. A wide variety of materials can be used as the substrate. Non-limiting examples of suitable substrates include non- woven substrates, woven substrates, hydroentangled substrates, air-entangled substrates and the like. In preferred embodiments of the invention non-woven substrates are used since they are economical and a varied of such materials is readily available. By non-woven is meant that the layer is comprised of fibers which are not woven into a fabric but rather are formed into a sheet, particularly a tissue. 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 be composed of a combination of layers of random and carded fibers. Non-woven substrates may be comprised of a variety of materials, both natural and synthetic. By natural is meant that the materials are derived from plants, animals, insects or by-products. By synthetic is meant that the materials are obtained primarily from various man-made materials or from material that is usually a fibrous web comprising any of the common synthetic or natural textile-length fibers, or mixtures thereof. Non-limitmg examples of natural materials useful in the present invention are silk fibers, keratin fibers and cellulosic fibers. Non-limiting examples of keratin fibers include wool fibers, camel hair fibers, and the like. Non- limiting examples of cellulosic fibers include those selected from the group consisting of wood pulp fibers, cotton fibers, hemp fibers, jute fibers, flax fibers, and mixtures thereof. Wood pulp fibers are preferred. Non-limitmg examples of synthetic materials useful m the present invention include those selected from the group consisting of acetate fibers, acrylic fibers, cellulose ester fibers, modacrylic fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyvmyl alcohol fibers, rayon fibers and mixtures thereof. Examples of some of these ® synthetic materials include acrylics such as Acrilan , ® ® Creslan , and the acrylonitrile-based fiber, Orion ; cellulose ester fibers such as cellulose acetate, Arnel ® , and ® Acele ; polyamides such as Nylons (e.g., Nylon 6, Nylon 66, ® Nylon 610 and the like) ; polyesters such as Fortrel , ® ® Kodel , and the polyethylene terephthalate fibers, Dacron ; polyolefins such as polypropylene, polyethylene; polyvinyl acetate fibers and mixtures thereof. Non-woven substrates made from natural materials consist of webs or sheets most commonly formed on a fine wire screen from a liquid suspension of the fibers. Non-woven substrates made from synthetic materials useful in the present invention can be obtained from a wide variety of commercial sources. Non-limiting examples of suitable non- woven layer materials useful herein include HEF 40-047, an apertured hydroentangled material containing about 50% rayon and 50% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 43 grams per square yard (gsy), available from Veratec, Inc., Walpole, MA; HEF 140-102, an apertured hydroentangled material containing about 50% rayon and 50% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 56 gsy, available from ® Veratec, Inc., Walpole, MA; Novenet 149-191, a thermo- bonded grid patterned material containing about 69% rayon, about 25% polypropylene, and about 6% cotton, and having a basis weight of about 100 gsy, available from Veratec, Inc., Walpole, MA; HEF Nubtex 149-801, a nubbed, apertured hydroentangled material, containing about 100% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 70 gsy, available from © Veratec, Inc. Walpole, MA; Keybak 951V, a dry formed apertured material, containing about 75% rayon, about 25% acrylic fibers, and having a basis weight of about 43 gsy, available from Chicopee Corporation, New Brunswick, NJ; ® Keybak 1368, an apertured material, containing about 75% rayon, about 5% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 39 gsy, available from Chicopee Corporation, New ® Brunswick, NJ; Duralace 1236, an apertured, hydroentangled material, containing about 100% rayon, and having a basis weight from about 40 gsy to about 115 gsy, available from ® Chicopee Corporation, New Brunswick, NJ; Duralace 5904, an apertured, hydroentangled material, containing about 100% polyester, and having a basis weight from about 40 gsy to about 115 gsy, available from Chicopee Corporation, New ® Brunswick, NJ; Sontaro 8868, a hydroentangled material, containing about 50% cellulose and about 50% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 60 gsy, available from Dupont Chemical Corp. The substrates used in the present invention need not be formed of fibers. They may be cast as plastic films such as polyethylene, polyester, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, cellophane, or metallic foils. The water insoluble substrates used in the present invention can comprise two or more layers. These layers may be of similar construction or have different texture and abrasiveness . The differing textures can result from the use of different combinations of materials or from the use of a substrate having a smooth surface and a more abrasive opposite surface. Combinations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers may be useful for certain products of this invention. Likewise, it may be desirable to use a combination of fluid absorptive and non-absorptive layers. The cosmetic strips of the present invention comprise an adhesive composition deposited onto the substrate. The adhesive may be a pressure sensitive adhesive or a dry-to- the-touch film whose tacticity is generated by adding a small amount of water at the point of use. Pressure sensitive adhesives may be formed from a variety of natural and synthetic adhesive polymers. The natural adhesive polymers may be based on starch or modified starches. Synthetic adhesives include polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyamide, and acrylic- based polymers. Acrylic-based polymers are preferred. The acrylics may be homo- or co-polymers (the latter indicating at least two different monomer units within the polymer chain) . Typical monomers for use in acrylic-based polymers include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethylacrylate, methylacrylate, butylacrylate and combinations thereof. These are available under the trademark Gelva® series sold by Monsanto and the Duro-Tak® series sold by the National Starch and Chemical Company. Acrylic polymers available from Lohmann Therapie Systeme, Germany are most preferred. Silicone-based polymers may also be employed such as Bio-Psa silicones sold by the Dow Corning Corporation. Release or backing liners are usually placed over the adhesive layer. The release liner should have a surface that is easily stripped off or released prior to use of the strip. Suitable materials for this liner include polyvinylchloride, polyester, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene and paper, all of which are preferably but not necessarily coated with a silicone formulation. Another type of adhesive suitable for use in the present invention is a dry-to-the-touch substance. Products based on this technology are often intended to be used to remove keratotic plugs (e.g. blackheads) from facial pores. In a dry state, the adhesive composition is non-tacky to the touch. The adhesive is activated by 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 adhesive composition so it becomes tacky and sufficiently mobile to flow into skin pores. Pure water is the preferred wetting agent. However, other fluid systems or gels could be employed. Suitable fluids include alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and mixtures of these alcohols with water. The use of a mixture of one or more of these alcohols with water is preferred. Gels would normally consist of fluid (particularly water) and structuring agents such as carbomer. After wetting, the adhesive composition is allowed to dry over the area of treatment. During drying 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. The dry-to-the-touch adhesive composition will include a polymer which may be anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric or a mixture thereof. Further, combinations of different polymers from within the same type may be used. Examples of nonionic polymers suitable for 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 film forming adhesive polymers include 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, for example 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. Poly (methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) available as an unneutralized resin from ISP Corporation under the trademark Gantrez® S-97 BF and polyvinylformamide available from the National Starch and Chemical Company, Division of ICI are particularly preferred. Anionic film forming adhesive polymers are often derived from the nonionic types which include carboxylic acid functions. Alkaline agents are employed to neutralise the carboxylic acid or anhydride transforming them into anionic salts. Examples of suitable neutralising agents include 2-amino-2-methyl-l, 3-propanediol (AMPD) ; 2-ammo-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) . AMP is most preferred. The salts of poly (methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) and polystyrene sulfonic acid are particularly preferred anionic polymers. The former is obtained by at least partial neutralisation 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 that may be employed and are commercially available are listed in the Table below. TABLE Cationic adhesive polymers suitable for use m the present invention may be prepared as homo- or copolymers from monomers including: Dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate (DMAEA), dimethylammoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), dimethylaminopropylacrylamide (DMAPAAm) , and dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide (DMAPMAAm) which are all (meth) acrylamides or (meth) acrylic acid esters having a dialkylammo group; Dimethylaminostyrene (DMASt) and dimethyaminomethylstyrene (DMAMSt) and the like which are styrenes having a dialkylammo group; 4-vιnyl pyπdme and 2-vιnyl pyridme which are vinyl pyπdmes; 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 betame, N- (3-sulfopropyl) -N-methacroylaτιidepropyl-N, N- dimethylammonium betame, N- ( 3-carboxymethyl) -N- methacroylamidepropyl-N, N-dimethylammonium betame and N- carboxymethyl-N-methacroyloxyethyl-N, N-dimethylammonium betame. 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 tnethylamine, tnmethylamme which are tertiary amines; ammonia; or sodium hydroxide. The relative amounts of water-insoluble substrate to adhesive composition may vary from about 1,000:1 to about 1:1,000, preferably from about 100:1 to about 1:100, more preferably from 20:1 to about 1:20, optimally from about 5:1 to about 1:5 by weight. The strips of the present invention comprise an agent that is capable of interacting with water to generate a change of temperature. The agent is typically admixed with the adhesive polymer. These agents should be capable of generating an exothermic or endothermic temperature jump of at least about 2 C, preferably from about 5 to about 30°C, more preferably from about 8 to about 20 C, even more preferably from about 10 to about 15 C. Examples of agents, which interact with water by exothermic reaction, include anhydrous silica, activated alumina, alummosilicates (e.g. zeolites) and combinations thereof. Alummosilicates such as Zeolite A available from PQ Corporation and Cab-O-Sil® fumed silica available from the Cabot Corporation are particularly preferred. Examples of endothermic agents are ammonium chloride and xylitol. The amount of these substances may range from about 1 to about 80%, preferably from about 10 to about 60%, optimally from about 15 to about 40% by weight of the adhesive composition. When incorporating a water sensitive temperature change inducing agent, care should be taken to maintain the strip within packaging (e.g. sealed pouch or packet) that avoids exposure to moisture or at least excessive moisture prior to use . A variety of skin treatment agents may be formulated with the adhesive compositions. These agents may include moisturisers, preservatives, herbal extracts, vitamins, anti-irritant agents, emulsifiers and keratolytic agents. Polyhydric alcohols, also known as polyols, are the most useful moisturisers. Examples of suitable polyols include glycerine, diglycerine, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and derivatives thereof, sorbitol, hydroxypropyl sorbitol, hexylene glycol, 1,2-butylene glycol, 1, 2, 6-hexanetriol, isoprene glycol, 2-methyl-l, 3-propanediol, ethoxylated glycerol, propoxylated glycerol and mixtures thereof. The amount of polyol used may range from about 0.1 to about 95%, preferably from about 1 to about 50%, more preferably from about 1.5 to about 20%, optimally from about 3 to about 10% by weight of the adhesive composition. Preservatives can be incorporated into the adhesive compositions to protect against growth of potentially harmful microorganisms. Suitable preservatives include alkyl esters of para-hydroxybenzoic ac d, hydantom derivatives, propionate salts, and a variety of quaternary ammonium compounds. Cosmetic chemists are familiar with appropriate preservatives and routinely choose them to satisfy the preservative challenge test and to provide product stability. Particularly preferred preservatives are phenoxyethanol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, lmidazolidmyl urea, sodium dehydroacetate and benzyl alcohol. Preservatives are preferably employed in amounts ranging from about 0.01% to about 2% by weight of the composition. Herbal extracts may include Roman Chamomile, Green Tea, Scullcap, Nettle Root, Swertia Japonica, Fennel, Anise, Arnica, Calandula, Coltsfoot, Cornflower, Elder, Gentian, Hawthorn, Lavender, Linden, Myrrh, Oat, Rose, Sweet Clover, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Tulsi, Kamala, Eucalyptus, St. John's Wort and Aloe Vera extracts. The amount of each of the extracts may range from about 0.00001 to about 1%, preferably from about 0.01 to about 0.5%, optimally from about 0.05 to about 0.2% by weight of the adhesive composition . Vitamins useful in products of the present invention include vitamin E acetate, vitamin C, vitamin A palmitate, panthenol and any of the vitamin B complexes. Anti-irritant agents may also be present, for example those of alpha-bisabolol and potassium glycyhmzzmate . Each vitamin or anti- irritant agent may be present in an amount ranging from about 0.001 to about 0.5%, preferably from about 0.01 to about 0.1% by weight of the adhesive composition. Emulsifiers may also be incorporated into the cosmetic strips of this invention. These emulsifiers may be anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric and combinations thereof. - I S Useful nonionic type emulsifiers include the C 1 0-C 20 fatty alcohol or acid hydrophobes condensed with from 2 to 100 moles of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide per mole of hydrophobe; C 2 -C 10 alkyl substituted phenols condensed with from 2 to 20 moles of alkylene oxide; mono- and di-fatty acid esters of ethylene glycol; fatty acid monoglyceride; sorbitan, mono- and di-Cs-C20 fatty acids; block copolymers (ethylene oxide/propylene oxide) ; and polyoxyethylene sorbitan as well as combinations thereof. Alkyl polyglycosides and saccharide fatty amides (e.g. methyl gluconamides) are also suitable nonionic emulsifiers. The amount of emulsifier may range from about 0.1 to about 30%, preferably from about 0.5 to about 10% by weight of the adhesive composition. Keratolytic agents may also be incorporated into the adhesive compositions. Typical of these agents are alpha and beta hydroxycarboxylic acids. The alpha- hydroxycarboxylic acids include glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid and mixtures thereof as well as their salts, such as alkali metal and ammonium salts. The most preferred beta hydroxycarboxylic acid is salicylic acid. The amount of these keratolytic agents may range from about 0.01 to about 15%, preferably from about 1 to about 12% by weight of the adhesive composition. Except in the operating and comparative Examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material ought to be understood as modified by the word "about". The following Examples will more fully illustrate the embodiments of this invention. All parts, percentages and proportions referred to herein and in the appended claims are by weight unless otherwise indicated. EXAMPLE 1 A dry-to-the-touch strip was prepared for use in removing keratotic plugs from skin pores. The strip employed was a 70:30 rayon/polyester non-woven fabric available from Dupont. Poly (methyl vinyl ether maleic anhydride), commercially available as Gantrez S-97® was employed as the adhesive. The resin was dispersed in water along with titanium dioxide, silica and 2-ammo-2-methyl-l-propanol (AMP) . The mixture was coated by a knife-over-roll onto the non-woven substrate. After coating, the strip and adhesive composition were dried at 75 C in a convection oven. The dried sheet was then cut into small strips. The adhesive composition was dry-to-the-touch and has a composition as listed n Table I. TABLE I EXAMPLE 2 Another dry-to-the-touch strip for removing keratotic plugs from skin pores was prepared employing a polyester/cellulose wet layered non-woven fabric. Poly (vmylformamide) available from the National Starch and Chemical Company was taken as the adhesive m combination with anhydrous silica, titanium dioxide, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) , glycerin, dimethicone copolyol, methoxypropyl glucamide and disodium EDTA. The mixture was coated by a knife-over-roll onto the non-woven substrate. After coating, the strip and adhesive composition were dried at 75 C in a convection oven. The dried sheet was then cut into small strips. The adhesive composition was dry-to-the-touch and had a composition as listed in Table II. TABLE II Just prior to use, the dry adhesive side of the resultant cosmetic strip was wetted. Anhydrous silica present n the composition reacted with the water generating a substantial exotherm and delivering a warming sensorial signal. EXAMPLE 3 This Example illustrates a cationic type dry-to-the-touch strip used for the removal of keratotic plugs from skin pores. The substrate employed was a 100% cellulose non- woven fabric. Components of the adhesive as listed in Table III were combined in isopropanol with stirring and after full dispersion of the components coated onto the cellulose substrate. Thereafter the system was dried to remove the isopropanol solvent. The dried sheet was then cut into small strips. A consumer utilized the strips by wetting face and then applying the strip to the face. Heat was generated by reaction of water with anhydrous zeolite. The temperature increase signalled the time period necessary for the strip to mature (dry) over the skin pores. Once dried, the strip was peeled. Plugs adhered to the peel and were thereby removed from the pores . TABLE III EXAMPLE 4 This Example illustrates an embodiment utilizing a pressure sensitive adhesive type of dermal patch for Vitamin C (antioxidant/anti-agmg) benefit delivery. A silicone pressure sensitive adhesive was prepared by condensing a siloxane resin copolymer with hydroxyl terminated polydimethyl siloxane m xylene solution, in the presence of anhydrous ammonium, at about 115 C. The resultant silicone adhesive, n an amount of 55%, was combined with 40% finely powdered silica and 5% ascorbic acid. The combination was deposited onto a polypropylene film to form a dermal patch. A Mylar® backing sheet was placed over the pressure- sensitive adhesive composition for storage and shipping purposes. Just prior to use, the Mylar® backing was removed. Water was applied to an area of the skin onto which the patch is to be placed. Heat generated by the reaction of water with the zeolite signalled to the user that the patch formula was actively working on the skin. EXAMPLE 5 Another pressure sensitive adhesive strip was prepared for topical treatment of acne. A breathable polyurethane film (Bertek Medfilm 390) served as a substrate sheet for the adhesive composition. An easy release silicon coated polystyrene film was then placed over the adhesive layer. The final thickness of the dried matrix was between 75 and 150 μm. Circular patches were then cut from the resultant multi-layered laminate. The formulation of the adhesive composition is outlined in Table IV. In use, moisture in the skin penetrated the patch, and reacted with the aluminosilicate and thereby generated an exotherm. The heat indicates that the acne treatment is progressing actively. TABLE IV EXAMPLE 6 An anti-wrmkle patch was formed by spreading a pressure- sensitive acrylic-based resm onto a cellulose non-woven substrate sheet. The sheet was dried in a convection oven to remove water. 40% of powdered, finely dispersed zeolite and 2% lactic acid were mixed within the acrylic-based resm. A release lmer film was applied over the adhesive. When ready for use, the lmer was removed, and the adhesive strip applied to the face. Over several hours, perspiration penetrated the adhesive layer, and interacted with the zeolite and thereby emitted a heat of reaction. The heat indicated to a user the minimum time required for the strip to release its active amount of lactic acid agent. The foregoing description and Examples illustrate selected embodiments of the present invention. In the light thereof variations and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, all of which are within the spirit and purview of this invention.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. An adhesive cosmetic strip for placement on skin comprising: (i) a flexible water-insoluble substrate; (ii) an adhesive composition deposited onto the substrate; and (iii) a sufficient quantity of an agent capable of interacting with water to induce a change of temperature in the strip of at least about 2°C. 2. A strip according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is selected from dry-to-the-touch adhesives and pressure- sensitive tacky adhesives. 3. A strip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adhesive composition further comprises a skin treatment agent. 4. A strip according to claim 3, wherein the skin treatment agent is selected from herbal extracts, emulsifiers, vitamins and keratolytic agents, and mixtures thereof . 5. A strip according to claim 4, wherein the keratolytic agent is salicylic acid.

Inventors: CROTTY BRIAN ANDREW, SLAVTCHEFF CRAIG STEPHEN, ZNAIDEN ALEXANDER PAUL, CROTTY, BRIAN, ANDREW, SLAVTCHEFF, CRAIG, STEPHEN, ZNAIDEN, ALEXANDER, PAUL
Applicants: LEVER HINDUSTAN LTD, UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC, HINDUSTAN LEVER LIMITED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61K8, A61Q19