Abstract:
The present invention is concerned with preparations for application to human skin including a cream or lotion base together with a quantity of a skin-tightening agent consisting essentially of gliadin. Products such as creams, lotions, facial masks and sunscreens can be prepared which exhibit desirable skin-tightening or anti-wrinkle effects.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/404,585, filed Apr. 1, 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention is broadly concerned with cosmetic-type preparations having a skin-tightening or anti-wrinkle effect. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such preparations which include a cream or lotion base typically having respective quantities of oil, emulsifier, thickener and water, together with a skin-tightening agent consisting essentially of gliadin. Preparations in accordance with the invention have been shown to exhibit significant skin-tightening effects.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     A vast number of cosmetic or similar preparations have been developed in the past in the form of creams or lotions. There is considerable variation in the makeup of these formulations depending upon the intended effect. U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,013 describes gliadin-containing hairsprays having low volatile organic compound (VOC) levels. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,086 discloses a number of cosmetic formulations including gliadin, e.g., shampoos, conditioners, styling gels, sunscreens, shaving creams and bath and shower gels. U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,614 is directed to cosmetic preparations of the liquid or emulsion type including minor amounts of gibberellic acid and lysine in order to soften and improve the texture of skin, moisturize the epidermis and diminish skin wrinkles. The &#39;614 reference also indicates that the formulations containing gibberellic acid and lysine may also be supplemented with minor amounts of gliadin.  
         [0006]     Gliadin is a single-chain protein having an average molecular weight of about 30,000-40,000, with an isoelectric point at pH 4.0-5.0. Gliadin can be obtained by fractionation of wheat gluten and is considered to be a premium product. Gliadin is known to improve the freeze thaw stability of frozen doughs and also improve microwave stability. The product may also be used as a chewing gum base replacer, a pharmaceutical binder, and to improve the texture and mouth feel of pasta products; although gliadin has also been used in certain cosmetic products, it has never found utility in hairsprays or similar compositions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention is concerned with improved preparations for application to skin in order to provide a significant skin-tightening and anti-wrinkle effect. Broadly, the preparations of the invention include a cream or lotion base which may contain a variety of specific ingredients, together with a quantity of a skin-tightening agent consisting essentially of gliadin. It has been discovered that gliadin itself provides a desirable skin-tightening effect in cosmetic-type preparations, without the addition of ingredients such as gibberellic acid and lysine as required by the above-described U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,614.  
         [0008]     In more detail, the base of the preparations typically include respective quantities of oil, emulsifier, thickener and water, generally at levels of from about 2-6% by weight oil, from about 3-10% by weight emulsifier, from about 0.01-4% by weight thickener, and from about 65-90% by weight water. More preferred bases include oil, from about 3-5% by weight oil, from about 5-7% by weight emulsifier, from about 0.1-2% by weight thickener and from about 70-80% by weight water. The final preparations of the invention should normally have a Brookfield viscosity of from about 20,000-50,000 cps using a TB spindle at 25° C. and 5 rpm.  
         [0009]     The skin-tightening agent used in the preparation of the invention consists essentially of gliadin, which is normally present at a level of from about 0.5-7% by weight, and more preferably from about 1.5-5% by weight. The most preferred gliadin is highly purified wheat-derived gliadin.  
         [0010]     The preparations of the invention may also include a variety of other base ingredients such as those selected from the group consisting of humectants, emollients, skin conditioning agents, sunscreen agents, pH adjustment agents, fragrances and antibacterial components. These are normally used at conventional, art-recognized levels.  
         [0011]     A number of cosmetic or cosmetic-type preparations can be prepared in accordance with invention. Thus, preparations selected from the group consisting of skin creams, facial mask, shave creams and sunscreens can all be readily formulated. The use of such products involves application thereof to the skin, and the most beneficial results are achieved with creams or the like designed to be placed on the skin for extended periods, of at least 2 hours and more preferably for at least 4 hours. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of test apparatus used to determine the skin-tightening effects of compositions in accordance with the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a plot of force versus time, depicting the results of a skin-tightening test using a gliadin-containing preparation in accordance with the invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a plot of force versus time similar to that of  FIG. 2 , but illustrating the effects using a control preparation free of gliadin. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     The following examples set forth preferred skin-tightening in accordance with the invention, as well as a technique for determining the skin-tightening effects thereof. It is to be understood, however, that these examples are provided by way of illustration and nothing therein should be taken as a limitation upon the overall scope of the invention.  
       Example 1  
       [0016]     A skin cream was prepared containing the following ingredients:  
                                     TABLE 1                           Skin Cream            Phase   Trade Name   INCI Name   Function   % W/W               A   Distilled Water   Distilled Water   Aqua   QS       A   Glycerin   Glycerin USP   Humectant   2.0        A   Carbomer   Carbomer 940   Thickener   0.10       B   Stepan DGS SE   Triple Press Stearic Acid   Emulsifier   3.00       B   Lipocol C   Cetyl Alcohol   Emulsifier   2.00       B   Lipo GMS-450   Glyceryl Sterate   Emulsifier   2.00       B   Promulgin D   Cetyl Alcohol Ceteareth-20   Emulsifier   1.20       B   Coconut Oil   Coconut Oil   Emollient   0.50       B   Lipo IPP   Isopropyl Myristate   Emollient   0.20       B   Lipo IPM   Isopropyl Palmitate   Emollient   0.50       B   Lipowax G   Stearyl Alcohol   Emulsifier   0.75       B     Jojoba  oil     Jojoba  Oil White   Emollient   0.30       C   Triethanolamethanolamine   Triethanolamine 99%   pH Adjuster   QS           99%       C   Dow Corning 200-350 ct   Dimethicone   Feel   0.20       D   Fragrance   Fragrance   Perfume   0.05       E   Preservative   QS   Antibacterial   QS       F   Aqua Pro II WG   Wheat Gliadin   Anti-Wrinkle   3.00                  
 
         [0017]     The ingredients of Phase A were first placed in a suitable primary tank by first adding the distilled water and then the remaining ingredients; the Phase A mixture was then heated to 75° C. and mixed to insure that all of the Carbomer was in solution. The ingredients of Phase B were then weighed into a secondary tank and heated to 75° C. The Phase B mixture was then added to the Phase A mixture at 75° C. The Phase A/Phase B mixture was then cooled and at 50-55° C., the ingredients of Phase C were added. When the temperature reached 35° C., the ingredients of Phase D and E were added. When the temperature reached 25° C., the Phase F gliadin was sifted into the mixture slowly with mixing, resulting in a smooth cream.  
         [0018]     As a comparison, a skin cream identical with that of Table 1 was prepared except that no Phase F gliadin was added.  
         [0019]     In order to test the skin-tightening effects of the gliadin-containing composition versus the no-gliadin control, a device  10  of the type schematically illustrated in the Figure was employed. The device  10  included a cross-head  12  of the type found on typical Instron equipment with an upstanding standard  14  secured to cross-head  12 . A pair of skin-holding clamps  16  and  18  are supported on standard  14 , along with a pair of intermediate rollers  20 ,  22  and a stationary lower clamp  24 . A heating block  26  is located below the rollers  20 ,  22  as shown along with a thermocouple  28 . An electronic temperature controller  30  is supported on cross-head  12  and is operatively connected to block  26  and thermocouple  28  in order to provide controlled heating. Finally, a probe  32  associated with clamp  16  is coupled with a conventional load cell  34 . The device  10  is designed to hold a length of vitro skin  36  for test purposes.  
         [0020]     In more detail, the comparative test of the above-described preparations involved providing a strip of synthetic skin (9.5 cm×2.0 cm) looped over the rollers  20 ,  22  and held in place via clamps  16 ,  18  and  24 . In this instance, the synthetic skin was obtained from IMS, Inc., Milford, Conn. and was used after overnight equilibration at 65% relative humidity and 21° C. ambient temperature. The active area of the strip was approximately 2.5 cm×2.0 cm, at the region between rollers  20 ,  22 . The temperature controller  30 , heating block  26  and thermocouple  28  were employed to maintain the temperature of the strip between the rollers at approximately body temperature, 38° C.  
         [0021]     Initially, a small tension was applied to the substrate creating a small load cell output. When this force leveled off, the respective preparations were applied and the increase in load cell output (due to contractile forces, if any) was recorded as a function of time. Three replicates were carried out using the gliadin-containing preparation and the control preparation.  
         [0022]     Each of the test preparations softened the substrate and therefore a reduction in the load cell output was initially observed. In the control preparation, the force, after the initial decrease, increased and leveled off within the next 3 hours. The replicate measurements demonstrated that the final force was smaller than the initial force indicating softening of the substrate upon application of the control preparation. After application of the gliadin-containing preparation, the highest contractile forces were obtained within 2-3 hours, being 60-70 g higher as compared with the initial force. Then, the force decreased and remained constant for at least the next 8 hours. The difference between the final force after 8 hours and the initial force before application of the gliadin-containing preparation were positive in all three replications (between 15-30 g). This confirms the contraction of the vitro skin. Table 2 below sets forth the averages of these initial and post-application forces for the three replications, and the data represents an averaging of many hundreds of data points.  
                                                           TABLE 2                           Average contractile forces for control and active containing formulations                            Change in       Formulation   Test No.   Initial Force (g)   Final Force (g)   Force (g)                    DMA-Control   1   55.0   15.0   (−) 40.0           2   60.0   40.0   (−) 20.0           3   60.0   45.0   (−) 15.0       DM-B Active   1   40.0   70.0   (+) 30.0           2   100.0   115.0   (+) 15.0           3   110.0   140.0   (+) 30.0                  
 
         [0023]     In summary, these tests demonstrated a pronounced skin-tightening produced as a result of the gliadin-containing preparation onto the synthetic vitro skin held at body temperature, with the maximum effect achieved after about 5-6 hours. Such contractile forces are not seen using the no-gliadin control.  
       Example 2  
       [0024]     In this example, a smooth shave cream was prepared containing the following ingredients.  
                             TABLE 3                           Smooth Shave Cream            Phase   Ingredient   % W/W               A   Deionized Water   Adjust       A   Lauric Acid   1.50       B   Stearic Acid   15.00       B   Coconut Fatty Acid   2.50       C   Sodium Hydroxide   0.40       C   Potassium Hydroxide   4.00       D   Aqua Pro II ™ (Wheat   0.50           Gliadin)       D   Foam Pro (_)   1.00       D   Glycerin   7.00       E   Fragrance   QS       E   Preservative   QS       F   SD-40   10.00                  
 
         [0025]     The ingredients of Phase A were initially mixed and heated to 75° C. The ingredients of Phase B were separately heated at this same temperature and mixed with Phase A while mixing. The ingredients of Phase C were premixed in 20% deionized water and added to the Phase A/Phase B mixture while mixing. The resulting mixture was cooled to 35° C. and a premix of the Phase D ingredients was added along with the ingredients of Phase E. Finally, at 25° C., the Phase F ingredient was added.  
       Example 3  
       [0026]     In this instance, a facial mask was prepared having the ingredients set forth in Table 4.  
                                     TABLE 4                           Facial Mask            Phase   Trade Name   INCI Name   Amount   Function               A   Aqua   Distilled Water   QS   QS       A   Versene NA   Disodium EDTA   0.10   Chelation       A   Stepanol CA-330   Ammonium   2.00   Cleaning               Laureth               Sulfate       A   Carbopol 940   Carbomer   0.16   Thickener       A   Triethanolamine (99%)   Triethanolamine   QS   pH Adjust               (99%)       B   Almond Oil   Almond Oil   1.50   Emollient       B     Jojoba  Oil     Jojoba  Oil   2.00   Emollient               Golden       B   Lipocol S   Stearic Acid   2.00   Emulsifier       B   Lipocol GMS-450   Glyceryl Stearate   1.50   Emulsifier       C   TiO2   Titanium Dioxide   5.00   Colorant       C   Bentonite   Bentonite 670   3.50   Bulking       C   Kaoline   Kaoline   5.00   Bulking               Colloidal NF       D   Preservative   Preservative   QS   Antibacterial       D   Yellow #5   FD&amp;C Yellow #5   QS   Color       D   Blue #01   FD&amp;C Blue #1   QS   Color       D   Fragrance   Fragrance   QS   Fragrance       E   Glycerin   Glycerin   4.00   Humectant       E   Aqua   Distilled water   20.00    QS       E   Aqua Pro II WG   Wheat Gliadin   3.00   Anti-Wrinkle                  
 
         [0027]     In preparative procedures, the ingredients of Phase A were mixed in a primary tank and heated to 75° C. to insure that all of the Carbomer was in solution. All of the ingredients of Phase B were mixed in a secondary tank and heated to 75° C. Phase B was then added to Phase A with continued mixing. The Phase C ingredients were then to the Phase A/Phase B mixture. The resultant mixture was cooled and at 35° C., the ingredients of Phase D were added with mixing. The ingredients of Phase E were premixed and added to the batch at 25° C. The mask is used by applying to the face and neck avoiding the eye and lip areas. After 10-15 minutes, the mask is rinsed and removed with warm water.  
       Example 4  
       [0028]     In this example, an anti-wrinkle sunscreen was prepared containing the ingredients of Table 5.  
                                     TABLE 5                           Anti-Wrinkle Sunscreen            Phase   Trade Name   INCI Name   Function   % W/W               A   Distilled Water   Distilled Water   Aqua   QS       A   Glycerin   Glycerin USP   Humectant   2.00       A   Carbomer   Carbomer 940   Thickener   0.25       B   Stepan DGS SE   Triple Press Stearic Acid   Emulsifier   3.00       B   Lipocol C   Cetyl Alcohol   Emulsifier   1.50       B   Lipo GMS-450   Glyceryl Sterate   Emulsifier   2.50       B   Promulgin D   Cetyl Alcohol Ceteareth-20   Emulsifier   1.50       B   Liponate CG   Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride   Skin Conditioning   2.00       B   Parasol 340   Octocryleneyristate   Sunscreen Agent   3.50       B   Benophenome-3   Uvinul-40   Sunscreen Agent   0.05       C   AMP   2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol   pH Adjuster   QS       C   Dow Corning 200-350 ct   Dimethicone   Feel   1.50       D   Dow Corning Fluid 244   Cyclomethicone   Feel   3.00       D   Fragrance   Fragrance   Perfume   0.05       E   Preservative   QS   Antibacterial   QS       F   Aqua Pro II WG   Wheat Gliadin   Anti-Wrinkle   3.00                  
 
         [0029]     The sunscreen was prepared by first adding the distilled water to a primary tank followed by addition of the Phase A ingredients and heating to 75° C. with mixing until all of the Carbomer was in solution. The ingredients was Phase B were then added to a secondary tank and heated to 75° C. The Phase A/Phase B mixture was then cooled and mixed, and at 50-55° C., the ingredients of Phase C were added. With further cooling and mixing, the ingredients of Phases D and E were added at 35° C. Finally, at 25° C., the gliadin was slowly added until a smooth cream preparation was obtained.