ANTI-STATIC SKIN PRODUCTS AND METHOD

Abstract

An aqueous or non-aqueous preparation comprising cationic agents to neutralize a negative charge thereby relieving tension in the skin and preventing moisture from escaping. It relieves static-tension in the skin thereby reducing the distance between the pores. The difference between the Present Invention and other water based skin conditioners is the amount of cationic agents used. The Present Invention utilizes much more of these ingredients than other commercial products. This produces the unexpected result of neutralizing the charge on the skin and relieving tension, softening and moisturizing the skin. In its most basic form, it contains no moisturizing or other skin conditioning agents. These products can be added to the Present Invention, or alternatively, the Present Invention may be used as an additive to most currently available commercial aqueous and non-aqueous based skin moisturizers for a synergistic skin softening effect.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The Present Invention relates to the field of protective compositions to condition dry, cracked, and chapped skin so as to retain moisture, and to condition hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is currently a wide variety of moisturizing skin softeners on the market. The primary purpose of such products is to prevent moisture from escaping from the skin while adding moisture to the skin. The vast majority of these commercial products are oil based, or they utilize an oil-water emulsion. The effect of these oil based products is to coat the skin with a layer that is water impermeable. This water impermeable layer prevents the skin from losing water due to evaporation. Most of these preparations use various additives that treat skin to make it smooth, moist, and supple. Yet, the skin cannot breathe through this impermeable layer. This represents a problem in that oxygen must be absorbed through the skin to sustain life.

Better moisturizing skin conditioners are water based, but these are in the minority. They employ moisturizing and conditioning agents to treat dry and damaged skin. Some of them utilize a very small amount of cationic agent in order to minimize the electrostatic effect of using these products. Cationic additives are normally not used in oil based preparations. Unlike oil based preparations that work by placing a protective layer over the skin, water based preparations work by reducing skin tension.

If the air is very dry, a person moving through air will accumulate negatively charged electrons on his skin due to air/skin friction. Should enough electrons accumulate on the skin, a person's hair will “stand on end.” Having a “like” electrical static charge, the hairs repel each other. Skin cells exhibit a similar phenomenon. For example, “cracking” of the skin results from dry skin cells “standing on end,” and repelling one another. Dry, chapped, or broken skin is due to a repulsive force between the cells. This produces skin tension. The condition is aggravated by a lack of moisture. The pores open, and moisture escapes. Rubbing one's hands together also creates an electrostatic charge that makes the skin dry and chapped. The skin has accumulated an excess of electrons.

Hair conditioners work in a different way. When a person wets his or her hair, the hair tends to “go limp” because water is a plasticizing agent for hair. Hair conditioners enhance the plasticizing effect. In addition, they add ingredients to treat hair to make it less brittle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Present Invention is an aqueous preparation that comprises cationic agents to neutralize a negative charge thereby relieving tension in the skin, allowing the pores to close, and preventing moisture from escaping. It reduces the distance between the pores. The difference between the Present Invention and other water based skin conditioners is the amount of cationic agents used. The Present Invention utilizes much more of these ingredients than other commercial products. This produces the unexpected result of neutralizing the charge on the skin and relieving tension. In its most basic form, it contains no moisturizing or other skin conditioning agents. These products can be added to the Present Invention, or alternatively, the Present Invention may be used as an additive to commercial water based skin softeners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A typical formulation of the product of the Present Invention might consist of:

Celquat SC-240c (Polyquaternium-10) 0-4%
Merquat 100                      0-11%

as the principal ingredients (cationic agents) and:

• • Distilled Water
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Tetrasodium EDTA
  • Polywax
  • Glycerol Monostearate (Glyceryl Stearate)
  • Vanilla
  • Glycerin
  • Germall Plus (Diazolidinyl Urea & Isopropynyl Butylcarbamate)

This formulation is typical. Merquat 280 is Polyquaternium-22. Celquat and Merquat are both strong cationic agents. The formulations created thus far comprised both Celquat and Merquat. However, it could be useful to have either agent be the sole active ingredient.

Cationic agents other than Celquat and Merquat are known in the art. These other agents are also useful in the Present Invention either as a substitute for Celquat and Merquat or as an additive. As mentioned before, only water based products can utilize cationic agents. The difference between the Present Invention and other commercial conditioners is the strength of the cationic effect. This produces the unexpected result of neutralizing the negative charge of the skin, thereby reducing skin tension (by allowing the skin cells to reside closer to each other), and closing pores so as to retain moisture.

The basic formulation mainly comprises the cationic agents in an aqueous base. However, moisturizing and conditioning agents can be added to the basic formulation. On the other hand, the basic formulation may be added to other water based skin conditioners to enhance their effect.

The Present Invention may be used as a treatment for psoriasis which is aggravated by dry skin. It may also be used to treat chafed elbows. In addition, when added to hair conditioners, it enhances the plasticizing effect by neutralizing any negative charge retained by the hair.

Other formulations comprise the following ingredients:

Water

Cetyl Alcohol

Cetrimonium Chloride

Polyquaternium-67

• • Glyceryl Stearate

PEG-100 Stearate

Polyquaternium-22

Phenoxyethanol

Stearyl Alcohol

Benzalkonium Chloride

Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed Soy

Methylparaben

Propylparaben

Butylparaben

Ethylparaben

Isobutylparaben

Sodium Hydroxide

Hydrolyzed Algin

Chlorella Vulgaris Extract

Sea Water

Propylene Glycol

Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Extract

Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berry) Fruit Extract

Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract

Diospyros Kaki (Persimmon) Fruit Extract

Fragrance

Yet, other formulations comprise:

Water

Isocetyl Behenate

Cetyl Alcohol

Cetrimonium Chloride

Polyquaternium-67

Glyceryl Stearate

PEG-100 Stearate

Polyquaternium-22

Phenoxyethanol

Stearyl Alcohol

Benzalkonium Chloride

Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed Soy

Methylparaben

Propylparaben

Butylparaben

Ethylparaben

Isobutylparaben

Sodium Hydroxide

Propylene Glycol

Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Leaf Extract

Centaurea Cyanus (Cornflower) Flower Extract

Echinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract

Silybum Marianum (Milk Thistle) Extract

Fragrance

The formulations that follow comprise these generic ingredients:

water (used as a solvent and moisturizer);

at least one quaternary conditioner;

at least one preservative;

at least one thickener;

an emollient;

an emulsifier; and

a neutralizing agent to adjust pH as desired.

The above formulation has an aqueous base, but one skilled in the art would know that the formulation may also be non-aqueous. In addition, some embodiments comprise an antiseptic, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antioxidant, an astringent, and an agent to promote skin healing, having cleansing, antibacterial and antiseptic attributes. Also, a fragrance would probably be added.

The quaternary conditioners that are used include (at least one must be used), without limitation:

Polyquaternium-22;

Polyquaternium-67;

Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride;

Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed Soy Protein; and

Benzalkonium Chloride.

The preservatives used include, without limitation:

Phenoxyethanol.

Methyloaraben,

Butylparben,

Ethylparaben,

Propylparaben,

Isobutylpareben, and

Phenoxyethanol.

The thickeners used include, without limitation, Cetyl Alcohol, and Stearyl Alcohol. The emollients used include, without limitation:

Isocetyl Behanate,

Water,

Hydrolyzed Algin,

Chlorella Vulgaris, and

C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters.

The emulsifiers used include, without limitation, Glyceryl Stearate, and PEG-100 Stearate. The neutralizing agent used was a 5% solution of sodium hydroxide. Fragrances used were lavender, sandalwood, and honeysuckle.

Tables 1 through 10 (infra) provide examples of these formulations:

TABLE 1
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	82%-94%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Polyquaternium - 67	0.5%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methyloaraben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.25%-1%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Alcohol	1%-3%	Thickener
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol	0.5%-2%	Emollient
Esters
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	1%-3%	Emulsifier
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.25% 1%	Conditioner/
Soy		Quat
Protein
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.5%-1.5%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.01%-0.02%	Neutralizing
		agent

TABLE 2
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	81%-92%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Isoprene Glycol	1%
Polyquaternium - 67	0.5%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methyloaraben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.2%-1%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Alcohol	1%-3%	Thickener
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol	0.6%	Emollient
Esters
Macadamia Nut Oil	0.4%
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	1.5%-3%	Emulsifier
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.25%-0.75%	Conditioner/
Soy Protein		Quat
Pheohydrane	1%
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.5%-1.5%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.02%	Neutralizing
		agent

TABLE 3
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	80%-93%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Polyquaternium - 67	1%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methyloaraben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.1%-0.5%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Stearyl Alcohol	0.1%-1%	Thickener
Cetyl Alcohol	2%-4%	Thickener
Water, Hydrolyzed Algin, Chlorella	0.6%-1.4%	Emollient, mois-
Vulgaris		turizer
Extract, Sea Water	Trace
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	1%-3%	Emulsifier
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
Soy		Quat
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.5%-1.5%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.01%	Neutralizing
		agent

TABLE 4
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	82%-90%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Polyquaternium - 67	1%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methyloaraben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-4%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Stearyl Alcohol	0.5	Thickener
Cetyl Alcohol	3%	Thickener
Water, Hydrolyzed Algin, Chlorella	1%	Emollient, mois-
Vulgaris		turizer
Extract, Sea Water	Trace
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	2%-3%	Emulsifier
Phenoxyethanol	Trace	Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
Soy		Quat
Propylene Glycol, Euterpe Oleracea,	1%	Antiseptic, Anti-
(Acai) Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum		inflammatory,
(Goji Berry) Fruit Extract, Punica		Antioxidant,
Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract,		Astringent
Diospyros, Kaki (Persimmon) Fruit
Extract
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.5%-1.2%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.02	Neutralizing
		agent
Fragrance	0.5	Fragrance

TABLE 5
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	82%-88%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Polyquaternium - 67	1%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methyloaraben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Stearyl Alcohol	0.5%	Thickener
Cetyl Alcohol	3%	Thickener
Water, Hydrolyzed Algin, Chlorella	1%	Emollient, mois-
Vulgaris		turizer
Extract, Sea Water	Trace
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	2.5%	Emulsifier
Phenoxyethanol	Trace	Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.2%-0.75%	Conditioner/
Soy		Quat
Propylene Glycol, Euterpe Oleracea,	1%	Antiseptic, Anti-
(Acai) Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum		inflammatory,
(Goji Berry) Fruit Extract, Punica		Antioxidant,
Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract,		Astringent
Diospyros, Kaki (Persimmon) Fruit
Extract
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.5%-1.5%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.01%	Neutralizing
		agent
Fragrance	0.5%	Fragrance

TABLE 6
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	76%-93%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Polyquaternium - 67	1%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methyloaraben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.1%-1.2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Stearyl Alcohol	0.1%-1%	Thickener
Cetyl Alcohol	1%-4%	Thickener
Water, Hydrolyzed Algin, Chlorella	0.5%-1.5%	Emollient, mois-
Vulgaris		turizer
Extract, Sea Water	Trace
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	1.5%-4%	Emulsifier
Phenoxyethanol	Trace	Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
Soy		Quat
Propylene Glycol, Euterpe Oleracea,	1%	Antiseptic, Anti-
(Acai) Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum		inflammatory,
(Goji Berry) Fruit Extract, Punica		Antioxidant,
Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract,		Astringent
Diospyros, Kaki (Persimmon) Fruit
Extract
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.2%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.01%	Neutralizing
		agent
Fragrance	0.5%	Fragrance

TABLE 7
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	76%-92%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Polyquaternium - 67	1%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methyloaraben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-4%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Stearyl Alcohol	0.1%-1.5%	Thickener
Cetyl Alcohol	1%-3%	Thickener
Isocetyl Behanate	2%-5%	Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	1%-3.5%	Emulsifier
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.1%-0.85%	Conditioner/
Soy		Quat
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.5%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.01%	Neutralizing
		agent

TABLE 8
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	76%-91%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Polyquaternium - 67	1%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methyloaraben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Stearyl Alcohol	0.1%-1%	Thickener
Cetyl Alcohol	1%-3%	Thickener
Isocetyl Behanate	2%-5%	Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	1%-4%	Emulsifier
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
Soy		Quat
Propylene Glycol, Symphytum,	1%	Skin healing, emollient,
Officinale Leaf Extract, Centaurea		soothing, astringent, anti-
Cyanus Extract, Echinacea		inflammatory, cleansing,
Angustifolia Leaf Extract, Silybum,		antibacterial and
Marianum Extract		antiseptic attributes
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.5%-1.5%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.01%	Neutralizing
		agent
Fragrance	0.5%	Fragrance

TABLE 9
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	77%-89%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Polyquaternium - 67	1%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methyloaraben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Stearyl Alcohol	0.1%-1%	Thickener
Cetyl Alcohol	1%-3%	Thickener
Isocetyl Behanate	2%-4%	Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	2%-3%	Emulsifier
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
Soy		Quat
Propylene Glycol, Symphytum,	1%	Skin healing, emollient,
Officinale Leaf Extract, Centaurea		soothing, astringent, anti-
Cyanus Extract, Echinacea		inflammatory, cleansing,
Angustifolia Leaf Extract, Silybum,		antibacterial and
Marianum Extract		antiseptic attributes
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.5%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.01%	Neutralizing
		agent
Fragrance	0.5%	Fragrance

TABLE 10
Ingredient	Percent	Functionality
Water	77%-89%	Solvent, Mois-
		turizer
Polyquaternium - 67	1%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben,	1%	Preservative
Butylparben, Ethylparaben,
Propylparaben, Isobutylpareben
Polyquaternium 22	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride	1%-3%	Conditioner/
		Quat
Stearyl Alcohol	0.1%-1%	Thickener
Cetyl Alcohol	1%-3%	Thickener
Isocetyl Behanate	2%-4%	Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate	2%-3%	Emulsifier
Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed	0.1%-1%	Conditioner/
Soy		Quat
Propylene Glycol, Symphytum,	1%	Skin healing, emollient,
Officinale Leaf Extract, Centaurea		soothing, astringent, anti-
Cyanus Extract, Echinacea		inflammatory, cleansing,
Angustifolia Leaf Extract, Silybum,		antibacterial and
Marianum Extract		antiseptic attributes
Benzylkonium Chloride	0.5%-2%	Conditioner/
		Quat/Neut.
		Agent
Sodium Hydroxide	0.01%	Neutralizing
		agent
Fragrance	0.5%	Fragrance

Claims

1. A skin softening and conditioning product formulation comprising one or more cationic agents in sufficient proportion to the remainder of the product such that, when applied to human skin, said cationic agents have a cationic strength sufficient to fully neutralize any negative electrostatic charge on the skin.

2. The skin softening and conditioning product formulation of claim 1 wherein one cationic agent is Celquat SC-240c (Polyquaternium-10).

3. The skin softening and conditioning product formulation of claim 2 wherein the cationic agent is in the range of 0 to 4 percent of the formulation by weight.

4. The skin softening and conditioning product formulation of claim 1 wherein one cationic agent is Merquat 100.

5. The skin softening and conditioning product formulation of claim 4 wherein the Merquat 100 is in the range of 0 to 11 percent of the formulation by weight.

6. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 1 wherein one or more cationic agents are selected from the group consisting of: Polyquaternium-22;Polyquaternium-67;Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride;Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed Soy Protein; andBenzalkonium Chloride.

7. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 1 wherein said product is an aqueous solution.

8. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 1 further comprising: a) at least one preservative;b) at least one thickener;c) an emollient;d) an emulsifier; ande) a neutralizing agent to adjust pH as desired.

9. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 8 wherein the at least one preservative is selected from the group consisting of: Methyloaraben,Butylparben,Ethylparaben,Propylparaben,Isobutylpareben, andPhenoxyethanol.

10. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 8 wherein the at least one thickener is selected from the group consisting of Cetyl Alcohol, and Stearyl Alcohol.

11. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 8 wherein the at least one emollient is selected from the group consisting of: Isocetyl Behanate,Water,Hydrolyzed Algin,Chlorella Vulgaris, andC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters.

12. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 8 wherein the emulsifier is Glyceryl Stearate and PEG-100 Stearate.

13. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 8 wherein the neutralizing agent is sodium hydroxide.

14. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 1 further comprising an antioxidant.

15. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 1 further comprising an astringent.

16. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 1 further comprising an agent to promote skin healing, having cleansing, antibacterial and antiseptic attributes.

17. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 1 further comprising a fragrance.

18. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 6 wherein the amount of Polyquaternium-22 ranges from 0.1% to 1.2% by weight.

19. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 6 wherein the amount of Polyquaternium-67 ranges from 0.5% to 3% by weight.

20. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 6 wherein the amount of Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride ranges from 1% to 4% by weight.

21. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 6 wherein the amount of Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed Soy Protein ranges from 0.1% to 1% by weight.

22. The skin softening and conditioning product of claim 6 wherein the amount of Benzalkonium Chloride ranges from 0.2% to 3% by weight.