Topical composition containing active inorganic carbonate

Abstract

A topical composition for treating a skin condition on mammalian skin that contains active inorganic carbonate useful as a skin desiccant and mild abrasive for cosmetic and medical purposes. The composition includes inorganic carbonate particles and at least one additional component of an emollient, an emulsifier, a fragrance, a humectant, an occlusive, a pH adjuster, a preservative, a grain, and a solvent. The inorganic carbonate particles are precipitated calcium carbonate, CaCO,; calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2; magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2; calcium magnesium carbonate, CaMg(COa)2; or a combination thereof obtained from a water softening process. The topical skin composition is a skin desiccant that is effective for treating skin conditions in humans and animals such as wounds, blisters, bums, insect bites, sunburns, rashes, acne, and eczema. The composition does not include silica products, but instead includes active inorganic carbonate, in some cases, from spent lime while providing additional minerals and nutrients for skin health.

Description

TOPICAL COMPOSITION CONTAINING ACTIVE INORGANIC CARBONATERELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority benefit of US Provisional Application Serial Number 63 / 700,955, filed 30 September 2024; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention in general relates to the topical skin composition and components thereof, and in particular to a topical skin composition containing active inorganic carbonate and formulations thereof that are useful as a skin desiccant and mild abrasive for cosmetic and medical purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Various skin conditions in humans and animals require treatment with a composition to dry out the skin to return the skin to a healthy state. Such skin conditions include wounds, blisters, burns, insect bites, sunburns, rashes, acne, and eczema. Such conditions can benefit from making moisture or liquid less accessible to the skin in order to allow the skin condition to heal and to prevent the condition of the skin from turning septic.

[0004] Often, such skin conditions are treated with a pharmaceutical composition known as a skin desiccant. Silica gel is a common desiccant that is often used in products to prevent damage from moisture. It's made from silicon dioxide, which is found in sand, and has small particles that can absorb a lot of moisture. However, silica is abrasive, which can damage the very skin that the skin desiccant is trying to heal. Furthermore, inhalation of silica dust is found to cause silicosis. Silicosis is an interstitial lung disease marked by inflammation and scarring in the form of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs. It is a type of pneumoconiosis. Over time, exposure to silicaparticles causes permanent lung scarring, called pulmonary fibrosis. First signs of silicosis include bronchitis-like symptoms such as persistent cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. People also suffer from weakness, fatigue, fever, night sweats, leg swelling and bluish discoloration of the lips. There's no cure for silicosis because the lung damage can't be reversed. As such, there are concerns regarding the manufacture and use of skin desiccants that include such silica products. Accordingly, there exists a need for a skin desiccant that is effective for treating skin conditions in humans and animals that does not include such silica products.

[0005] Notably, lime is softer and less abrasive than silica and does not present dangers such as silicosis, while still acting to absorb moisture. Lime additionally provides nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that are important for skin health.

[0006] Thus, there exists a need for a skin desiccant that is effective for treating skin conditions in humans and animals that does not include such silica products, but instead includes lime particulate while providing additional nutrients for skin health.SUMMARY OF THE INENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a topical composition for treating a skin condition on mammalian skin. The topical skin composition contains active inorganic carbonate and formulations thereof that are useful as a skin desiccant and mild abrasive for cosmetic and medical purposes. The composition includes inorganic carbonate particles and at least one additional component of an emollient, an emulsifier, a fragrance, a humectant, an occlusive, a pH adjuster, a preservative, a grain, or a solvent to form a stable topical formulation.

[0008] According to embodiments, the inorganic carbonate particles are precipitated calcium carbonate, CaCCE; calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2; magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2; calcium magnesium carbonate, CaMgfUCE ; or a combination thereof. According to some inventiveembodiments, the inorganic carbonate particles are spent lime particles obtained from a water softening process that imparts mineral ions, such as magnesium, zinc, iron, aluminum, copper, calcium, or a combination thereof.

[0009] According to some inventive embodiments, the topical skin composition is a skin desiccant that is effective for treating skin conditions in humans and animals such as wounds, blisters, burns, insect bites, sunburns, rashes, acne, and eczema. The rash associated with poison ivy in particular is noted to be well treated by an inventive composition. The topical skin composition in some inventive embodiments is devoid of silica products. In still other inventive embodiments the topical compositions providing additional nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for skin health.DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention has utility as a topical skin composition containing active inorganic carbonate and formulations thereof that are useful as a skin desiccant and mild abrasive for cosmetic and medical purposes. According to embodiments, the topical skin composition is a skin desiccant that is effective for treating skin conditions in humans and animals such as wounds, blisters, burns, insect bites, sunburns, rashes, acne, and eczema. The rash associated with poison ivy in particular is noted to be well treated by an inventive composition. The topical skin composition does not include silica products, but instead includes active inorganic carbonate, in some cases, from spent lime while providing additional nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for skin health.

[0011] It is to be understood that in instances where a range of values are provided herein, that the range is intended to encompass not only the end point values of the range, but also intermediate values of the range as explicitly being included within the range and varying by thelast significant figure of the range. By way of example, a recited range of from 1 to 4 is intended to include 1-2, 1-3, 2-4, 3-4, and 1-4.

[0012] According to embodiments, the topical skin composition is formulated to afford a synergistic effect between various components. In yet another embodiment, the topical skin composition is formulated absent synthetic components. An inventive topical skin composition in all embodiments maintains the activity of active inorganic carbonate components while having storage stability at ambient temperature and in response to microbial challenge through non-sterile processing and subject usage microbial contamination. A process of formulation is provided that affords a topical skin composition formulation with these attributes of maintained active inorganic carbonate activity and storage stability under the conditions of cosmetic and / or medical usage and storage.

[0013] According to the present invention, inorganic carbonates have a skin desiccant and mild abrasive effect on living mammalian skin. Inorganic carbonate particles additionally provide nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to living mammalian skin. These inorganic carbonate particles are combined with at least one additional component of an emollient, an emulsifier, a fragrance, a humectant, an occlusive, a pH adjuster, a preservative, a grain, or a solvent to form one of a lotion, a cream, a facemask, a soap, a slurry, and an exfoliant in order to treat at least one skin condition on mammalian skin including a lesion, a blister, a bum, an insect bite, a sunbum, acne, eczema, and a rash, such as caused by exposure to poison ivy.

[0014] It is appreciated that multiple extracts are optionally used herein simultaneously to achieve the compositional and activity requirements. It has been surprisingly found that the activity of spent lime particles and the at least one additional component operate synergistically in some inventive embodiments to achieve superior healing and appearance to skin and in someembodiments skin rejuvenation, as compared to either ingredient used alone in a controlled formulation. In still other embodiments, storage stability of an inventive composition of at least 3 months at 20°C is provided while the composition activity when applied to subject skin after storage remains within 80% of freshly formulated compositions.

[0015] The term inorganic carbonate as used herein refers to not only precipitated calcium carbonate, but also precipitated calcium carbonate containing minority by weight amounts of other calcium inorganics, magnesium carbonates, or combinations thereof. According to other inventive embodiments, the inorganic carbonate particles of a topical composition are precipitated calcium carbonate, CaCCh; calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2; magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2; calcium magnesium carbonate, CaMg(COa)2; or a combination thereof.

[0016] According to some inventive embodiments, spent lime generated by adding lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2) to unsoftened water in order to precipitate minerals from the water that cause water hardness is processed to form the inorganic carbonate particles operative herein. According to embodiments, these resulting spent lime particles contain other minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iron, aluminum, and copper that are present due to the water softening process it goes through. Some of these ions, such as zinc, that are present in the spent lime are known to have antiviral and antimicrobial properties. According to embodiments, additional calcium is added to the spent lime particles. Tables 1-3 below show the additional mineral content within different batches of spent lime particles.

[0017] Table 1- Iron, Aluminum, Zinc, and Copper Content in Inventive Spent Lime (totalWt. percent)

[0018] Table 2- Analyte Content in Exemplary Spent Lime Batches and EPA testing methods

[0019] Table 3- Exemplary Liming / Marl Materials from spent lime per Tables 1 and 2.

[0020] Inorganic carbonates are readily prepared for usage in an inventive composition by a process that illustratively includes washing with water, surfactants solutions, or chelating agent solutions to remove entrained trace metals, organic contaminants or a combination thereof that are not desired to be included in an inventive topical composition to treat a mammalian skin condition. Chelating agents operative herein illustratively include illustratively include ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS), ethylenediamine dimalonic acid (EDDM), and ethylenediamine diglutaric acid (EDDG), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), iminodiacetic acid (IDA), iminotriacetic acid (ITA), ethylenediamine (En), N,N'-diethylenediamine (Den), diethylenetriamine (DTN), diethylenetetramine (Trien), triaminotriethylene amine, triethanolamine, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, aconitic acid, hydroxycthylcthylcnc diamine triacetic acid (HEDTA), or combinations thereof.

[0021] According to certain inventive embodiments, the collected, and optionally washed, inorganic carbonate is then dewatered by conventional techniques such as settling, pressing, or combinations thereof. It is of note that spent lime as a subset of inorganic carbonates is characterized by being non-reactive with water and only forms hydrates, specifically a hexahydrate, with limited thermal stability. A typical composition of inorganic carbonate operative herein is 80 to 99.999 percent by weight calcium carbonate, CaCCE or calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, with the remaining 20 to 0.001 percent by weight being Mg(OH)2, howeverthe composition is appreciated to vary with the geological source of the limestone initially used. Tt is additionally noted that calcium magnesium carbonate, CaMg(COa)2, commonly known as dolomite is also operative herein.

[0022] The inorganic carbonate particles, regardless of the source, are then dried to a water content of less than 5 total weight percent. The dried inorganic carbonate is then ground and sieved to a mean particle size of between 10 and 175 microns. In some inventive embodiments, the inorganic carbonate particle size is between 30 and 150 microns. According to embodiments, the inorganic carbonate particle is made fine to less than 100 microns and even less than 74 microns. The resulting inorganic carbonate particles have a flour-like consistency and behaves as a free- flowing powder and imparts a smoothness to the cosmetic formulation.

[0023] The inorganic carbonate particles are then combined with at least one additional component commonly employed in cosmetic or pharmaceutical topical compositions with the proviso that these components maintain the attributes of the spent lime particles. According to embodiments, the additional component is at least one of an emollient, an emulsifier, a fragrance, a humectant, an occlusive, a pH adjuster, a preservative, a grain, and a solvent to form one of a lotion, a cream, a facemask, a soap, a slurry, and an exfoliant in order to treat at least one skin condition on mammalian skin including a lesion, a blister, a bum, an insect bite, a sunburn, acne, eczema, and a rash, such as caused by exposure to poison ivy.

[0024] Representative of conventional cosmetic and pharmaceutical components that are readily formulated herewith illustratively include deionized water optionally constituting the majority by weight of the inventive cosmetic; solids and waxes such as petroleum, lanolin, ceresin, microcrystalline wax, carnuba wax, C10-C30 fatty acids, C10-C30 alcohols; oils such as olive oil, jojoba oil, castor oil, sunflower oil, hazelnut oil, shea butter, and safflower oil; viscositymodifiers / stabilizers such as guar gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose, sclerotium gum, carbomers, polyacrylates, and acrylate-Cio-Cao alkyl acrylate copolymers; hydrophilic moisturizers such as glycerin, propanediol, sodium lactate, sodium PCA; emollients such as dicaprylyl ether, myristyl myristate, C10-C30 caprates, C10-C30, triglycerides containing caprylic and / or capric acids, and C10-C30 glycerides; co-emulsifiers such as cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, glyceryl sterate, stearic acid, glycol sterate, and glyceryl distearate; emulsifiers such as nonionic surfactants and anionic surfactants illustratively including salts of lauroyl lactylate, caproyl lactylate, cocoyl lactylate, stearoyl lactylate, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, glyceryl oleate citrate where typical cations include sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, and magnesium; silicone oils; colorants such as inorganic accompaniments and inorganic dyes; metal soap-treated or silicon-treated inorganic or organic pigments and organic dyes; non-ionic surfactants, poly siloxanes; water preservatives; pH modifiers; vitamins and vitamin metabolites such as vitamin E, vitamin K, or B vitamin complexes; essential oils; ultraviolet light absorbing compounds; fragrances; humectants; blood flow enhancing agents; agents inducing a cold sensation; antiperspirants; actives, and biocides.

[0025] According to embodiments, the inventive topical composition additionally includes an additional active ingredient. As used herein an active is defined as an organic compound applied to the mammalian skin for cleansing, healing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance that has efficacy in improving skin attributes regardless of whether the compound is polar or non-polar in nature. Active organic compounds operative herein illustratively include additional extracts such as those of the mushroom mpo Songyi, Acacia farnesiana, Euterpe oleracea, Malpighia glabra, Bixa orellana, Prunus dulcis, Aloe vera, Rhododendron ferrugineum, Amaranthus caudatus, Angelica archangelica, Pimpinella anisum, Malus domestica, MenthaPROL-OIOIPCT suaveolens, Oat avenanthramide, Prunus armeniaca, Amika montana, Cynara scolymus, Asparagus officinalis, Persea americana, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Melissa officinalis, Bambusa vulgaris, Musa paradisiaca, Adansonia digitata, Berberis vulgaris, Ocimum basilicum, Laurus nobilis, Epilobium angustifolium, Allium ursinum, Geum urbanum, Betula pubescens, Quassia amara, Nigella sativa, Ribes nigrum, Morus nigra, Raphanus sativus, Camellia sinensis, Rubus fruticosus, Iris versicolor, Vaccinium myrtillus, Borago officinalis, Vicia faba, Menyanthes trifoliata, Fagopyrum esculentum, Arctium lappa, Ruscus aculeatus, Theobroma cacao, Acorns calamus, Carum carvi, Elattaria cardamomum, Daucus carota sativus, Erythroxylum catuaba, Centaurium erythraea, Matricaria chamomilla, Prunus cerasus, Cicer arietinum, Chlorella vulgaris, Aronia melanocarpa, Cinchona pubescens, Cinnamomum verum, Syzygium aromaticum, Cocos nucifera, Coffea arabica, Plectranthus barbatus, Tussilago farfara, Symphytum officinale, Plantago major, Coriandrum sativum, Zea mays, Papaver rhoeas, Centaurea cyanus, Gossypium herbaceum, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Primula veris, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Cucumis sativus, Curcuma longa, Bellis perennis, Rosa damascena, Turnera diffusa, Taraxacum officinale, Phoenix dactylifera, Lamium album, Rosa canina, Hylocereus undatus, Daemonorops draco, Echinacea angustifolia, Leontopodium alpinum, Sambucus nigra, Acanthopanax senticosus, Phyllanthus emblica, Eucalyptus globulus, Oenthera biennis, Helichrysum arenarium, Euphrasia rostkoviana, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Ficus carica, Linum usitatissimum, Plumeria alba, Fumaria officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Gardenia Yessminoides, Gentiana lutea, Zingiber officinale, Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, Solidago virgaurea, Vitis vinifera, Citrus paradisi, Camellia sinensis, Paullinia cupana, Graminis flos, Corylus avellana, Lawsonia inermis, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Lonicera japonica, Humulus lupulus, Aesculus hippocastanum, Equisetum arvense, Sempervivum tectorum, Hyssopus officinalis, Cetraria islandica, Baptisia tinctoria, Chondrus crispus, Hedera helix,PROL-OIOIPCTJasminum officinale, Simmondsia chinensis, Juniperus communis, Anthyllis vulneraria, Kigelia africana, Actinidia chinensis, Pueraria lobata, Alchemilla vulgaris, Lavandula angustifolia, Citrus limon, Cymbopogon cytratus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Lilium candidum, Citrus aurantifolia, Tilia cordata, Nelumbo nucifera, Macadamia ternifolia, Magnolia biondii, Berberis aquifolium, Malva sylvestris, Mangifera indica, Calendula officinalis, Castanea sativa, Althaea officinalis, Filipendula ulmaria, Cucumis melo, Silybum marianum, Panicum miliaceum, Colophospermum mopane, Sorbus aucuparia, Verbascum thapsus, Guazuma ulmifolia, Myrtus communis, Tropaeolum majus, Azadirachta indica, Urtica dioica, Ascophyllum nodosum, Myristica fragrans, Quercus robur, Laminaria digitata, Avena sativa, Usnea barbata, Olea europaea, Allium cepa, Citrus sinensis, Mentha citrata, Origanum vulgare, Viola tricolor, Carica papaya, Capsicum annuum, Petroselinum crispum, Passiflora incamata, Prunus persica, Pyrus communis, Centella asiatica, Paeonia officinalis, Piper nigrum, Mentha piperita, Ananas comosus, Prunus domestica, Punica granatum, Pulmonaria officinalis, Cucurbita pepo, Cydonia oblonga, Rubus idaeus, Trifolium pratense, Oryza sativa, Aspalathus linearis, Rosa centifolia, Rosmarinus officinalis, Secale cereale, Salvia officinalis, Schisandra chinensis, Hippophae rhamnoides, Sesamum indicum, Capsella bursa pastoris, Albizia julibrissin, Artemisia abrotanum, Mentha spicata, Triticum aestivum, Spirulina platensis, Picea abies, Hypericum perforatum, Averrhoa carambola, Stevia rebaudiana, Fragaria ananassa, Helianthus annuus, Melilotus officinalis, Tanacetum cinerariifolium, Citrus reticulata, Thymus vulgaris, Salvadora persica, Valeriana officinalis, Vanilla planifolia, Verbena officinalis, Viola odorata, Juglans regia, Nasturtium officinale, Citrullus lanatus, Triticum aestivum, Camellia sinensis, Crataegus rhipidophylla, Thymus serpyllum, Salix alba, Hamamelis Virginia, Isatis tinctoria, Lycium barbarum, Artemisia absinthium, Achillea millefolium, Hymenaea courbaril, Cananga odorata, Tricholoma matsutakeSinger, or combinations thereof. It is appreciated that such extracts may also possess a degree of antimicrobial activity that in certain embodiments enhances the efficacy of the biocide. Active organic compounds are typically used in an inventive formulation from 0 to 1 total weight percent and in some embodiments up to 5 total weight percent. While these actives tend to be more tolerant of conventional cosmetic processing conditions and in many instances are amenable to inclusion in an aqueous or lipophilic phase, it should be appreciated that such active organic compounds in some embodiments are added subsequent to emulsion formation through a phase C or other separately to the emulsion.

[0026] According to embodiments, the inorganic carbonate particles in the form of spent lime particles constitute from 0.0001 to 10% total weight of an inventive topical composition. It is appreciated that the amount of spent lime particles present in an inventive topical composition depends on factors illustratively including miscibility with other components of another cosmetic, and the particular skin condition being treated.

[0027] An inventive topical composition is readily formulated into a water-based cosmetic illustratively including a lotion, a toner, a spray mist, a serum, a cream, a mask, a sunscreen, a cleanser, a moisturizer, an exfoliant, a bath preparation, an astringent, and other skin care products, or a topical medicament illustratively including an a rash or bite soothing lotion, cream, or spray and a skin desiccant. In particular embodiments of the present invention, a topical composition is provided that includes a plant based emulsifier such as a lactylate that is essentially silicone-free, mineral oil-free, petrolatum-free, and free of synthetic parabens. An emulsifier “substantially free” of these compounds is defined herein as having less than 10 emulsifier weight percent of these compounds in total. An inventive formulation is readily applied to mammalian skin in regions that specifically and illustratively include the face as a whole; the regions of the face surrounding themouth, eyes, forehead, temples, cheeks, or chin; hand; foot; neck; scalp; elbow; chest; forearm; shoulders; legs; torso, hands, and combinations thereof.

[0028] An emollient is an ingredient in skin creams, lotions, moisturizers or ointments that form a film on the skin. Emollients can relieve dryness, itching and scaling. According to embodiments, when an emollient is present in the inventive topical composition, the emollient is at least one of petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil, dimethicone, Abyssinian oil, almond oil, aloe vera palmitate, amla oil, apricot kernel oil, argan oil, avocado oil, baobab oil, brassica oil, butylene glycol, C 12-15 alkyl benzoate, camelina oil, carrot oil, castor oil, citronella oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, cranberry seed oil, ethylhexyl olivate, evening primrose oil, grape seed oil, hemp seed oil, isododecane, isoeicosane, isohexadacane, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, jojoba oil, macadamia nut oil, mango butter, marula tetradecane, meadowfawn seed oil, methyl glucath-10, mineral oil, oat emollient, octyldodecanol, orange peel butter, polyamide 3, pumpkin seed oil, raspberry butter, red raspberry seed oil, rose hip oil, safflower oil, sesame seed oil, shea butter, squalane, sunflower oil, tribehenin, triglyceride, or a combination thereof.

[0029] Emulsifiers are compounds that enable two immiscible substances - water and oil - to be combined. They have a hydrophilic, water-soluble pail and a hydrophobic, oil-soluble part. Thus, when an emulsifier is added to a mixture of oil and water, it enables the two liquids to mix and forms a homogeneous emulsion by reducing the repulsive force between their molecules. The addition of emulsifiers prevents cosmetics from dissolving, which prolongs the shelf life of the product. According to embodiments, when an emulsifier is present in the inventive topical composition, the emulsifier is at least one of glycerol monostearate, cetearyl alcohol, polysorbates, lecithin, acacia gum, behenyl alcohol, cateareth, polawax, sodium stearoyl lactylate, beeswax, xanthan gum, stearic acid, and a combination thereof. Polysorbate 80 e433 is a viscous, water-soluble yellow liquid that is a skincare ingredient. It is utilized in a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products as a surfactant, solubilizer, emulsifier, and stabilizer. Polysorbate 80 contributes to the production of smooth, easy-to- spread personal care products. As an excellent surfactant, e433 emulsifier plays an instrumental role in cleansers and body washes. This is because they are helpful in the removal of dirt and oil that accumulate on the skin. As an outstanding emulsifier, polysorbate 80 e433 enables water and oil to mix better together without separating, thus forming a stable emulsion system. Meanwhile, e433 emulsifier can also be implemented in cosmetics as a solubilizer. The presence of polysorbate 80 in skin care products contributes to better solubilization of the essential oils into the raw material formulation, giving the product better consistency, stability, and protection against static electricity. Polysorbate 80 e433 further promotes the capability of rinsing off scrubs and makeup removers, minimizing the amount of residue they cause. Sodium Stearoyl Lactate is a derivative of stearic acid and lactyl lactate. It is one of the most commonly used ionic emulsifiers. Emulsifier e481 is an ionic emulsifier that is frequently deployed as an emulsifier, cleanser, and conditioner in skin and hair care products. Emulsifier 481 has superior emulsifying ability which enables it to give cosmetics a smooth, creamy texture. The high concentration of sodium stearoyl lactylate functions as a surfactant, which makes it easier to wash off grease and dirt away from the skin. For this reason, emulsifier e481 is also a popular ingredient in cleansers and shampoos. It stimulates the production of rich lather for better hair and skin cleansing. Furthermore, SSL emulsifier creates a pleasant touch and a favorable experience in cleansing systems and cosmetic lotions. Relevant authorities have certified that sodium lauryl lactylate is safe for use in cosmetics. Another commonly used nonionic emulsifier is Glyceryl Stearate, which is a derivative of glycerol and stearic acid from fatty acids. It has remarkable emulsifying and stabilizing properties allowing it to be frequentlyfound in personal care products. Cetearyl Alcohol is a mixture of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol which belongs to a nonionic emulsifier. Adding it to cosmetics will give them a creamy texture.

[0030] According to embodiments, when a fragrance is present in the inventive topical composition, the fragrance is at least one of lavender, rose, bergamot, citrus, bay rum, tea tree, 3- Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Linalool, Parabens, Phthalates, and Tetrahydrolinalool, or a combination thereof.

[0031] Humectants attract and bind water to the skin, increasing its moisture. These ingredients feel less thick and greasy than occlusives but wash off more easily in water. According to embodiments, when a humectant is present in the inventive topical composition, the humectant is at least one of glycerin, lecithin, hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, and urea.

[0032] An occlusive forms a thick and greasy coating on the skin and does not dissolve in water. Occlusives do not add moisture to the skin but help it hold onto the moisture it already has. According to embodiments, when an occlusive is present in the inventive topical composition, the occlusive is at least one of petroleum jelly, mineral oil, lanolin, and liquid paraffin.

[0033] According to embodiments, when a pH adjuster is present in the inventive topical composition, the pH adjuster is at least one of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, or a combination thereof.

[0034] Preservatives are used in cosmetics and other topical compositions to prevent the growth of mold, bacteria, and yeast in the composition. According to embodiments, when a preservative is present in the inventive topical composition, the preservative is at least one of parabins, formaldehyde, triethyl citrate, glyceryl caprylate, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, dehydroacetic acid, tocopherol, lactobacillus ferment, caprylhydroxamic acid, glyceryl caprylate, glycerin, benzyl alcohol, glycerin, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, sodium benzoate,potassium sorbate, gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, glyceryl caprylate, pentylene glycol, Magnolia officinalis bark extract, glyceryl caprylate, glyceryl undecylenate, and combinations thereof.

[0035] According to embodiments, when a grain is present in the inventive topical composition, the grain is at least one of rice, wheat, oats, cornmeal, bailey, colloidal oatmeal, or combinations thereof. A grain is particularly present when the topical composition is in the form of a bath slurry or an exfoliant. According to embodiments, the grain is present in its whole form or as a milled particle thereof.

[0036] According to embodiments, when a solvent is present in the inventive topical composition, the solvent is at least one of water, acetone, ethanol, methanol, hexane, toluene, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, isopropanol, dimethylformamide, xylene, or a combination thereof. According to embodiments, the solvent is an organic solvent illustratively including ethers, furans, petroleum distillates, alkanes, halogenated alkanes, alcohols, acetates, and combinations thereof.

[0037] According to some embodiments, the topical composition is prone to microbial degradation, especially when processed under non-sterile conditions and stored at room temperature of 20°C. According to embodiments, formulation of an inventive topical composition involves pH buffering, sheer mixings, and heat during the process. Buffering is commonly practiced in the field and includes the addition of an acid, a base, a salt of the acid, or a combination thereof to equilibrate an aqueous solution or aqueous phase of an emulsion to a desired pH. It is appreciated that pH measurement is routine and measured quantitatively via volumetric titration or with potentiometric electrodes such as those commercially available from Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham MA, USA); and qualitatively measured with litmus paper kits.

[0038] According to some embodiments, biocides are present in an inventive formulation toPROL-OIOIPCT maintain composition activity in response to organisms present during formulation and in response to the continual seeding of the topical composition with various microbes during usage of a multiple dose container through subject topical and respiratory contact with an inventive composition. As a result, an inventive topical composition formulation in multiple-use and storage stable formulations includes a broad spectrum biocide or a combination of biocides. A broad spectrum biocide is defined herein as having activity against Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria, and fungi associated with a healthy human subject. Biocides operative herein illustratively include benzoic acid, parabens, salicylic acid, carbolic acid, sorbic acid, alkyl p- hydroxybenzoates, p-chlorometacresol, hexachlorophene, benzalkonium chloride, chlorohexidine chloride, trichlorocarbanilide, phenoxyethanol, acylsarcosines, glutathione, malic acid, tartaric acid, ascorbic acid, ascorbates, essential plant oils, mutacin proteins, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments of the present invention, only naturally dervied biocides are present. Naturally derived biocides illustratively include fermentation filtrates such as those of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus mutans, and Leuconostoc; bisabolol; eucalyptol; thymol; inositol; saponins; and natural extract of plants, such as Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), yangti (Rumex japonicus), kushen (Sophora flavescens), candock, wild oregano, orange, sage, manifoil, common mallow, chuanxiong (Cnidii officinale Makino), Japanese green gentian (Swertia japonica Makino), bisabolol, thyme, danguii (Angelica sinensis), orange peel, birch, field horsetail, dishcloth gourd, horse chestnut tree, creeping saxifrage (Saxifrage stolonifera), arnica, lily, mugwort, peony, aloe, gardenia, as well as those detailed in M. M. Cowan, Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 12(4) Oct. 1999, p. 564-582;or combinations thereof. Such extracts are obtained by procedures detailed in Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 12(4) Oct. 1999, pages. 573-574 and often using a hydrophilic organic solvent such as a Ci-Cs alcohol, polyhydric alcohols, water, andaqueous alcohols. In a specific inventive embodiment Japanese honeysuckle, phloretin (apples), galangin (Helichrysum aureonitens) are used as naturally derived biocides, each alone or in combination. It is appreciated that in addition to biocide properties, a natural extract often imparts a fragrance to an inventive cosmetic. A biocide is present in multi-use packages of inventive cosmetics in specific embodiments from 0.1 to 5 total weight percent. It is appreciated that quantities of biocides beyond 5 total weight percent are readily included as desired.

[0039] An inventive cosmetic is in certain embodiments pH buffered to a value of between 5.6 and 7.9 and in still other embodiments to between 6.5 and 6.8, while in still in other embodiments between 6.8 and 7.3. Without intending to be bound to a particular theory, such pH values facilitate stabilization and storage stability of the components of the inventive composition. The formulation of an inventive topical composition is facilitated by pre-formulating at least two components including an oil-in-water emulsion and a second phase a water-in-oil or silicone emulsion with optional additional phases such as for example a third phase containing the spent lime particles. Alternatively, it is appreciated that the spent lime particles are readily dispersed in either the oil-in-water emulsion, water-in-oil, water-in-silicone emulsion or a serum formulation.

[0040] The minority phase components of an oil-in-water emulsion illustratively include oils, waxes, esters, ethers, butters, glycerides, or combinations thereof as detailed above. The majority phase components of an oil-in-water emulsion include water, aqueous salts, humectants, and various water soluble materials as detailed above. An emulsifier for such a system includes ionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants as detailed above and also including lecithin, liposomes, and oleosomes. Other non-essential additives are readily provided as detailed above that include viscosity modifiers, emulsion stabilizers, fragrances, and the like. In specific embodiments, the oil-in-water emulsion has a pH value of 5.6 to 7.9. If certain embodiments, the oil-in-wateremulsion has a pH value of 6.5 and 6.8.

[0041] The water-in-oil or water- in- silicone emulsion varies the relative quantities of minority and majority phase components and preferably relies on non-ionic surfactants and silicone derivatives as emulsifiers. Viscosity modifiers and / or emulsion stabilizers illustratively include water soluble salts, gums, waxes, and combinations thereof as detailed above. In specific embodiments, the inner phase is pH adjusted to a pH value of 5.6 to 7.9. In certain embodiments, the inner phase pH value of 6.5 to 6.8. It is appreciated that various vitamins such as vitamin E, vitamin K, ascorbic acid derivatives such as ascorbic acid glucosides are readily provided in one or both of the aforementioned emulsion phases or provided as a separate third phase.

[0042] According to embodiments, an inventive topical composition also contains a natural product extract. The natural product extract includes an unsaturated fatty acid and a sterol in an amount to provide an anti-oxidant activity and collagenase inhibition activity of greater than 10% relative to the control, as measured by Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) testing and tracer of lipoperoxidation in culture medium with a natural product extract present at 1% and radiated with ultraviolet B in an amount of 150 millijoules per square centimeter, respectively. R.L. Prior, et al. Assays for Hydrophillic and Lipophillic Antioxidant Capacity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORACFL)) of Plasma and other Biological and Food Samples. J. Agric. Food Chem. (2003) 51:3273-3279. It is appreciated that natural extracts often contain mixtures of unsaturated fatty acids, one or more sterols, and other components of varying dermatological activity. An product extract used in an inventive composition also inhibits collagenase activity in some embodiments by more than 5% in some embodiments as measured against a control for a 0.1 % by weight extract in the control through a protocol of visual measurement of anti-collagenase testing on human biopsies with cyro skin slices being incubated 30 minutes at 37°C with, andwithout an extract followed by three hours of incubation at 37°C without (negative control) or with 15 microliters per milliliter collagenase followed by rinsing of the biopsy samples followed by coloration and microscopy for visual measurement of trichome of Masson. In some embodiments, a natural product extract used in an inventive composition includes at least one of an omega-3, an omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids. In still other embodiments, the unsaturated fatty acids are present in the natural product extract in an amount of at least 20 milligrams per 100 grams of extract. An inventive natural product extract also includes at least one type of sterol, the sterol illustratively including cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, hydroxylated forms thereof and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the at least one sterol is present in a natural product extract in an amount of greater than 50 milligrams per 100 grams of extract. Typically, a natural product extract is present in inventive composition from 0.01 to 10 total weight percent and in some embodiments from 0.1 to 3 total weight percent. Factors determinative in selecting the quantity of natural product extract illustratively include stabilization of the topical composition, degree of skin of damage, and topical composition shelf-life.

[0043] A natural product extract according to the present invention is readily formed by conventional techniques such as extracting a portion of a plant such as leaves, stems, buds, roots, fwit, or combinations thereof with a first solvent that is either hydrophilic or hydrophobic and filtering the mixture after being in contact with the solvent for times of from 1 to 48 hours with the quantity of solvent typically being between 1 and 20 volumes relative to that of the plant material. Extraction in solvents of decreasing hydrophilicity and elution by conventional techniques allows one to produce a natural product extract. Representative fatty acid / sterol extraction techniques are found in J.S. O’Brien and A.A. Benson, J. Lipid Res., 5, 1964, pp. 432- 436. The organic solvent illustratively including ethers, furans, petroleum distillates, alkanes,halogenated alkanes, alcohols, acetates, and combinations thereof. After sufficient interaction between the phases, of typically between 20 minutes and 48 hours, the organic phase is isolated to obtain an extract. Suitable sources of extracts include red, green, brown algaes and tuft-forming cyanobacteria collectively referred to herein as “seaweed”, and plants or components thereof having purple, red, black, or orange fruits or leaf colorations where leaf coloration is measured in the presence or absence of chlorophyll. Seaweeds represent a common source of inventive natural product extracts with high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and sterols. It is appreciated that synthetic and / or animal sources of unsaturated fatty acids and sterols are readily used in an inventive composition.

[0044] An inventive cosmetic is readily formed by a combination of premixed phases as detailed above or alternatively all such components are intermixed in sequence conventional to the art as a unified mixture. A process of improving skin appearance is provided that includes the application of an inventive composition to the skin of a mammal at a level of from 1 x 10'6to 0.1 mg of the isolate and 2 x 10‘7to 0.02 mg of the unsaturated fatty acids per square cm of skin at least three times per week to achieve the improvement of the skin appearance.

[0045] A summary of the typical ranges for inventive cosmetics are provided in Tables 4-6. It should be appreciated that other conventional base formulations are readily adjusted as detailed herein. A variety of conventional base formulations operative herein for a cosmetic are provided in E. W. Flick, “Cosmetic and Toiletry Formulations”, 2ndEd., Vol. 8; 2001, Noyes Publications, Norwich, New York, USA (ISBN 0-1855- 1454-9).Table 4. Typical ranges of inventive cosmetic in oil-in water emulsion, where percentages are total weight percent. Three phase and four phase version are provided herein.Three phase formulationPhase A-lDeionized water RemainderViscosity modifier / stabilizer 0 to 5 %Hydrophilic moisturizer 0 to 20%Vegetable oil / butter 1 to 20%Vegetable based emollient 0 to 20%Co-emulsifier 0 to 10%Secondary emulsifier 0 to 10%Lactylate emulsifier 0.1 to 10% pH adjuster / buffer to pH 5.6 to 7.9* 0 to 5% biocide 0.1 to 10% fragrance 0 to 5% non-polar active organic compounds 0 to 1%Phase B-lDeionized water 1 to 20%Active (L-Ascorbic Acid 2-Glucoside) 0 to 10%Citric Acid 0 to 1 %Sodium Citrate Dihydrate 0 to 1 %Sodium Hydroxide (20%) to pH 5.6 to 7.9 O to 5% polar active organic compounds 0 to 1 %Phase C-l inorganic carbonate particles 0.0001 to 10 active (natural product extract) 0 to 10Four phase formulationPhase A-2aDeionized water RemainderViscosity modifier / stabilizer 0 to 5 %Hydrophilic moisturizer 0 to 20% pH adjuster / buffer to pH 5.6 to 7.9* 0 to 5% biocide** 0 to 10% fragrance 0 to 5% polar active organic compounds 0 to 1 %Phase A-2bVegetable oil / butter 1 to 20%Vegetable based emollient 0 to 20%Co-emulsifier 0 to 10%Secondary emulsifier 0 to 10%Lactylate emulsifier 0.1 to 10%Biocide** 0 to 5% fragrance 0 to 5% non-polar active organic compounds 0 to 1%Phase B-lDeionized water 1 to 20%Active (L-Ascorbic Acid 2-Glucoside) 0 to 10%Citric Acid 0 to 1 %Sodium Citrate Dihydrate 0 to 1%Sodium Hydroxide (20%) to pH 5.6 to 7.9 O to 5% polar active organic compounds 0 to 1%Phase C- 1 inorganic carbonate 0.0001 to 10% active (natural product extract) 0 to 10%*- pH adjustment can also be performed subsequent to combination of Phases A and B, yet prior to addition of Phase C- 1.**-some quantity of biocide is required, typically 0.1 to 5 total weight percent in multi-use, non- sterile formulations.Table 5. Typical ranges of inventive cosmetic in water-in- silicone emulsion, where percentages are total weight percent.Phase APoly siloxane 1 to 20%Other silicone 1 to 10%Silicone emulsifier / surfactant 1 to 15%Emollient (non- silicone) 1 to 10% non-polar active organic compounds O to 1%Phase BDeionized water remainderGlycol 1 to 30%Alkali metal salt 0.2 to 2% viscosity modifier / stabilizer 0.1 to 3% pH adjuster 0 to 3% biocide** 0 to 2% polar active organic compound O to 1 %Phase C inorganic carbonate particles 0.0001 to 10% active (natural product extract) 0 to 10%Table 6. Typical ranges of inventive cosmetic in serum formulation , where percentages are total weight percent.Phase ADeionized water remainder viscosity modifier 0.1 to 2% pH adjuster 0.1 to 3%Glycol 0.01 to 10%Glycerin 0.01 to 10%Biocide 0.01 to 2% polar active organic compound 0 to 1%Phase BSolubilizer 0.1 to 10% non-polar active organic compound O to 1%Phase C inorganic carbonate particles 0.0001 to 10% active (natural product extract) 0 to 10%

[0046] Any patents or publications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0047] The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A topical composition for treating a skin condition on mammalian skin, the composition comprising: inorganic carbonate particles; and at least one additional component selected from a group consisting of an emollient, an emulsifier, a fragrance, a humectant, an occlusive, a pH adjuster, a preservative, a grain, and a solvent.

2. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic carbonate particles are present from 0.0001 to 10 total weight percent of the composition.

3. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic carbonate have a mean particle size based on particle number of between 10 and 175 microns.

4. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic carbonate particles are a free- flowing powder.

5. The topical composition of claim 4 wherein the free-flowing powder has a moisture content of between 0.1 and 5 total weight percent.

6. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic carbonate particles are dewatered.

7. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic carbonate particles are precipitated calcium carbonate, CaCCh; calcium hydroxide, Ca(0H)2; magnesium hydroxide, Mg(0H)2; calcium magnesium carbonate, CaMg(CO3)2; or a combination thereof.

8. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic carbonate particles are spent lime particles obtained from a water softening process.

9. The topical composition of claim 8 wherein the spent lime particles contain mineral ions present due to the water softening process.

10. The topical composition of claim 9 wherein the mineral ions present include magnesium, zinc, iron, aluminum, copper, calcium, or a combination thereof.

11. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the emollient when present is at least one of petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil, dimethicone, Abyssinian oil, almond oil, aloe vera palmitate, amla oil, apricot kernel oil, argan oil, avocado oil, baobab oil, brassica oil, butylene glycol, C 12-15 alkyl benzoate, camelina oil, carrot oil, castor oil, citronella oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, cranberry seed oil, ethylhexyl olivate, evening primrose oil, grape seed oil, hemp seed oil, isododecane, isoeicosane, isohexadacane, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, jojoba oil, macadamia nut oil, mango butter, manila tetradecane, meadowfawn seed oil, methyl glucath-10, mineral oil, oat emollient, octyldodecanol, orange peel butter, polyamide 3, pumpkin seed oil, raspberry butter, red raspberry seed oil, rose hip oil, safflower oil, sesame seed oil, shea butter, squalane, sunflower oil, tribehenin, triglyceride, or a combination thereof.PROL-OIOIPCT12. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the emulsifier when present is at least one of glycerol monostearate, cetearyl alcohol, polysorbates, lecithin, acacia gum, behenyl alcohol, cateareth, polawax, sodium stearoyl lactylate, beeswax, xanthan gum, stearic acid, and a combination thereof.

13. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the fragrance when present is one of lavender, rose, bergamot, citrus, bay rum, tea tree, 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, citral, linalool, parabens, phthalates, and tetrahydrolinalool, or a combination thereof.

14. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the humectant when present is at least one of glycerin, lecithin, hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, and urea.

15. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the occlusive when present is at least one of petroleum jelly, mineral oil, lanolin, and liquid paraffin.

16. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the a pH adjuster when present is at least one of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, or a combination thereof.

17. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the preservative when present is at least one of parabins, formaldehyde, triethyl citrate, glyceryl caprylate, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, dehydroacetic acid, tocopherol, lactobacillus ferment, caprylhydroxamic acid, glyceryl caprylate, glycerin, benzyl alcohol, glycerin, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, glyceryl caprylate, pentylene glycol,Magnolia officinalis bark extract, glyceryl caprylate, glyceryl undecylenate, and combinations thereof.

18. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the grain when present is at least one of rice, wheat, oats, cornmeal, barley, colloidal oatmeal, or combinations thereof.

19. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the solvent when present is at least one of water, acetone, ethanol, methanol, hexane, toluene, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, isopropanol, dimethylformamide, xylene, or a combination thereof.

20. The topical composition of claim 1 wherein the topical composition is one of a lotion, a cream, a facemask, a soap, a slurry, and an exfoliant.

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