Cosmetic composition, cosmetic product, and soap

Abstract

To provide a cosmetic composition, a cosmetic product, and a soap which use tsukushi (fertile stem of Equisetum arvense), a plant readily available in daily surroundings, and can improve the condition of the skin.SOLUTION: A cosmetic composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a spore-derived component of tsukushi, the fertile stem of Equisetum arvense.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions, cosmetics, and soaps. [Background technology]

[0002] Consumers who use cosmetics have become increasingly environmentally conscious, and there is a growing need for cosmetics containing ingredients derived from natural materials in consideration of safety and the effects on the skin. In light of this situation, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a natural vegetable bar soap containing raw sesame oil and coconut oil as active ingredients. Also, Patent Document 2 proposes a soap containing an extract of a plant of the genus Salacia and / or its finely pulverized product. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3187672 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-255109 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the natural materials used in Patent Documents 1 and 2 rarely grow naturally in Japan, and there has been a demand for safe, skin-friendly cosmetics made from familiar plants that grow naturally in Japan. The inventor created this invention based on the experience of collecting horsetail (the spore stem of mugwort, hereinafter referred to as "horsetail") that grows wild in the mountains and fields, and then washing his hands with soap, which had horsetail spores on them, and finding that his skin felt smooth and silky, something he had never felt before.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic composition, cosmetics, and soap that can improve skin conditions using horsetail, a plant that can be collected nearby. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The cosmetic composition according to the present invention contains as an active ingredient a component derived from spores of horsetail, which is the spore stem of horsetail. In the above cosmetic composition, the component derived from the spores of horsetail is a component obtained from spores separated from the spore stem, and can be configured not to contain the spore stem itself or an extract of the spore stem. In the above cosmetic composition, the component derived from horsetail spores may be horsetail spores themselves, an extract extracted from horsetail spores, or crushed horsetail spores. The cosmetic product according to the present invention contains the above-mentioned cosmetic composition. The cosmetic composition may contain 0.5 g or more of the horsetail spore-derived component obtained from horsetail spores per 100 g of the cosmetic. The soap according to the present invention is characterized by containing the above-mentioned cosmetic composition. The soap may further contain horse oil. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cosmetic composition, cosmetics, and soap that can improve skin conditions using horsetail, a plant that can be collected in the vicinity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows the results of component analysis of horsetail spores. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition containing a component derived from horsetail spores as an active ingredient, as well as cosmetics and soap containing the cosmetic composition. The present invention will be described below using as an example a soap containing an extract extracted from horsetail spores as an active ingredient, which is a component derived from horsetail spores.

[0010] The fern plant horsetail (Equisetum arvense) reproduces by spores. The stems of horsetail that are specialized for producing and dispersing spores are called "horsetails." "Horsetails" are sometimes called the spore stems (or spore spikes or sporophytes) of horsetail. What is usually called horsetail refers to the green vegetative stems and leaves containing chlorophyll that grow after the horsetail has completed its role. Therefore, horsetail leaves do not have the sporangia found on the undersides of normal fern leaves.

[0011] The present invention is characterized by containing a component derived from horsetail spores as an active ingredient. In this embodiment, the component derived from horsetail spores may be horsetail spores themselves, or may be crushed horsetail spores. The component derived from horsetail spores may also be an extract extracted from horsetail spores. When crushed horsetail spores are used, the method for crushing the horsetail spores is not particularly limited, and methods such as ultrasonic crushing, enzyme crushing, crushing by freeze-thawing, and mechanical crushing can be used. Furthermore, when an extract of horsetail spores is used, the method for extracting the horsetail spores is not particularly limited, and extraction can be performed using water alone, an organic solvent alone, or a mixed solution of water and an organic solvent, at room temperature or under heat.

[0012] Horsetail spores can be collected from horsetails growing wild in the mountains and fields. However, they can only be collected in the spring, and only about 200g can be collected from 8,000 horsetails (spore stalks), making them a rare material. Because horsetail spores are such a rare material, it is recommended to collect them efficiently using the following method.

[0013] That is, first, horsetails growing wild in the mountains and fields are picked and then dried for one to several days. After that, the spore stalks are gently shaken to allow the spores to fall naturally and be collected. During this process, other debris may fall, so it is preferable to sift the spores and collect only the spores. Furthermore, because horsetail spores are light and may fly off during sieving, it is preferable to sift them in a large bag.

[0014] Furthermore, as long as the soap according to this embodiment contains a horsetail spore-derived component as an active ingredient, it can contain other components that are generally contained in soap. Although soap is exemplified in this embodiment, cosmetics other than soap can contain other components that are generally contained in the cosmetics. For example, the soap according to this embodiment can contain, in addition to the horsetail spore-derived component, fats and oils such as horse oil and hardened palm oil, which are the main components of soap, alkalis such as sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride, and additives such as granulated sugar, trehalose, and hyaluronic acid. The fats and oils and alkalis are not limited to those mentioned above, and it is also possible to add fats and oils that are commonly used in soap.

[0015] In addition to the above, the additives may also contain additives commonly used in soaps, etc., such as: fatty acids such as lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid; aliphatic alcohols such as cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetostearyl alcohol; silicone oils such as cyclic silicone, dimethylpolysiloxane, and amino-modified polysiloxane; ester oils such as 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, tri(caprylic / capric)glyceryl, and isopropyl myristate; lower alcohols such as ethanol and isopropyl alcohol; polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin, diglycerin, propanediol, and dipropylene glycol; nonionic surfactants such as polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, and alkanolamides; amphoteric surfactants such as fatty acid amidopropyl dimethylaminoacetic acid betaine, alkyl dimethylaminoacetic acid betaine, 2-alkyl-N-carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyethyl imidazolinium betaine, fatty acid amidopropyl hydroxysulfobetaine, and hydroxyalkyl hydroxyethyl sarcosine; alkyl ether sulfate ester salts, amido esters, and the like. Anionic surfactants such as ester sulfates; water-soluble polymers such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, and carboxyvinyl polymers; humectants such as amino acids (DL-alanine, sodium aspartate, serine, proline, etc.), peptides and proteins (hydrolyzed silk, hydrolyzed elastin, hydrolyzed collagen, whey, etc.), sugars (glucose, sucrose, trehalose, etc.), and mucopolysaccharides (sodium hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, etc.); pH adjusters such as succinic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide; disinfectants such as isopropylmethylphenol, glycerin mono-2-ethylhexyl ether, and hinokitiol; chelating agents such as tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and tocopherol; preservatives such as methyl parahydroxybenzoate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, and phenoxyethanol; UV absorbers such as 2-ethylhexyl paramethoxycinnamate, oxybenzone, and homomenthyl salicylate;Examples of the additives include natural extracts derived from plants and animals, such as Angelica keiskei extract, grape leaf extract, and thyme extract; colorants, such as safflower pigment and β-carotene; pigments, such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide; and fragrances, such as menthol, damask rose flower oil, and lavender extract. Depending on the purpose, one or more of the above additives may be contained.

[0016] An example of a method for producing soap according to this embodiment will be described below. The soap according to this embodiment can be produced in the same manner as a normal bar soap, except for the points described below.

[0017] First, a step of extracting horsetail spores is carried out to obtain a horsetail spore extract as a component derived from horsetail spores. The extraction method is not particularly limited, and known methods such as immersion extraction can be used. As an example, the horsetail spore extract can be obtained by immersing the horsetail spores in an aqueous solvent and extracting them at 5 to 80°C, more preferably 20 to 30°C, for several hours to several tens of days.

[0018] The horsetail spores used for extraction may be the spores collected directly from the horsetail, or crushed spores may be used. The horsetail spores may be heat-dried or freeze-dried. The extraction solvent is not particularly limited, but purified water or a water-soluble solvent consisting of a mixture of purified water and an organic solvent can be used. Examples of organic solvents used as the water-soluble solvent include methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, pentanediol, and glycerin. These may be used alone or in combination.

[0019] The soap according to the present embodiment can be produced by adding the extracted horsetail spore extract to materials generally used for soap. In the present embodiment, the soap is produced by the following method, as an example.

[0020] In this embodiment, sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride are added to a mixture of oils and fats such as horse oil and hardened palm oil, glycerin, and purified water, and the mixture is saponified by stirring at room temperature or under heat. Furthermore, a pre-prepared horsetail spore extract and additives such as trehalose, hyaluronic acid, and granulated sugar are added to the saponified material, mixed, and then dried to prepare a soap base. The soap base is then mixed using a roll mill or similar, extruded into a bar shape using a plodder, and molded into a bar shape using a molding machine. The molded bar soap is then air-dried, polished, and inspected (for foreign matter and pH value) before being ready for shipment.

[0021] In the soap according to this embodiment, the content of the horsetail spore-derived component is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the soap contains 10 g or more of the horsetail spore-derived component obtained from 10 g or more of horsetail spores per 100 g of soap, and more preferably 15 g or more of the horsetail spore-derived component obtained from 10 g or more of horsetail spores per 100 g of soap. This is because, in the prototype stage, when the soap according to this embodiment contains 10 g or more of the horsetail spore-derived component obtained from 10 g or more of horsetail spores, the skin improvement effect when washed with the soap according to this embodiment was more pronounced. Similarly, in cosmetics such as lotions, it is preferable that the horsetail spore-derived component obtained from 10 g or more of horsetail spores per 100 g of cosmetics, more preferably 15 g or more of horsetail spores per 100 g of cosmetics. The amount of spores per horsetail is about 0.25 g, and in the soap according to this embodiment, if one bar of soap weighs 80 g, it will contain the equivalent of 56 horsetail spores. [Example]

[0022] (Production of soap containing ingredients derived from horsetail spores) STEP 1: Horsetail spores were immersed in a mixture of ethanol and purified water and extracted at room temperature (20-30°C) for one day, and an extract was obtained as a horsetail spore extract. STEP 2: Sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride were added to a mixture of horse oil, hardened palm oil, and glycerin, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature to cause saponification. STEP 3: The horsetail spore extract obtained in STEP 1 was then mixed with trehalose, hyaluronic acid, and granulated sugar, and the mixture was dried to obtain a soap base. The amount of horsetail spore extract added was adjusted so that 17.5 g of horsetail spore extract was added per 100 g of soap. STEP 4: The soap base prepared in STEP 3 was mixed in a roll mill, then extruded into bars using a plodder and molded into bars of 80g each using a molder.

[0023] (Component analysis of horsetail spores) The horsetail spores were analyzed for their components by a third-party organization, the Food Analysis Center. Figure 1 shows the results of the component analysis of the horsetail spores. As shown in Figure 1, this component analysis examined the contents of potassium, total ascorbic acid (total vitamin C), total tocopherol (vitamin E), α-tocopherol, β-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, and β-carotene.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, the analysis revealed a high total tocopherol (vitamin E) content of 24.5 mg / 100 g, with a particularly high α-tocopherol content of 24·3 mg / 100 g. α-Tocopherol is known to have antioxidant and blood circulation-promoting properties, and is expected to prevent skin aging as well as skin problems such as acne and redness. Furthermore, the β-carotene content was found to be high at 4.47 mg / 100 g. β-Carotene is involved in collagen production and has the function of strengthening the skin and mucous membranes, and is also expected to have the effect of moisturizing and firming the skin.

[0025] In this example, only the above-mentioned components were analyzed. However, when washing the face or hands with the soap according to this embodiment, the skin improved to become shiny and smooth. This suggests that components not analyzed in the above-mentioned component analysis results are likely involved in the skin improvement. For example, horsetail itself is known to contain a high proportion of silicon, and it is expected that horsetail spores also contain a high proportion of silicon. Silicon has the effect of moisturizing the skin and maintaining firmness and elasticity. It is believed that the effects of the present invention are achieved by the interaction of these multiple components.

[0026] (sensory evaluation) A monitor test was carried out on the bar soap used in the above manufacturing method. Specifically, the monitor test was carried out in the following manner. Subjects: 50 healthy adult women Usage period: 3 weeks How to use: Wash your face with the soap of this embodiment once a day.

[0027] In this way, 50 adult women were asked to use the soap according to this embodiment for three weeks and were asked about their impressions of their skin after use. As a result, 75% of the subjects responded that their skin's firmness and moisture improved, and that they could expect an anti-aging effect. In addition, some monitors reported that their skin had become lifted and their nasolabial folds had become thinner on the second day of use.

[0028] (Soap containing horsetail spores) The inventor also created a soap containing the spores of the fungus, and tried washing only the back of his hand. He found that the back of his hand became translucent white and that the skin texture became smooth.

[0029] As described above, it has been found that the soap according to this embodiment has a skin-improving effect due to the active ingredient being a component derived from horsetail spores, which are the spore stems of horsetail. In particular, it has an anti-aging effect that gives skin firmness and luster, and also makes skin smooth and silky. Furthermore, this embodiment has a horsetail spore-derived component obtained only from horsetail spores, without including the spore stems, as the active ingredient, and is therefore expected to contain high concentrations of α-tocopherol, β-carotene, and other ingredients, and to have the potential to improve skin conditions other than those mentioned above, which are unique to horsetail spores.

[0030] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above-described embodiments, and such modifications and improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0031] For example, while the above-described embodiment exemplifies a solid soap, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and can be provided in liquid form as long as it contains a component derived from horsetail spores as an active ingredient. Furthermore, while the above-described embodiment exemplifies a soap, the present invention is not limited to soap and can also be applied to cosmetics such as emulsions, creams, lotions, serums, gels, packs, and makeup cosmetics (e.g., eye shadow, foundation, lipstick).

Claims

1. A cosmetic composition containing as an active ingredient a component derived from the spores of horsetail, which is the spore stem of horsetail.

2. The cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the component derived from horsetail spores is a component obtained from spores separated from the spore stem, and does not include the spore stem itself or an extract of the spore stem.

3. The cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the component derived from horsetail spores is horsetail spores themselves, an extract extracted from horsetail spores, or crushed horsetail spores.

4. A cosmetic comprising the cosmetic composition of any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. 5. The cosmetic product according to claim 4, comprising the component derived from horsetail spores obtained from 0.5 g or more of horsetail spores per 100 g of the cosmetic product.

6. A soap containing the cosmetic composition of any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The soap according to claim 6, further containing horse oil.

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