阅读说明：本技术 多孔复合颗粒和包含其的化妆品组合物 (Porous composite particles and cosmetic composition comprising same ) 是由 马光辉 那向明 A·普拉马尼克 周炜清 周伟正 于 2018-11-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了多孔复合颗粒和包含其的组合物。所述多孔复合颗粒包含两亲性或疏水性聚合物的基质和基于多孔复合颗粒的总重量为0.1至20％的颜料,其中所述颗粒具有50至95体积％的内部孔隙度和外表面,所述外表面为连续且无孔的或是包含其总面积为总外表面面积的0.01至30％的多个孔的不连续的。当局部施用时,所述组合物赋予改善皮肤特性。(Porous composite particles and compositions comprising the same are disclosed. The porous composite particles comprise a matrix of an amphiphilic or hydrophobic polymer and from 0.1 to 20% of a pigment, based on the total weight of the porous composite particle, wherein the particle has an internal porosity of from 50 to 95 volume% and an external surface that is continuous and non-porous or discontinuous comprising a plurality of pores whose total area is from 0.01 to 30% of the total external surface area. When topically applied, the compositions impart improved skin properties.)

1. A porous composite particle comprising a matrix of an amphiphilic or hydrophobic polymer and from 0.1 to 20% of a pigment, based on the total weight of the porous composite particle, wherein the particle has an internal porosity of from 50 to 95 volume% and an external surface that is continuous and non-porous or discontinuous comprising a plurality of pores whose total area is from 0.01 to 30% of the total external surface area.

2. The porous composite particle of claim 1 wherein said total area is from 0.1 to 10% of said total outer surface area.

3. The porous composite particle of claim 1 or 2, wherein the composite particle is spherical or spheroidal.

4. The porous composite particle of claim 3 wherein the particle is 0.5 to 100 microns in diameter.

5. The porous composite particle of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said internal porosity is due to a plurality of unconnected air pockets.

6. The porous composite particle of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said internal porosity is due to a plurality of interconnected air pockets.

7. The porous composite particles of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pigment has a particle size of 0.01 to 5 microns.

8. The porous composite particles of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pigment is inorganic.

9. The porous composite particles of claim 8 wherein the pigment is iron oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, or mixtures thereof.

10. The porous composite particle of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the composite particle comprises a pigment combination comprising a white pigment and a non-white pigment.

11. The porous composite particle of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the amphiphilic polymer is selected from methoxy polyethylene glycol polylactic acid copolymer, polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene copolymer, polystyrene and polyethylene glycol copolymer, polystyrene and polyacrylate hydroxyethyl ester copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate and polyacrylate hydroxyethyl ester copolymer, methyl methacrylate and methacrylate copolymer, methyl methacrylate, β -hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer, or mixtures thereof.

12. The porous composite particles of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the hydrophobic polymer is selected from polystyrene, polychloromethylstyrene, polyglycidyl methacrylate, or mixtures thereof.

13. A method of making the porous composite particle of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

(i) forming a w/o emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, the oil phase comprising the polymer, an organic solvent for dissolving the polymer, and the pigment;

(ii) further emulsifying the w/o emulsion in an external aqueous phase comprising an emulsifier to form a w/o/w double emulsion;

(iii) mixing the w/o/w double emulsion with additional water such that the solvent diffuses into the additional water to precipitate the porous composite particles.

14. A cosmetic composition comprising the porous composite particle of any one of claims 1 to 12 in a cosmetically acceptable carrier.

15. A method of improving skin characteristics comprising the step of topically applying to skin the cosmetic composition of claim 14.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to porous composite particles and cosmetic compositions comprising porous composite particles.

Background

Many users desire to look glow and natural, rather than get an artificial matte appearance by using traditional foundation-based products, which tend to be excessively opaque in nature and may have aesthetic and/or cultural negatives. The current trend is to propose more and more cosmetic products with a moisturizing-type use feel, and traditional moisturizers are formulated to deliver more perceivable optical benefits.

Considerable effort has been devoted by the cosmetics industry to providing compositions that can enhance skin appearance benefits such as lightening/whitening, natural looking skin and uniformly shiny skin. Generally, whitening/brightening is achieved by using materials such as particles with high refractive index, such as micronized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, and other inorganic particles. A uniform or pink skin tone is typically delivered by the particulate pigment and colorant. However, due to the nature of conventional pigments or colorants, it is difficult to deliver the desired skin appearance by using only these materials. Further, high loading of particles can lead to poor tactile feel, and for this reason, humectants often maintain low pigment dosages. Further, formulating highly loaded conventional pigments or colorants into humectants is not very easy.

There is an increasing interest in developing composite particles with better compatibility with other commonly used cosmetically acceptable ingredients and in developing compositions with such composite particles that produce desirable skin appearance (e.g., lightening/whitening, natural-looking skin, and uniformly shiny skin).

US9469738B (Eastman Kodak,2016) discloses a foamable aqueous composition comprising porous polymeric particles, a binder, water, an opacifying colorant and various additives, and having at least 0.1g/cm³To 0.5g/cm³The foam density of (a). The foamable aqueous composition can be aerated, disposed on a porous substrate, dried and crushed on the porous substrate. The composition can be used to form light blocking and light colored foamed opacifying elements with one or more dry foam layers.

US2015234098 a (eastman kodak) discloses a light blocking article containing porous particles comprising a continuous polymeric binder and pores within the continuous polymeric binder, an opaque colorant that absorbs a predetermined electromagnetic radiation, and a matrix polymer having dispersed therein the porous particles and the opaque colorant. The articles are designed to be lightweight yet effectively block most incident actinic radiation, and may be designed as fabrics, drapes, and other materials. Such articles have an opaque layer capable of blocking predetermined electromagnetic radiation.

US 2016317401A (L' Oreal) discloses a composite particle comprising a matrix comprising at least one inorganic and/or at least one organic material and at least one inorganic UV-filter doped with at least one transition metal, it also discloses a composition comprising a composite particle at least as defined above in a physiologically acceptable medium.

JP 2005350430A (Mitsubishi Pencil Co.) discloses a cosmetic comprising a composite porous article containing a water-soluble organic polymer in a metal oxide. The method of preparation comprises introducing a porous article synthesized by mixing a water-soluble organic polymer with a metal oxide precursor, causing phase separation between the metal oxide precursor and the water-soluble organic polymer, and ceramming the metal oxide precursor into a cosmetic.

US2013287826 a (unilever) discloses composite particles and compositions comprising the same. The particles have a polymer matrix with or without voids and some submicron particles, whereby the submicron particles have a refractive index above and below the refractive index of the polymer matrix. When applied generally, the composition imparts superior soft focus results on the skin of the user.

CN103374143 a (inst Process Eng cas) discloses super macroporous polymer microspheres and a preparation method thereof. The super-macroporous polymer microspheres can be used as stationary phase filler for chromatographic separation, enzyme fixing carrier, cell culture microcarrier, tissue engineering microcantilever material and adsorption material.

EP1964875 a1(Ube Industries L td.) discloses a powder comprising porous polyamide particles having fine inorganic compound particles deposited thereon, wherein the fine inorganic compound particles are deposited on the surface and in the pores of the porous polyamide, and a cosmetic composition comprising the powder.

Typically, composite particles are prepared by creating conventional templates of low internal porosity (less than about 50% by volume) or irregular air pockets (airbubbles) which are responsible for internal porosity. When used in cosmetic compositions, such particles do not meet the high standards of opacity on the skin required by the consumer or user of such cosmetic compositions.

Disclosure of Invention

The present inventors have developed novel porous composite particles having high porosity and cosmetic compositions comprising such particles for use in skin properties such as natural-looking, uniformly shiny, and translucent pink-white skin. Typically, such composite particles require a large amount of energy to be homogeneously mixed or dispersed in the base or carrier of the cosmetic composition of interest, such as a cream. We have determined, however, that the porous composite particles of the present invention can be uniformly mixed or dispersed in a carrier using significantly less energy, thereby improving the sustainability factor of the process.

According to a first aspect, there is disclosed a porous composite particle comprising a matrix of an amphiphilic or hydrophobic polymer and from 0.1 to 20% of a pigment, based on the total weight of the porous composite particle, wherein the particle has an internal porosity of from 50 to 95 volume% and an external surface which is continuous and non-porous or discontinuous comprising a plurality of pores whose total area is from 0.01 to 30% of the total external surface area

In a second aspect, there is disclosed a method of making the porous composite particle of the first aspect of the invention, comprising the steps of:

(i) forming a w/o emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, the oil phase comprising the polymer, an organic solvent for dissolving the polymer, and the pigment;

(ii) further emulsifying the w/o emulsion in an external aqueous phase comprising an emulsifier to form a w/o/w double emulsion;

(iii) mixing the w/o/w double emulsion with additional water such that the solvent diffuses into the additional water to precipitate the porous composite particles.

In a third aspect, a cosmetic composition is disclosed comprising the porous composite particles of the first aspect of the invention.

In a fourth aspect, a method of improving skin characteristics by applying a cosmetic composition comprising the porous composite particles of the first aspect of the invention to the skin is disclosed. In a fifth aspect, the use of a cosmetic composition comprising the porous composite particles of the first aspect of the invention for improving skin characteristics is disclosed.

All other aspects of the invention will become more readily apparent from consideration of the following detailed description and examples.

Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about".

All amounts are by weight of the cosmetic composition, unless otherwise indicated. It should be noted that in specifying any range of values, any particular upper value can be associated with any particular lower value.

For the avoidance of doubt, the word "comprising" is intended to mean "including", but not necessarily "consisting of or" consisting of. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive.

The disclosure of the invention as found herein is to be considered to cover all embodiments as found in the claims as being multiply dependent upon each other, irrespective of whether the claims may be found without such multiple dependencies or redundancies.

Where features relating to a particular aspect of the invention, for example a composition of the invention, are disclosed, such disclosure is also deemed applicable to any other aspect of the invention, for example a method of the invention, mutatis mutandis.

Detailed Description

As used herein, "cosmetic composition" is meant to include compositions for topical application to mammalian (particularly human) skin. Such compositions may be generally classified as leave-on or rinse-off, but are preferably leave-on. The compositions are formulated into products that are applied to the human body, particularly for improving appearance, but may additionally provide cleaning, odor control, or general aesthetics. The compositions of the present invention may be in the form of a liquid, lotion, cream, foam, scrub, gel or toner (toner), or applied with a tool or via a mask or pad (pad). Non-limiting examples of such compositions include leave-on lotions, creams, antiperspirants, deodorants, lipsticks, foundations, mascaras, sunlesstanners, and sun screens. The composition of the present invention is preferably a leave-on composition. "skin" as used herein is meant to include skin on the face and body (e.g., neck, chest, back, arms, underarms, hands, legs, hips, and scalp), particularly the portions thereof exposed to the sun.

As used herein, "porous composite particle" refers to a particle having a plurality of distributed air pockets throughout the particle volume. The air pockets may be unconnected, or interconnected by small size openings, similar to the orifice openings being separated by a larger distance.

Internal porosity

The term "internal porosity" as used herein refers to porosity that is entirely due to air pockets within the porous composite particles. Internal porosity can be measured by using Mercury intrusion porosimetry (Mercury intrusion porosimetry). It is calculated by dividing the pore volume by the total volume of the particles and is expressed as a percentage between 0% and 100% by volume.

The internal porosity of the porous composite particles according to the present invention is from 50 to 95 volume%, more preferably from 65 to 95 volume%, most preferably from 70 to 95 volume%.

The porous composite particles according to the present invention preferably comprise a plurality of air pockets which may be interconnected or discontinuous. Preferably, the internal porosity is due to a plurality of discrete air pockets. Alternatively, the internal porosity is due to a plurality of interconnected air pockets.

Outer surface

The porous composite particles according to the invention comprise an outer surface which is continuous and non-porous or discontinuous comprising a plurality of pores having a total area of from 0.01 to 30% of the total outer surface area. Preferably, the outer surface is discontinuous comprising a plurality of pores. Preferably, the total area of the plurality of apertures is from 0.1 to 10% of the total outer surface area.

Particle shape

The porous composite particles according to the present invention may have any shape, regular or irregular. However, the composite particles of the present invention are preferably spherical or spheroidal (spheriodal).

It is particularly preferred that the diameter of the porous composite particles is from 0.5 to 100 microns, more preferably from 1 to 50 microns, and most preferably from 3 to 10 microns.

Pigment (I)

The porous composite particles according to the present invention comprise from 0.1 to 20% pigment, preferably from 0.1 to 10% pigment, more preferably from 0.5 to 5% pigment. Preferably, such pigments have a particle size of 0.01 to 5 microns, more preferably 0.05 to 1 micron. When the particles are spherical or spheroidal, the particle size is the diameter of such particles.

The pigments are preferably inorganic. Alternatively, the pigment is organic. Preferably, the inorganic pigment is zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, iron oxide or a mixture thereof.

It is often found that skin lightening caused by white pigments can occasionally occur as uneven "patches" even when cosmetic compositions containing the pigments are applied uniformly. The presence of non-white pigments can mitigate this effect. It is therefore preferred that the composition of the present invention comprises a pigment combination comprising a white pigment and a non-white pigment. In such a case, more preferably, the majority of the combination consists of non-white pigments.

It is particularly preferred that the porous composite particles of the present invention comprise a pigment combination comprising a white pigment and a non-white pigment, wherein the white pigment is zinc oxide and the non-white pigment is iron oxide. Or the white pigment is titanium oxide, and the non-white pigment is iron oxide.

Polymer matrix

The porous composite particles according to the present invention comprise a polymer matrix. A limitation on the polymeric matrix that can be used in the present invention is that the polymeric matrix is an amphiphilic polymer or a matrix of hydrophobic polymers.

Preferably, the amphiphilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of methoxy polyethylene glycol polylactic acid copolymers, polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene copolymers, polystyrene and polyethylene glycol copolymers, polystyrene and polyacrylate hydroxyethyl acrylate copolymers, polymethyl methacrylate and polyacrylate hydroxyethyl acrylate copolymers, methyl methacrylate and methacrylate copolymers, methyl methacrylate, β -hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymers, or mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the hydrophobic polymer is selected from polystyrene, polychloromethylstyrene, polyglycidyl methacrylate, or mixtures thereof.

Double emulsion method

As used herein, "double emulsion" refers to water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W). the first step of the double emulsion process is to form a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion, where the aqueous and oil phases contain a hydrophobic active component and a suitable surfactant with a low H L B.

The porous composite particles according to the present invention are preferably prepared by using emulsion droplets as a template, more preferably by using a double emulsion method.

Method for producing porous composite particles

The invention also relates to a method for preparing the porous composite particles. The method comprises the following steps:

(i) forming a w/o emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, the oil phase comprising the polymer, an organic solvent for dissolving the polymer, and the pigment;

(ii) further emulsifying the w/o emulsion in an external aqueous phase comprising an emulsifier to form a w/o/w double emulsion;

(iii) mixing the w/o/w double emulsion with additional water such that the solvent diffuses into the additional water to precipitate the porous composite particles.

Preferably, the aqueous phase of step (i) comprises a salt. Preferably, the outer aqueous phase of step (ii) comprises a salt.

Preferably, the salt used in step (i) and step (ii) is selected from sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate or magnesium sulfate. More preferably, the same salt is used in either step.

Preferably, the organic solvent is selected from chloroform, acetone, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, chloroform, dichloroethane or ethyl acetate. When selecting a suitable solvent for a given or selected amphiphilic or hydrophobic polymer, the nature of the solvent (e.g., polarity, dipole moment) needs to be considered. Generally, a suitable solvent is selected using the principle of similar phase solubility.

Preferably, the emulsifier is a nonionic emulsifier or an anionic emulsifier. Preferably, the anionic emulsifier is Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS).

Cosmetic composition

According to a further aspect, a cosmetic composition comprising the porous composite particles of the first aspect in a cosmetically acceptable carrier is disclosed. Preferably, the cosmetic composition comprises from 0.1 to 20%, more preferably from 0.2 to 15%, and most preferably from 0.75 to 6% by weight of the porous composite particles, based on the total weight of the composition.

A wide variety of materials may be present in the composition comprising the composite particles of the present invention to serve as cosmetically acceptable carriers. Preferably, the cosmetically acceptable carrier is an emulsion. In one aspect, the carrier is a water-in-oil emulsion. Alternatively, the carrier is an oil-in-water emulsion.

Preferably, the carrier comprises water. The amount of water may for example range from 1 to 85% by weight, more preferably from 5 to 90%, even more preferably from 35 to 80%, optimally from 40 to 70% by weight of the cosmetic composition, depending on the nature of the composition.

Further preferably, the composition of the present invention comprises a skin lightening agent. The skin lightening agent is preferably selected from one or more of the following: vitamin B3 compound or its derivative, such as nicotinic acid (niacin), nicotinic acid (nicotinic acid) or nicotinamide, or other known skin lightening agents, such as adapalene, aloe vera extract, ammonium lactate, anethole derivative, apple extract, arbutin, azelaic acid, kojic acid, bamboo extract, bearberry (bearberry) extract, bletilla striata, bupleurum falcatum (bupleurum falcatum) extract, sanguisorba officinalis extract, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, citrate, ligusticum wallichii, angelica sinensis, deoxyarbutin, 1, 3-diphenylpropane derivatives, 2, 5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and its derivatives, 2- (4-ethoxyphenyl) -1, 3-dithiane (dithane), 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1, 3-dithiane, ellagic acid, esculetin alcohol (escinol), estragole derivatives, nicotinyl derivatives, or derivatives, Fadeout (Pentapharm), Saposhnikovia divaricata, Foeniculum vulgare extract, Ganoderma extract, Ligusticum sinense (gaoben), GatulineWhitening (Gattlefosse), Genistenic acid (gentisic acid) and derivatives thereof, glabridin and derivatives thereof, glucopyranosyl-1-ascorbate, gluconic acid, glycolic acid, Green tea extract, 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3 [2H ] -furanone, hydroquinone, 4-hydroxyanisole and derivatives thereof, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, hydroxyoctanoic acid, inositol ascorbate, lemon extract, linoleic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Melawhite (Pentapharm), Mulberry (morus alba) extract, Mulberry root extract, 5-octanoylsalicylic acid, Parsley extract, Phellinus linteus extract, pyrogallol derivatives, 2, 4-resorcinol derivatives, 3, 5-resorcinol derivatives, Rose hip extract, salicylic acid, Song-Yi extract, 3,4, 5-trihydroxybenzyl derivatives, tranexamic acid, vitamins such as vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin a, dicarboxylic acids, resorcinol derivatives, extracts from plants, i.e. rubia and symplocos, hydroxycarboxylic acids such as lactic acid and salts thereof, e.g. sodium lactate and mixtures thereof. Vitamin B3 compound or its derivatives such as niacin, nicotinic acid or niacinamide are the most preferred skin lightening agents according to the invention, with niacinamide being the most preferred. When used, niacinamide is preferably 0.1 to 10 wt%, more preferably 0.2 to 5 wt%.

The composition may further preferably comprise one or more organic sunscreen agents. A wide range of organic sunscreens are suitable for use in combination with the essential ingredients of the present invention. Suitable UV-A/UV-B sunscreens include 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, octyldimethyl-p-aminobenzoic acid, digallacyl trioleate, 2-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, ethyl-4- (bis (hydroxypropyl)) aminobenzoate, 2-ethylhexyl-2-cyano-3, 3-diphenylacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, glycerol p-aminobenzoate, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, p-dimethylaminobenzoic acid or aminobenzoate, 2-ethylhexyl-p-dimethylaminobenzoate, 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulphonic acid, sodium hydrogen sulfonate, sodium sulfonate, 2- (p-dimethylaminophenyl) -5-sulfonic acid benzoxazoic acid (sulfonicbenzoxazoic acid), 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, octyldimethyl-p-aminobenzoic acid, and mixtures thereof. Most suitable organic sunscreens are 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane or mixtures thereof.

A safe and effective amount of organic sunscreen agent is 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 5% by weight of organic sunscreen agent.

Other materials that may be included in the cosmetically acceptable carrier include humectants, thickeners, and powders. Examples of each of these types of materials that can be used alone or as mixtures are as follows:

humectants include those of the polyol type. Typical polyhydric alcohols include polyalkylene glycols, more preferably alkylene polyols and their derivatives, including propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and derivatives thereof, sorbitol, hydroxypropyl sorbitol, hexylene glycol, 1, 3-butylene glycol, isoprene glycol, 1,2, 6-hexanetriol, glycerol, ethoxylated glycerol, propoxylated glycerol and mixtures thereof. The amount of humectant may range anywhere from, for example, 0.5 to 50%, more preferably 1 to 15%, by weight of the composition. Most preferred is glycerol (also known as glycerin). The amount of glycerin may range, for example, from 0.5% to 50%, more preferably from 1 to 35%, optimally from 2 to 15%, by weight of the composition.

A wide variety of thickeners may be included in the composition. Illustrative but not limiting of this is stearic acid, acrylamide/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer: (AVC), hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, aluminum starch octenyl succinate, polyacrylates (such as carbomer, including980、1342、PemulenAndthickeners), polysaccharides (including xanthan gum, guar gum, pectin, carrageenan, and sclerotium gum (sclerotum gums)), celluloses (including carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and methyl hydroxymethyl cellulose), minerals (including talc, silica, alumina, mica, and clay, the latter being represented by bentonite, hectorite, and attapulgite), magnesium aluminum silicate, and mixtures thereof. The amount of thickener may range, for example, from 0.05 to 10 weight percent, more preferably from 0.3 to 2 weight percent, based on the weight of the composition.

Powders include chalk, talc, fullers' earth, kaolin, starch, gums, colloidal silica, sodium polyacrylate, tetraalkyl and/or trialkyl aryl ammonium montmorillonite, chemically modified magnesium aluminium silicate, organically modified montmorillonite clay, hydrated aluminium silicate, fumed silica, carboxyvinyl polymer, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and ethylene glycol monostearate.

The compositions may be formulated in any known form, more preferred forms being creams and lotions. The cosmetic composition of the present invention may further comprise other ingredients commonly used in the art to enhance physical properties and performance. Suitable ingredients include, but are not limited to, adhesives, colorants and pigments, pH adjusters, preservatives, optical modifiers (optics), fragrances, viscosity modifiers, biological additives, buffering agents, conditioning agents, natural extracts, essential oils, and skin benefit agents (including anti-inflammatory agents, cooling agents, antiperspirants, anti-aging agents, anti-acne agents, antimicrobial agents, and antioxidants).

The cosmetic compositions of the present invention are compositions suitable for topical application to human skin, including leave-on and rinse-off products. Preferably, the compositions of the present invention are leave-on compositions. More preferably, the cosmetic composition of the present invention is a moisturizer, a vanishing cream or a sunscreen cream.

The composition may be suitably packaged in a suitably sized package or dispenser. The packaging may be a jar or tube and any other form commonly seen for cosmetic, cream, wash and lotion type products. The composition may be applied topically, and preferably 1 to 4 milligrams of the composition per square centimeter of skin.

Method and use

In a fourth aspect, a method of improving skin characteristics is disclosed comprising the step of topically applying the cosmetic composition of the first aspect thereto. Preferably, the method is non-therapeutic in nature. The non-therapeutic nature means use for cosmetic purposes. Alternatively, but less preferably, it is for therapeutic purposes.

In a fifth aspect, the use of the composition of the first aspect for improving skin characteristics is disclosed, the term improving skin characteristics meaning providing one or more of the benefits comprising natural looking skin, uniform shiny skin, translucent pink white skin, or a combination thereof.

The following examples are provided to facilitate an understanding of the invention. The examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.