Topical Skin Care Formulations with Plant Extracts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing skincare products fail to effectively address aging skin, environmental damage, and skin conditions such as fine lines, wrinkles, inflamed skin, and hyperpigmentation without causing skin irritation or prolonged recovery periods.

Innovation Solution

Topical skin compositions containing aqueous extracts from plants like Boehmeria platyphylla, Cratoxylum prunifolium, and Excoecaria acerifolia, which act as MMP-1 inhibitors, TNF-α inhibitors, and antioxidants, are used to treat various skin conditions by inhibiting inflammatory and oxidative processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If known skin active-ingredients are used to improve visual appearance of skin, then skin conditions such as fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation are treated, but skin irritation and prolonged recovery periods occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness in treating skin conditionsVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite plant extracts combining multiple botanical ingredients (e.g., Centella asiatica, Gotu kola, Green tea, Rosehip) that work synergistically to treat skin conditions. This composite approach provides effective treatment for fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation while reducing skin irritation compared to single active ingredients, as the multiple plant compounds collectively address various skin concerns through complementary mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If strong active-ingredients are used to address aging and environmental damage, then oxidative damage and inflammatory pathways are inhibited, but skin recovery time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to inhibit oxidative damage and inflammationVSAvoidrecovery period

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic application of plant extracts containing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that gradually reduce oxidative damage and inflammation over time. The repeated topical application of these botanical ingredients allows cumulative therapeutic effects while giving skin time to recover between applications, thereby inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways without causing prolonged recovery periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes plant extracts that modulate biological parameters in the skin, such as reducing reactive oxygen species levels, decreasing inflammatory cytokine production, and improving collagen synthesis. These parameter changes occur progressively with continued use, effectively addressing aging and environmental damage while maintaining skin health and minimizing recovery time through the gentle, natural action of botanical compounds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250134798A1Topical skin care formulations comprising plant extracts

Publication Date: 2025.05.01 MARY KAY INC

AI summary

A method of treatin skin is disclosed. The method includes topically applying to skin a composition that can include Hippophae rhamnoides extract, Persea gratissima oil, soybean oil, squalane, glycerin, pentylene glycol, butylene glycol, fructose, tocopheryl acetate, ethylhexylglycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, disodium EDTA, maltodextrin, and xanthan gum.