HK1109070B - Treatment articles capable of conforming to an underlying shape - Google Patents

Description

Treatment article capable of conforming to an underlying shape

Technical Field

The present invention relates to treatment articles that can conform to the shape (e.g., human body) beneath them, and more particularly to facial masks that can conform to the contours of the face.

Background

Cosmetic treatment articles such as facial tissues and masks are generally known in the art. These treatment articles generally comprise a porous water-insoluble substrate carrying a cosmetic treatment composition. The article is then applied to the skin of a mammal, thereby transferring the treatment composition to the skin. These cosmetic preparations are usually applied to the skin for the purpose of cleansing and overall care of the skin and to improve the health and natural appearance of the skin. Rough and/or cracked skin, wrinkles, oily and hyperpigmentation (such as age spots, freckles and sun-induced discoloration, skin aging and environmental damage) are skin conditions that are commonly treated.

Cosmetic treatment articles typically comprise a flat, two-dimensional substrate material that is incapable of conforming to a three-dimensional surface containing double curvature. Unfortunately, the skin surface to which these substrates are applied is often a three-dimensional, double curvature surface, such as the nose, forehead and/or chin of the face. These flat two-dimensional substrates tend to form a gap between the skin surface and the article and therefore do not adequately conform to these curved surfaces. Thus, the treatment composition loaded onto the substrate does not fully contact the skin.

One solution to the above problem is to use slits in selected locations on the substrate. The slits or cuts provide the substrate with the ability to overlay or fold upon itself in the vicinity of the slits or cuts, thereby providing the article with the ability to contact a greater range of skin in the three-dimensional double curvature regions described above. While the use of such slits or incisions has achieved widespread commercial acceptance and commercial success, these articles still tend to create voids and thus fail to deliver optimal amounts of treatment compositions to the skin.

Hyperboloid cosmetic articles that readily conform to the skin exhibit a number of advantages. As the portion of substrate-to-skin contact along the substrate surface increases, the article will deliver an optimal amount of treatment composition to the skin surface. In addition, the comfort of the wearer of the article is enhanced. Such cosmetic articles adhere only weakly to the skin surface. Increased contact between the article and the skin will increase adhesion and provide greater comfort.

Thus, there remains a need for a treatment article that readily conforms to a curved surface, thereby providing the aforementioned benefits of increased effectiveness and comfort.

Summary of The Invention

This need is met by the present invention wherein a treatment article having a water insoluble substrate and a treatment composition is provided. The substrate has at least one elongation zone with incremental stretching therein. Preferably, the elongate zone comprises at least a first region and a second region. The first region is one or more regions within the substrate in which the substrate is incrementally stretched such that its surface pathlength is increased compared to the surface pathlength in the second region. Such incremental stretching provides the article substrate with a region or zone within the substrate that is capable of more completely conforming to the contour of a hyperboloid. Thus, articles such as facial tissues and masks can be formed that readily conform to other areas of the face or body and reduce or even eliminate the need for slits or cuts in the substrate surface that can improve surface contact between the face or body and the cosmetic treatment article.

In addition, these articles provide greater comfort and flexibility to the wearer. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the article of the present invention provides better adherence to the skin of the body due to increased surface contact. This improved adhesion provides the article with greater flexibility than conventional cosmetic articles, such as facial masks, thereby providing a greater range of motion to the wearer of the article. Conventional cosmetic products require the consumer to remain substantially immobile to prevent the mask from peeling off the skin.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a treatment article is provided. The article comprises a water insoluble substrate having at least one elongation zone, wherein at least a portion of the elongation zone has incremental stretching. Preferably, the elongate zone comprises at least one first region and at least one second region. The first region has an incremental stretch that imparts a surface pathlength to the first region, the pathlength being measured generally parallel to the defined direction, and the pathlength being different than a second surface pathlength within the second region. In addition, the article has a treatment composition preferably incorporated on the substrate. The treatment article may take the form of most any skin care cosmetic article, but in preferred embodiments is a facial treatment or cleansing mask.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a cosmetic treatment method is provided. The cosmetic treatment method comprises the following steps: providing an article having at least one elongation zone, wherein at least a portion of the elongation zone has incremental stretching; applying the article to an area of the body; conforming the elongated region to contours of the body; and contacting the article with the body for a time effective to provide a cosmetic treatment. The elongate zone of the article preferably comprises a first region having incremental stretch that imparts a surface pathlength to the first region, the pathlength being measured generally parallel to the defined direction, and in which direction the first surface pathlength is greater than the second surface pathlength in the second region. In a preferred method, the article is a facial treatment or cleansing mask and the body area to which the article is applied is the facial area.

The objects and features of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the article of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the article has a sealing surface.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the article of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of an incremental stretching system in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description

In accordance with the present invention, articles are provided that provide better fit to the contours of the skin. In particular, the articles of the present invention more readily conform to the curvature of the human body, such as the face. This improved fit of the article, in particular the mask, improves the surface contact between the face or body and the treatment article. In addition, the article provides greater comfort and flexibility to the wearer and better adherence to the body skin, thereby providing a greater range of motion to the wearer.

While the article of the present invention is described in the context of a mask, one of ordinary skill in the art will have the ability and ability to readily adapt the present invention to the context of general treatment articles. The terms "treatment article" and "cosmetic treatment article" as used herein refer to devices which are suitable for use on the body, in particular on the human body. More specifically, a "cosmetic article" is a device or cosmetic device for personal care, including a facial tissue, a facial mask, and the like.

Further, "comprising" means that other steps and other ingredients that do not affect the end result can be added. The term includes the terms "consisting of and" consisting essentially of.

The phrase "topical application" refers to the application or spreading of a substance on the surface of the skin.

The phrase "cosmetically acceptable" means that the compositions described, or their components, are suitable for use in contact with human skin without undue toxicity, incompatibility, instability, allergic response, and the like.

The phrase "mixture" is meant to include simple combinations of substances, as well as any compounds resulting from their combination.

All ingredients useful in the present invention (e.g., actives and other ingredients) may be categorized or described according to their cosmetic and/or therapeutic benefits or their postulated mode of action. It will be appreciated, however, that in some instances, the active and other ingredients useful in the present invention may provide more than one cosmetic and/or therapeutic benefit or may act by more than one mode of action. Thus, classifications herein are made for the sake of convenience and are not intended to limit the ingredient to the particular application or applications listed.

All percentages, parts and ratios are based on the total weight of the composition of the present invention, unless otherwise specified. All such weights as they pertain to listed ingredients are based on the active level and, therefore, do not include carriers or by-products that may be included in commercially available materials.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cosmetic article, such as a treatment mask for application to the human body. Referring to fig. 1, an article 10 having a general facial shape is provided. The article 10 includes a water insoluble substrate 12, an opening 14, a first region 20, and a second region 30. The article 10 of fig. 1 is depicted as a unitary, one-piece mask. However, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill that the articles of the present invention may comprise a single piece article or a multi-component article. For example, multi-component masks are configured to cover substantially the entire area of facial skin and are made from multiple pieces. Most commonly, the multi-component mask comprises a two-component mask having a first sheet that covers the upper region of the face, i.e., the nose, above it, and a second sheet that covers the lower region of the face, i.e., the upper lip, cheeks, and below. Of course, one of ordinary skill will recognize that articles having three or more panels are also contemplated. In addition, the exact coverage area of each individual sheet in the multi-component mask can vary. The single piece mask may cover substantially the entire face or may be configured to fit the area of a particular part of the face, such as the nose, cheekbones, chin, forehead, neck, or combinations thereof. In another preferred embodiment, the mask is configured with ears, handles, or loops to facilitate placement and/or removal of the mask on the skin.

When configured to surround the areas of the eyes or nostrils, the article 10 may be configured such that it covers substantially the entire area of the facial skin in these general areas, while the areas of the eyes and nostrils are open. Thus, referring again to FIG. 1, the mask 10 includes a substrate 12. The outer perimeter of the base 12 is designed to approximately match the facial contour, leaving a plurality of openings 14 for the eyes and mouth. For single-piece and multi-component masks designed to cover the entire face, the substrate 12 preferably has a length of about 15cm to about 25cm, more preferably about 18cm to about 23cm, and preferably has a width of about 15cm to about 30cm, more preferably about 20cm to about 25cm to cover the entire facial area of average size. Of course, the multi-component mask can be formed from several pieces of different sizes and can be formed from several areas that overlap. In this case, the area of the multi-component mask that contacts the skin preferably conforms to the dimensions specified above. A plurality of slits, cuts or lines of weakness 16 may be prepared in the articles of the present invention.

The substrate 12 of the present invention comprises a water insoluble material. By "water insoluble" is meant that the substrate does not dissolve in water or does not readily break upon immersion in water. The water-insoluble substrate is a vehicle or carrier for delivering the treatment composition.

A wide variety of materials may be used as substrates. The following non-limiting features are desirable: (i) sufficient wet strength available, (ii) sufficient softness, (iii) sufficient thickness, (iv) proper size, (v) breathability, (vi) hydrophilicity, and (vii) the ability to achieve permanent incremental strain, i.e., the ability to be incrementally stretched as described below.

Substrate 12 may be constructed from a variety of natural and synthetic materials. By "natural" is meant that the material is derived from plants, animals, insects, or byproducts of plants, animals, and insects. By "synthetic" it is meant that the material is derived primarily from a variety of man-made materials or natural materials that have been further modified. Conventional base stocks are typically fibrous webs comprising any of ordinary synthetic fibers or natural textile length fibers, or mixtures thereof.

Suitable examples of natural materials that can be used in the present invention are silk fibers, keratin fibers and cellulose fibers. The keratin fibers may include those selected from wool fibers, camel hair fibers, and the like. Non-limiting examples of cellulosic fibers include those selected from the group consisting of wood pulp fibers, cotton fibers, hemp fibers, jute fibers, flax fibers, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable examples of synthetic materials useful in the present invention include those selected from the group consisting of acetate fibers, acrylic fibers, cellulose ester fibers, modacrylic fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, rayon fibers, polyurethane foams, and mixtures thereof. Some examples of these synthetic materials include acrylic fibers such as acrilan, creilan, and acrylonitrile-based fibers, orlon; cellulose ester fibers such as cellulose acetate, denier, and acilar; polyamides, such as nylons (e.g., nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 610, etc.); polyesters, such as Fortrell, Kedall and polyethylene terephthalate fibers, Dacron; polyolefins such as polypropylene, polyethylene; polyvinyl acetate fibers; polyurethane foams, and mixtures thereof. These and other suitable fibers and nonwovens made from them are generally described in Riedel, "Nonwoven Bonding Methods and Materials," Nonwven World (1987); "The Encyclopedia American", volume 11, pages 147 to 153, and volume 26, pages 566 to 581 (1984); U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,227 issued to Thaman et al on 2.1.1990; and U.S. patent No. 4,891,228, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Nonwoven substrates may be used in the present invention. Nonwoven substrates may be formed from natural materials consisting of webs or sheets of fibers, and are generally formed from a liquid suspension of the fibers on a fine wire screen. See, c.a. hampel et al, "The Encyclopedia of Chemistry", third edition, 1973, pages 793 to 795 (1973); "The encyclopedia American", volume 21, pages 376 to 383 (1984); smook, "Handbook of Pulp and Paper Technologies", technical Association for the Pulp and Paper Industry (1986); all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The substrate can be made in a wide variety of shapes and forms, such as flat mat, thick mat, narrow sheet, and irregular thickness sheet, depending on the intended use and characteristics of the article. The substrate is typically designed to conform to the area of skin where topical application is desired. For example, when the article is to be applied to the face, the base is designed to conform to the shape of the face as desired, avoiding the eyes, nostrils and mouth area.

The substrate 12 is sufficiently flexible to be easily conformable along the skin when filled with a treatment composition; but the substrate is strong enough so that it is not easily torn or broken during use. The substrate preferably has a thickness of about 100 μm to about 1cm, more preferably about 300 μm to about 3mm, depending on the material used to make the substrate and the use and characteristics of the product.

When the substrate is comprised of multiple layers, the substrate may include films, laminates, and other non-fibrous materials. In one embodiment, the substrate may also have a backing layer. The backing layer is preferably a polymeric film such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The backing layer may be attached to the other layers of the substrate 12 by lamination, coating, or heat sealing. The resulting foundation bag with a backing layerComprising a sealing surface on the other side of the substrate facing away from the skin and a skin-facing surface resting on the skin surface. By providing the substrate with a sealing surface, the substrate obtains low gas permeability. By "low air permeability" is meant that the side of the substrate having the backing layer reduces the amount of air entering the substrate and reduces the amount of water vapor escaping from the substrate. The backing layer preferably has an air permeability of less than about 5mg/cm²A/min, more preferably between about 0.01mg/cm²A/min and about 4.8mg/cm²And/min. Air permeability can be determined by weighing a sample of a sufficiently saturated substrate, and then weighing the substrate after exposure to the atmosphere.

Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention having a low permeability sealing surface. As shown in fig. 3, substrate 12 is laminated with polymer film 40 to form sealing face 42. The polymer film 40 is enlarged sufficiently to show details. The sealing surface 42 is placed away from the skin surface 44 when the article is in use. Sealing surface 42 limits the escape of moisture into the atmosphere during a typical period of use, which is between about 5 minutes and about 45 minutes, thereby providing improved moisturization to the skin. The skin-facing side 46 of the substrate 12 preferably does not contain any material that limits air permeability.

Substrates that include a sealing surface can significantly increase the penetration of certain skin care agents into the skin as compared to substrates that do not have a sealing surface. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the sealing surface of the substrate enables the creation of a moist environment adjacent the skin surface by limiting the evaporation of water from the mask composition into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the article of the invention preferably utilizes the tension of water to adhere to the skin surface, rather than using a super glue on the skin facing side. As used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, because there is no super glue between the substrate and the skin surface, the physical barrier created by the super glue is eliminated and penetration of the skin care agent is facilitated. The resulting environment between the skin and the substrate promotes penetration of the skin care agent into the skin.

Suitable polymeric materials for the backing layer include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polyester, nylon, blends thereof, or any other cosmetically acceptable polymeric film. Suitable coatings include any material known in the art that can impart low breathability to a substrate and are cosmetically acceptable. Heat sealing of the substrate to impart low breathability to the substrate may be accomplished by any method known in the art.

Particularly preferred substrate materials for the present invention include those that are inherently hydrophilic and thus capable of absorbing large amounts of the composition. In these preferred embodiments, the water-insoluble substrate may be made solely of the hydrophilic material; or from several substrate layers, wherein at least the skin facing layer is made of a hydrophilic material.

In an alternative preferred substrate, the substrate may also be made of a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is made at least in part of a hydrophilic material selected from the group consisting of cotton, pulp, rayon, and mixtures thereof. By "partially" is meant to include both: one is to use at least one layer of hydrophilic substrate and the other is to use at least some hydrophilic material in combination with another material to make a hybrid substrate. In one embodiment, the hybrid substrate comprises a material having an increasing hydrophobic character from the skin-facing surface 46 to the sealing surface 42. Referring to fig. 3, the skin-facing side 46 of the substrate faces the skin and comprises a hydrophilic material. The substrate utilizes more hydrophobic material by advancing through the cross-section of the substrate 12 to the sealing surface 42, which contacts the ambient air. By "hydrophobic" it is meant that the contact angle of the material in this portion of the substrate with moisture is greater than about 10 degrees, preferably between about 10 and 90 degrees, when measured according to ASTM D5725-99. This configuration allows moisture to move from the hydrophobic sealing surface of the substrate to the hydrophilic skin-facing surface of the substrate and then to the skin surface. Such a preferred structure may be achieved by having a single layer or a laminated structure.

Substrates made from natural materials that can be used in the present invention are available from a variety of commercial sources. Non-limiting examples of suitable commercially available paper layers that may be used in the present invention include those having a density of about 85gsm (grams per square meter)) (about 71gsy (grams per square yard)) basis weight of an air-laid embossed cellulosic layerI.e., from James River, Green Bay, WI; and an airlaid embossed cellulosic layer having a basis weight of about 90gsm (about 75gsy)Purchased from walker u.s.a., Mount Holly, nc.

Nonwoven substrates made of synthetic materials useful in the present invention are also available from a variety of commercial sources. Non-limiting examples of suitable nonwoven layer materials useful in the present invention include thermally bonded, grid embossed materials containing about 100% polypropylene and having a basis weight of about 60gsm (about 50gsy)149-616 available from Veratec, Inc., Walpole, Mass; thermally bonded, grid embossed material comprising about 69% rayon, about 25% polypropylene, and about 6% cotton, and having a basis weight of about 90gsm (about 75gsy)149-801 available from Veratec, Inc. Walpole, Mass; thermally bonded, grid embossed material comprising about 69% rayon, about 25% polypropylene, and about 6% cotton, and having a basis weight of about 120gsm (about 100gsy)149-191 available from Veratec, Inc. Walpole, Mass; dry-formed apertured material comprising about 75% rayon, about 25% acrylic fiber, and having a basis weight of about 51gsm (about 43gsy)951V, available from PGI/Chicopee, Dayton, NJ; apertured material comprising about 75% rayon, about 25% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 47gsm (about 39gsy)1368, available from PGI/Chicopee, Dayton, NJ; the inner layer is a pulp layer, the outer layer is a 3-layer substrate RMT-90 made of a combination of rayon and polyester, respectively, the inner layer is a PP carded web and a thermal bonding layer, the outer layer is a 3-layer substrate RFP-90 of rayon, both substrates are available from Daiwabok. Daiwabo DFS (SH) T-70 is a 3-layer substrate (carded and hydroentangled nonwoven) with a pulp layer as the inner layer and PE/PET split fibers as the outer layer, available from Daiwabo K.K., Japan. The total basis weight of Daiwabo DFS (SH) T-70 was about 70gsm (about 15gsm pulp, about 55gsm PE/PET split fiber). Further suitable substrates include single layer substrates (carded and hydroentangled nonwovens) Kuraray TT463Q60 with a layer of PET fibers. The PET resin becomes more hydrophilic through chemical treatment. The total basis weight was about 60 gsm.

In the present invention, the nonwoven layer can be prepared by a variety of methods. These methods include hydroentanglement or thermal bonding, as well as combinations of these methods. Methods of making nonwoven substrates are well known to those skilled in the art. Typically, these nonwoven substrates can be made by air-laying, wet-laying, melt-blowing, coforming, spunbonding, or carding. In these processes, the fibers or filaments are first cut to the desired length from a long strand, passed into a water or air stream, and then deposited on a screen through which the fiber-laden air or water passes.

Methods for making hydroentangled webs are well known in the art. See, for example, U.S. patent nos. 3, 485, 786 to Evans, 2, 862, 251 to Kalwarres, and 3, 025, 585 to Griswold, issued 12, 23, 1969, all of which generally describe hydroentanglement processes and are incorporated herein by reference. See also U.S. patent 5,674,591 to James et al, published 1997, 10, 7, which specifically describes a hydroentangling process, including the equipment used in the process, which can be used to make embossed webs. U.S. patent 5,674,591 is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Among the above water insoluble substrates, fluid entangled (hydroentangled) nonwoven flexible substrates are preferred for use in the present invention because they provide softness, bulk, strength, and cotton-like texture when in use. Any fluid-entangled nonwoven flexible substrate known or otherwise suitable for application to the skin can be used in the mask composition of the present invention.

As used herein, the term "fluid-entangled" is a art-recognized term that generally refers to the manufacturing process used to entangle a fibrous web. The process produces art-recognized fluid-entangled nonwoven flexible substrates by using fluid jets on a fibrous web to achieve a desired fiber and void configuration within the resulting fluid-entangled substrate. Fluid-entangled nonwoven flexible substrates, and fluid-entanglement techniques for making them, are well known in the substrate art, and preferred examples of such substrates and fluid-entanglement techniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,752 (Greenway et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,461 (Greenway et al), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

These substrates are preferably blends of polyester and/or polyolefin with natural fibers such as pulp, rayon or cotton fibers and have a weight in the range of 48 to 144gsm (grams per square meter) (40-120gsy (grams per square yard)), i.e. if synthetic fibers such as polyester or polyolefin are used, they are preferably fine denier fibers to provide softness to the skin. Herein, "fine denier" means that the fiber is less than 1dtex (1dtex ═ 1g/10000 m). These preferred substrates are typically prepared by using an apparatus and associated method for entangling a fibrous web by projecting a continuous curtain of fluid at the entanglement site with columnar jets of fluid. The web is advanced through the entangling station on a conveyor belt supporting an entangling member having a symmetrical pattern of void areas. A baffle member is provided disposed in the void region, the member including a radiused curvature and defining an aperture having a frustoconical configuration. The dynamics in the fluid curtain impact the web in a discrete and controlled pattern (determined by the baffle members) to enhance efficient energy transfer and web entanglement. By the combined action of the fluid curtain and the baffle structure, a textile-like fabric is obtained which has a uniform, non-perforated surface covering.

Other known techniques for making fluid-entangled nonwoven flexible substrates are described in, for example, U.S. patent No. 3,485,786 (Evans), U.S. patent No. 2,862,251 (Kalwarres), and U.S. patent No. 3,025,585 (Griswald), which descriptions are incorporated herein by reference.

Other suitable methods of making fluid-entangled substrates are described in U.S. patent No. 5,674,591 (James et al), which specifically describes hydroentangling methods, including the equipment used in the methods. This process can be used to make embossed webs, and the description is incorporated herein by reference. The resulting layer is then subjected to at least one of several types of bonding operations (regardless of the method or composition of production of the resulting layer) to anchor the individual fibers together to form a self-sustaining web.

Referring to fig. 1-2, the article 10 is shown in a relatively flat configuration. A slight force may be applied to the article 10 such that the substrate generally occupies a single plane. The term "relatively flat" as used herein refers to an object having at least one surface that lies substantially within a single plane. At least a portion of the substrate 12 includes at least a first region 20 and a second region 30. The first and second regions are preferably contiguous or related regions that define an elongated region within the article that enables the substrate 12 to stretch or conform to a surface in response to an applied force. The substrate 12 includes a transition region 60 at the interface of the first region 20 and the second region 30. The transition region 60 will typically display a combination having the behavior of both the first region and the second region. However, the present invention is largely limited by the behavior of the substrate 12 in the particular regions, i.e., the first region 20 and the second region 30. Thus, the following description of the present invention will be with respect to the first region 20 and the second region 30, as the performance of the article 10 is not dependent upon the transition region 60.

The regions within the present invention are those regions of substrate 12 where the substrate surface is substantially uniform. That is, in the unaltered regions, the substrate is substantially unchanged. In the areas where incremental stretching is applied, these areas are defined as those areas where incremental stretching is substantially uniform. Such a region will be clear for simple geometries where strain is standard applied in one direction. For more complex geometries in which the direction or degree of strain changes, then such a region refers to a smaller portion of the geometry in which the change in direction or strain is negligible.

The substrate 12 in the area of the first region 20 is formed with incremental stretching. As used herein, the term "incremental stretching" or "incremental stretching" refers to intermittent mechanically elongated regions of a substrate having multiple small increments that are individually stretched beyond the plastic yield point of the material to achieve permanent elongation. The term "shaped" as used herein means to create a desired structure or geometry on a substrate material that will substantially retain the desired structure or geometry when the substrate is not subjected to any externally applied stretching or force.

Incremental stretching in the first region 20 means that the substrate 12 in that region will take the shape of the raised ribs or ridges 52 formed in the substrate 12. The first region 20 is then expanded by the ridge 52 substantially flattening in the general direction of incremental stretching 24 when force is applied. This enables the article 10 to conform to the underlying body region. The direction of the incremental stretching 24 is the general direction in which strain is applied to the substrate 12 and is typically a direction generally perpendicular to the ridges 52. This direction may include the longitudinal direction, the transverse direction, or some combination of the two.

When substrate 12 is subjected to an applied force, the substrate exhibits an elastic-like behavior in that it generally stretches in the direction of the applied force. Preferably, this applied force is generally perpendicular to the plane of the article 10. In certain embodiments, once the applied force is removed, the substrate 12 will return to a substantially relaxed condition, provided that the material does not extend beyond the yield point. Preferred substrate materials are capable of withstanding multiple cycles of applied force without losing sufficient ability to recover, provided that the material does not extend beyond the yield point.

Any suitable method of providing incremental stretching in the substrate 12 may be used. Some non-limiting preferred methods For providing incremental Stretch zones are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,679 entitled "Method For sequential Stretching A zeroStrain Stretch Laminate Web To improved Elasticity The performance of The Stretching The Web", issued To Weber et al on.9/1 1992, which is incorporated herein by reference. (although the above-referenced Weber et al patent is one method of continuously stretching a laminate Web, it has been found that such a method can be used to stretch any suitable Web, including single and multi-layer webs, film laminates, and the Like.) alternatively, the article 10 of the present invention can be provided with incremental stretching by methods such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,801 entitled "Web Materials exhibiting Elastic-Like Behavior" issued to Chappell et al at 21.1996 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,029 entitled "Web Materials exhibiting Elastic-Like Behavior" issued to Chappell et al at 19.10.1999, which are also incorporated herein by reference.

The first region 20 has a first surface-pathlength 28. The term "surface path length" as used herein refers to a measurement taken along the topographical surface of the area or zone in question in a direction generally parallel to the axis. The term "substantially parallel" refers to an orientation between axes, elements, or combinations of axes and elements in which the diagonal of the edges formed by the axes or elements being compared is less than 45 degrees. The term "substantially perpendicular" refers to an orientation between axes, elements, or combinations of axes and elements in which the diagonal of the edges formed by the axes or elements being compared is greater than 45 degrees.

In addition to the first region 20, the article 10 of the present invention also has a second region 30. The second region 30 also has a second surface-pathlength 32. The second region 30 represents a region in which the second surface pathlength 32 differs from the first surface pathlength 28 in at least one defined direction. The second region 30 may comprise an unaltered substrate, or the second region 30 may be incrementally stretched to a different direction or degree than the first region 20. Preferably, the second region 30 will have a second surface-pathlength 32 that is shorter than the first surface-pathlength 28 of the first region 20. This difference in path length allows the article 10 to be extended in at least a first region after application to the body and allows the article 10 to more easily conform to the contours of the body. Most preferably, the second surface path length is at least less than 3%, more preferably at least 10%, even more preferably at least 30% of the first surface path length 28. In another preferred embodiment, the second region 30 is an unaltered substrate.

Further, while the article 10 may include a single first region and second region, the article 10 may also include multiple regions at different locations and in a variety of geometries. Referring now to fig. 4, an article of the present invention is shown having a plurality of first regions 20 and second regions 30.

"surface pathlength" or "pathlength" is defined as the length of the substrate or any portion 70 thereof measured generally parallel to the predetermined or defined direction T, on the surface of the article 10. Preferably, the defined direction T is substantially parallel to the direction of incremental stretching 24 as shown in fig. 2. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the defined direction may be chosen arbitrarily if the direction of incremental stretching is not readily apparent.

Referring to fig. 4, when a portion 70 of the article 10 is measured in a relatively flat configuration, the surface path length is determined. The surface path length is equal to the spatial linear distance between the opposite ends of the fixed portion 70 of the first and second regions. For simple geometries like that shown in fig. 1, in which the first region 20 is generally uniformly elongated in one direction, the surface pathlength can be measured relatively easily. The portion of the substrate 70 within the first region 20 having the defined length L is measured when the substrate is in an initial post-stretch state, i.e., before a force is applied to the substrate to expand the incrementally-stretched portion. If a force has been applied to the substrate, the substrate must return to the original pre-expansion state. The defined length L may be any convenient length that includes at least two ridges 52, but is not longer than the length of the first region 20.

Once the length L and the direction T are determined, the same defined length L and defined direction T may be replicated in the second portion of the substrate. The longitudinal or transverse direction of the substrate may be used as the axis 78, whereby the defined direction T is determined, so that the same defined direction T and defined length L are used in the second area. That is, the angle a of the defined direction T from the longitudinal direction may be measured, and the same angle may be used in the second region. Each section is then cut into narrow strips, typically having a width no greater than half the defined length L, and the strips are removed from the substrate and then spread to be as flat as possible without inducing tension. The length of each sheet is measured and then corresponds to the surface path length.

The narrow strips are extended such that geometric folds, bends, wrinkles, or other "out-of-plane" structures are eliminated when the substrate is flattened without creating any tension in the substrate 12. If the substrate is very flexible-as is common with the substrate materials typically used-it is normally possible to stretch the substrate into a substantially flat condition without significant tension. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that if the geometry folds, bends, folds or other "out-of-plane" structures are so stiff that tension in the substrate is required to flatten them, then the surface path length must be measured in other known ways. One example of measuring surface pathlength without flattening the substrate is described in U.S. patent 5,518,801 entitled "WebMaterials suppressing Elastic-Like Behavior" issued to Chappell et al on 21/5.1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

If the direction of incremental stretching 24 within the first portion 20 is formed in a variable direction, i.e., a varying axial or curvilinear direction, the length selected for the path length measurement should be approximately in one linear axis. If this length selection is impractical, the linear axis should be approximated, which represents the average curve direction for incremental stretching.

While the above-described test method can be used with many substrates of the present invention, it has been found necessary to modify the test method to accommodate some of the more complex substrate materials within the scope of the present invention.

Preferred methods of forming first portion 20 of the present invention include, but are not limited to, embossing by intermeshing plates or intermeshing rolls, thermoforming, high pressure hydroforming, or casting. Preferably, an incremental stretching system is used in elongating the first portion 20 of the present invention. Referring to fig. 5, a preferred incremental stretching system 100 of the present invention is provided. System 100 includes a pair of opposed intermeshing incremental draw rollers consisting of a pair of opposed rollers defined as a top roller 110 and a bottom roller 120. The roller includes a plurality of teeth 130 and corresponding grooves 132 that extend around the circumference of the roller at different distances depending on the pattern of incremental stretching. Thus, the teeth 130 on the top roller 110 intermesh with the grooves 132 on the opposing bottom roller 120, and the teeth 130 on the bottom roller 120 intermesh with the grooves 132 on the top roller 110. Between the teeth 130 are regions 134 of no teeth on the rollers 110 and 120. As the substrate 112 passes over the intermeshing teeth on the opposing rollers, the substrate is stretched and/or elongated by the intermeshing teeth to form the first region 104. Likewise, the toothless zone 134 creates the second portion 108 on the substrate 112. The substrate may then be subjected to additional processing to form a finished article, such as a shearing operation to form a treatment mask.

Depending on the orientation of the teeth 130 and grooves 134, the substrate may be incrementally stretched in multiple directions, such as the cross direction 140 or the machine direction (not shown). The portions of the web passing between the smooth portions are typically not tensioned. The precise configuration, spacing, dimensions and overlap of the opposing teeth and grooves and the overlap of the opposing rollers can be adjusted as desired to produce the desired amount of stretch, geometry and dimensions in the resulting area. For example, the height and spacing of the teeth and grooves determine the amount of incremental stretching provided to the first region 104. The taller teeth and correspondingly deeper grooves will stretch the base to a greater degree than shorter teeth and shallower grooves, thereby giving the base 112 a greater amount of stretch when applied to the body. In addition, the shape of the teeth and corresponding grooves may vary depending on the desired configuration of the ridges on the base. All of the various sizes of teeth having a curved tip, flat top or pointed tip are within the scope of the present invention.

The first and second regions of the present invention may be formed by using engagement plates in addition to the roller system described above. The geometry required for the first region result is formed by using corresponding teeth and grooves on a pair of opposing plates. The plates are designed so that the teeth on one plate intermesh with the grooves on the opposite plate. A portion of the web is then compressed between the plates to provide incremental stretching to the first zone. In addition, the precise configuration, spacing, dimensions and overlap of the opposed teeth and grooves on the sheet may be adjusted as desired to produce the desired amount of stretch, geometry and dimensions in the resulting first region.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that because multiple first regions are provided in selected embodiments, different regions may have different geometries and different degrees of incremental stretching, as indicated by the body region to which the article is applied.

The article of the present invention includes a treatment composition for application to the skin. The treatment composition can be provided to the substrate in a variety of ways. The treatment composition may be provided in liquid form and impregnated into the substrate. The substrate may then be delivered to the consumer wet in a package and sealed and used immediately after opening the sealed package. Alternatively, the treatment composition may be dry, rewetted by the consumer following a procedure prior to application. In another embodiment of the present invention, the treatment composition and substrate may be packaged separately and combined by the consumer prior to application to the skin. In this case, the treatment composition may be provided in a dry state or in a liquid form. While single use articles are the preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that multiple use articles are also within the scope of the present invention.

The treatment compositions of the present invention preferably include skin care actives to provide benefits to the skin. Skin care actives of the present invention include those as known in the art, and include antioxidants, cleansing agents, free radical scavengers, humectants, skin tone-altering or depigmenting agents, anti-acne agents, anti-dandruff agents, anti-aging agents, emollients, anti-wrinkle agents, keratolytic agents, anti-inflammatory agents, oily components, skin texture treatment agents, flavanoids, cooling agents, healing agents, fat control agents, vascular protective agents, antibacterial agents, fungicides, antiperspirants, deodorants, skin conditioning agents, anesthetics, nutritional agents, sebum absorbers and moisture absorbers. These ingredients are described in more detail herein.

The treatment composition of the present invention may optionally include an oily component. The oily components useful herein can deliver skin conditioning benefits to the skin such as smoothness and softness. Oily components which may be used in the present invention include, for example, fatty alcohols, silicone oils, mineral oils, vaseline, C_7-40Straight and branched chain hydrocarbons (e.g. isohexadecane), C_1-30Alcohol esters (e.g., isopropyl isostearate, glycerol esters, alkylene glycol esters), propoxylated and ethoxylated derivatives, sugar esters (e.g., sucrose polycotton), vegetable oils (e.g., coconut oil), hydrogenated vegetable oils, animal fats and oils, and C of polypropylene glycol_4-20Alkyl ethers, polypropylene glycols C_1-20Carboxylic acid esters and di-C_8-30An alkyl ether. Those hydrophobic nonionic surfactants which are water-insoluble and have an HLB value of less than 10 can be used as the oily component. Hydrophobic nonionic surfactants useful in the present invention include, for example, cetearyl glucoside, steareth-2, laureth-4, sucrose cocoate, sorbitan monoisostearate, sorbitan diisostearate, sorbitan sesquiisostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, glyceryl monoisostearate, glyceryl diisostearate, glyceryl sesquiisostearate, glyceryl monooleate, glyceryl dioleate, glyceryl sesquioleateAcid esters, diglyceryl diisostearate, diglyceryl dioleate, diglyceryl monoisostearyl ether, diglyceryl diisostearyl ether, and mixtures thereof.

The compositions of the present invention comprise a hydrophilic surfactant. The hydrophilic surfactant is preferably included in the composition at a level of from about 0.01% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 5%, and still more preferably from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight.

Hydrophilic surfactants useful in the present invention are those that are water soluble and preferably have HLB values in excess of 10. Hydrophilic surfactants useful herein include, for example, any cosmetically acceptable surfactant, i.e., nonionic, cationic, anionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, and mixtures thereof. Among them, cosmetically acceptable nonionic surfactants are preferred herein in view of reduced skin irritation and conditioning benefits.

Hydrophilic nonionic surfactants useful herein include, for example, PEG-100 stearate, polysorbate-20, polysorbate-60, steareth-21, isohexadecylethoxylate-20, and oleyl-20, laureth-23, ceteareth-12, steareth-100, PEG 40 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, and mixtures thereof.

The treatment composition may optionally include a skin texture treatment agent. Skin texture treatments help to restore and strengthen the natural moisture barrier function of the epidermis, thereby providing skin benefits such as texture improvement.

Skin texture improving agents which can be used in the present invention are niacinamide, nicotinic acid and its esters, nicotinyl alcohol, panthenol, panthenyl ethyl ether, n-acetyl cysteine, n-acetyl-L-serine, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, trimethylglycine, tocopherol nicotinate, vitamin B₃And analogs or derivativesAnd mixtures thereof. Panthenol is particularly preferred because it provides texture improvement benefits when used in amounts of at least about 1%. Panthenol is commercially available, for example, from Roche. Skin-rejuvenating agents useful in the present invention include seaweed extracts, such as algae extract and kelp palmata extract.

The anti-acne active substance can be effectively used for treating and preventing chronic diseases of common comedo, a follicle sebaceous gland vesicle. Preferred anti-acne agents optionally included in the treatment composition include salicylic acid, 4-methoxysalicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, lactic acid, metronidazole, panthenol, retinoic acid and its derivatives, sulfur, triclosan, and mixtures thereof.

Antioxidants and free radical scavengers are particularly useful for providing protection against ultraviolet radiation which can cause increased exfoliation or texture changes in the stratum corneum and against other environmental agents which can cause skin damage, and can optionally be included in the treatment composition.

Such as tocopherol (vitamin E), tocopherol sorbate, tocopherol acetate, other esters of tocopherol, butylated hydroxybenzoic acid and salts thereof, 6-hydroxy-2, 5, 7, 8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (under the trade name tocopherol)Commercially available), gallic acid and its alkyl esters (especially propyl gallate), uric acid and its salts and alkyl esters, sorbic acid and its salts, amines (i.e., N-diethylhydroxylamine, aminoguanidine), sulfhydryl compounds (i.e., glutathione), dihydroxy fumaric acid and its salts, oxyproteinebetaine, oxyproteinearginine, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, bioflavonoids, lysine, methionine, proline, superoxide dismutase, silymarin, tea leaf extract, grape skin/seed extract, melanin, and rosemary extract. Preferred antioxidants/radical scavengers are selected from the group consisting of flavonoids and tocopherol sorbates and other esters of tocopherol, more preferablySelecting tocopherol sorbate. For example, U.S. patent No. 4,847,071 to Bissett et al, published 7/11/1989, describes the use of tocopherol sorbate in topical compositions and is applicable to the present invention.

Flavonoid compounds useful in the present invention include unsubstituted flavanones, substituted flavanones, unsubstituted flavones, substituted flavones, unsubstituted chalcones, substituted chalcones, unsubstituted isoflavones, and substituted isoflavones. The term "substituted" as used herein means that one or more hydrogen atoms on the backbone structure as described above in the flavonoid compound have been independently substituted with hydroxy, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, O-glucoside, etc., or a mixture of these substituents. The flavonoid compounds particularly useful in the present invention are selected from the group consisting of substituted flavanones, substituted flavones, substituted chalcones, substituted isoflavones, and mixtures thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the glucosylflavonoid is selected from glucosyl hesperidin, glucosyl rutin, glucosyl myricitrin, glucosyl isoquercitrin, glucosyl quercitrin, methyl hesperidin, and mixtures thereof. These glucoside flavonoids can be obtained from the relevant natural flavonoids by bio-chemical methods.

Peptides, including but not limited to dipeptides, tripeptides, tetrapeptides, and pentapeptides, and their derivatives, may be included in the compositions of the present invention in safe and effective amounts. Herein, "peptide" refers to both naturally occurring and synthetic peptides. Also useful in the present invention are naturally occurring and commercially available peptide-containing compositions. Suitable dipeptides useful herein include(beta-alanine-histidine). Suitable tripeptides for use herein include gly-his-lys (glycine-histidine-lysine), arg-lys-arg (arginine-lysine-arginine), his-gly-gly (histidine-glycine). Preferred tripeptides and their derivatives include palmitoyl-gly-his-lys, available as Biopeptide(100ppm palmitoyl-gly-his-lys, commercially available from Sederma, France); peptide CK (arg-lys-arg); PEPTIDE CK + (ac-arg-lys-arg-NH)₂) (ii) a And the copper derivative of his-gly-gly, marketed as IAMIN by Sigma (St. Louis, Missouri). Tetrapeptides and pentapeptides are also suitable for use in the present invention. A preferred commercially available pentapeptide derivative composition is palmitoyl-lys-thr-thr-lys-ser (palmitoyl-lysine-threonine-lysine-serine) (commercially available from Sederma France).

When included in the compositions of the present invention, the peptide is preferably present in an amount of about 1 x10 by weight of the composition^-6% to about 10%, more preferably about 1 x10^-6% to about 0.1%, even more preferably about 1 x10^-5% to about 0.01%. In which the peptide isIn certain compositions of (a), the composition preferably comprises from about 0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition, of such peptides. Comprising therein a peptide or peptide-containing composition palmitoyl-lys-thr-thr-lys-ser and/or BiopeptideIn other embodiments, the composition preferably comprises from about 0.0001% to about 10% palmitoyl-lys-thr-thr-lys-ser and/or BiopeptideA peptide-containing composition.

Anti-inflammatory agents enhance skin appearance benefits by, for example, promoting uniformity and desirable skin tone and/or complexion, and are also optionally included in the treatment compositions of the present invention.

Preferably, the anti-inflammatory agent comprises a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. A preferred steroidal anti-inflammatory suitable for use is hydrocortisone.

This group includes a variety of compounds that are well known to those skilled in the art. For a detailed disclosure of the chemical structure, synthetic methods, side effects, etc., of non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents, reference may be made to authoritative texts including Anti-inflammatory and pharmacological Drugs of K.D. Reinford, Vol.I-III, CRC Press, Boca Raton, (1985), and Anti-inflammatory Agents of R.A. Scherrer et al, Chemistry and Pharmacology, 1, Academic Press, New York (1974), which are each incorporated herein by reference.

So-called "natural" anti-inflammatory agents are also useful. Such agents may be obtained accordingly as extracts from natural sources (i.e. by-products of plants, fungi, microorganisms) by suitable physical and/or chemical separation methods. For example, α -bisabolol, aloe vera, Manjistha (extracted from plants of the genus rubia, particularly madder), and Guggal (extracted from plants of the genus commiphora, particularly commiphora mukul), kola extract, chamomile, and gorelia extract may be used.

Other anti-inflammatory agents useful in the present invention include compounds of the licorice (glycyrrhiza glabra genus/plant) class, which include glycyrrhetinic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, and derivatives (e.g., salts and esters) thereof. Suitable salts of the foregoing compounds include metal and ammonium salts. Suitable esters include C of acids_2-24Saturated or unsaturated esters, preferably C_10-24More preferably C_16-24。

The treatment compositions of the present invention preferably comprise a water soluble humectant as a skin benefit agent. A water soluble humectant is preferably included to provide moisturizing benefits to the skin. In addition, the water-soluble humectant can help disperse the water-soluble thickener and can help dissolve/disperse other components that are relatively difficult to handle in an aqueous carrier.

Water-soluble humectants useful herein include polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin, diglycerin, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, sorbitol, ethoxylated glucose, 1, 2-hexanediol, hexanetriol, erythritol, trehalose, xylitol, maltitol, maltose, glucose, fructose, sodium chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, sodium adenosine phosphate, sodium lactate, pyrrolidone carbonate, glucosamine, cyclodextrin, and mixtures thereof.

Water-soluble humectants useful herein also include water-soluble alkoxylated nonionic polymers, such as polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols having a molecular weight of up to about 1000, such as those having the CTFA designation PEG-200, PEG-400, PEG-600, PEG-1000, and mixtures thereof.

The treatment compositions of the present invention may also include a chronic whitening agent as a skin care agent. Chronic whitening agents useful in the present invention refer to active ingredients that not only alter the appearance of the skin but also improve hyperpigmentation as compared to before treatment. The definition of chronic refers to the long term continuous topical application of the composition over the life of the subject, preferably for at least about one week, more preferably for at least about one month, even more preferably for at least about three months, even more preferably for at least about one year. Typically, during such extended periods, the application will be at a frequency of about once per day, although the application frequency may vary from about once per week up to about three times per day or more.

Useful chronic whitening agents useful in the present invention include ascorbic acid compounds, vitamin B₃Compound, azelaic acid, butyl hydroxy anisole, gallic acid and its derivatives, glycyrrhizic acid, hydroquinone, kojic acid, arbutin, mulberry extract, ergot thiol histidine trimethyl inner salt, and their mixture. Among them, preferred are ascorbic acid compounds, vitamin B₃Compounds, and mixtures thereof. It is believed that the use of combinations of chronic whitening agents is advantageous because they can provide whitening benefits through different mechanisms.

The compositions of the present invention may include a skin tone altering agent as a skin benefit agent. The skin tone-altering agents useful in the present invention are selected from the group consisting of skin tone-altering pigments, reflective particulate materials, and mixtures thereof. Skin tone altering agents useful in the present invention are those that alter the appearance of complexion and/or skin tone (including but not limited to skin whitening). The skin tone altering agent has a particle size preferably of at least about 100 nm. Skin tone altering pigments useful in the present invention include, for example, talc, mica, silica, magnesium silicate, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium oxide coated mica.

The treatment composition of the present invention is preferably in liquid form and comprises a water-soluble thickening polymer. The water-soluble thickening polymers of the present invention are water-soluble or water-miscible polymers that have the ability to increase the viscosity of the composition and are compatible with the other components used in the composition. The water-soluble thickening polymer is selected such that the liquid composition of the present invention has an expected viscosity of from about 500 mPa-s to about 60,000 mPa-s, preferably from about 1000 mPa-s to about 30,000 mPa-s, more preferably from about 2000 mPa-s to about 15,000 mPa-s.

Water-soluble thickening polymers useful in the present invention include anionic polymers and nonionic polymers. Water-soluble thickening polymers useful in the present invention include, for example, acrylic polymers, polyalkylene glycol polymers having a molecular weight greater than about 10000, cellulose and its derivatives (e.g., hydroxyethyl cellulose), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, gums (e.g., guar gum and xanthan gum), carrageenan, pectin, agar, quince seed (quince seed), starch (rice starch, corn starch, potato starch, wheat starch), seaweed gum (algae extract), dextran, succinoglucan, puleran, carboxymethyl starch, methylhydroxypropyl starch, sodium alginate, and propylene glycol alginate. A neutralizing agent may be included to neutralize the anionic thickener described above. Non-limiting examples of such neutralizing agents include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, diisopropanolamine, aminomethylpropanol, tromethamine, tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, and mixtures thereof.

The treatment compositions of the present invention, when in their preferred liquid form, further comprise an aqueous carrier. The amount and type of carrier is selected in accordance with the compatibility with the other components and other desired characteristics of the product.

Carriers useful in the present invention include water and aqueous solutions of lower alkyl alcohols. The lower alkyl alcohols useful herein are monohydric alcohols containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably ethanol. Preferably, the aqueous carrier is substantially water. Deionized water is preferably used. Water from natural sources including mineral cations may also be used, depending on the desired properties of the product.

The pH of the liquid composition is preferably from about 4 to about 8. When a skin benefit agent is included in the liquid composition, the pH can be adjusted to a value that achieves optimal efficacy of the active skin benefit agent. Buffers and other pH adjusting agents may be included to achieve the desired pH. Herein, suitable pH adjusting agents include acetates, phosphates, citrates, triethanolamine and carbonates.

In addition to the components described above, the compositions of the present invention may also include preservatives and preservative enhancers, such as water-soluble or water-dispersible preservatives, such preservatives including methyl, propyl, imidazolidinyl urea, germul 115, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl esters of hydroxybenzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, bromonitropropanediol (2-bromo-2-nitro-1, 3-propanediol), and phenoxypropanol; ultraviolet absorbers or scatterers; a sequestering agent; an antiandrogen agent; a depilatory agent; soluble or colloidally soluble humectants such as hyaluronic acid and starch grafted sodium polyacrylate such as those available from Celanese Supererbsorbing materials, Portsmith, Va, USA and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,663IM-1000, IM-1500, and IM-2500; proteins and polypeptides, and their derivatives; an organic hydroxy acid; a drug astringent; external analgesics; a film-forming agent; an anti-caking agent; defoaming agents; a binder; a coloring agent; fragrances, essential oils, and solubilizers thereof; a natural extract; guaiazulene; and a yeast fermentation filtrate.

The articles of the present invention are suitable for topical application to mammalian skin, particularly to the human body, and more particularly to facial skin. Skin treatment benefits can be provided to the skin using the articles of the present invention.

The articles of the present invention are particularly advantageous in delivering treatment compositions to the skin. In a preferred embodiment, the articles of the present invention deliver a high amount of skin care agents to the skin when such agents are exposed to the skin for an extended period of time. It is believed that the use of the articles of the present invention, i.e., the insoluble substrates as a delivery means for extended periods of time, better distributes and deposits such agents and better penetrates those agents that can be delivered through the skin than when the compositions are applied to the skin without the use of an insoluble substrate. Furthermore, when an insoluble substrate having low air permeability is used, it is expected that the skin benefit agent can penetrate into the skin more effectively. The articles of the present invention may also provide emotional benefits to the user, such as freshness and relaxation, after use.

In a preferred embodiment, the human body is treated with an article of the present invention, in particular a mask of the present invention, by the following steps:

(a) providing an article having an elongation zone and a treatment composition, wherein at least a portion of the elongation zone is incrementally stretched, preferably the elongation zone comprises a first region and a second region as defined herein;

(b) contacting the article with a portion of a human body;

(c) conforming the article to contours of the body;

(d) contacting the article with the skin for a time effective to provide a skin treatment;

(e) the article is removed.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the article is left on the skin for a period of time which is not longer than the time required for any part of the treatment composition to dry, and is subsequently removed from the skin. In a preferred embodiment of the mask, the mask is soaked with, or otherwise provided with, a treatment composition, and is applied to the facial skin by gently placing on the skin. The mask is then conformed to the skin by, for example, squeezing the facial skin with one's finger tips for better fit and even distribution.

By definition, "dry out" refers to a state in which water and other volatile components (if included), such as perfume, evaporate from the water-insoluble substrate, thereby rendering the substrate significantly less able to deliver the treatment composition to the skin. Thus, once a portion of the mask dries, it is not desirable to evenly distribute the composition. In addition, when the mask dries, the mask provides unpleasant stiffness and roughness to the skin upon application.

Since the compositions of the present invention dry readily by exposure to normal atmospheric conditions, the wet articles provided are preferably stored in fully sealed packages during storage.

The time period required until the dried portion appears will depend on the environment in which it is used, i.e. temperature, humidity, air circulation; as well as the body structure and temperature of the user. Typically, the composition should be designed such that no dried portions appear within a period of about 15 minutes when used at room temperature with a humidity of about 50%. When an insoluble substrate having low air permeability is used, the time for the composition to dry may be extended, preferably from about 5 minutes to about 45 minutes.

Thus, the invention also relates to a method of treating skin by using the article of the invention. The article of this embodiment is used by applying the article to the area of skin to be treated such that the composition contacts the skin. The remaining steps of using the article are the same as mentioned above. By using the preferred articles that include a sealing surface, the penetration of the treatment composition can be significantly increased. Thus, the use of such a treatment composition provides an effective means of delivering skin care actives to the facial skin. For effective delivery and dispensing of the treatment composition, the article is applied to the skin for a period of preferably at least about 5 minutes, preferably from about 5 minutes to about 45 minutes.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Examples

The following examples further describe and demonstrate embodiments within the scope of the present invention. These examples are given solely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be construed as limitations of the present invention, as many variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Examples 1 to 7

The articles of examples 1-2 can be produced from about 2.5g of cotton substrate. The substrate is compressed between engaging plates having opposed teeth and grooves to form an incrementally stretched region in the nose region, cut and shaped as per fig. 1. The substrate may then be dipped into a composition as listed in table 1, loading approximately 30g of the composition on the substrate. The articles of examples 3 to 5 may be produced as described, wherein the substrate material may be replaced by RFP-90 from Daiwabo. The articles of examples 6 to 7 may be produced as described, wherein the substrate material may be replaced by DFS (SH) T-70 from Daiwabo.

TABLE 1

Explanation of the Components

1 polysorbate 20: tween 20 from ICI Surfactants

2 polyacrylamide: sepigel 305 available from SEPPIC Inc.

3 acrylate/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer: the Pemulen TR-2 (a) is,

from B.F.Goodrich

4 xanthan gum: keltrol from Kelco

5, titanium dioxide: kobo GLW75CAP-MP, available from Kobo Products Inc.

6 ascorbyl glucoside: purchased from Hayashibara

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate: Stay-C, available from Roche

8, nicotinamide: nicotinamide, available from Roche

9 panthenol: DL-Panthenol from Roche

10 tocopheryl acetate: purchased from Eisai co.

11 tocopheryl nicotinate: purchased from Eisai co.

12 mulberry extract: mulberry extract BG, obtained from Maruzen Pharmaceuticals

13 yeast fermentation filtrate: SKII Pitera from Kashiwayama

14 natural extracts: phytolene EGX 243 (mixture of Arnica extract, Hypericum perforatum extract, Hedera Helix extract, Hamamelis virginiana extract, Vitis vinifera (vitis vinifera) leaf extract and Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) extract) was purchased from Kaneda.

15 ergot thiol histidine trimethyl inner salt: thiotaine available from AGI Dermatics

16 palmate kelp extract: seanergilium BG from Coletica

17 cetearyl glucoside and cetostearyl alcohol: emulgade PL 68/50, available from Cognis

18 glycerin and green tea in water: purchased from Bio-Botanica, Hauppauge, NY

19 palmitoyl Lys Thr Thr Lys Ser: peptides, commercially available from Sederma

All documents cited in the detailed description of the invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims (22)

1. A cosmetic treatment article, the article comprising:

a) a water insoluble substrate comprising at least one elongated zone, at least a portion of said elongated zone having an incremental elongation beyond the plastic yield point of the material; and

b) a treatment composition comprising at least one skin care active selected from the group consisting of:

skin texture improving agents, anti-acne actives, antioxidants, peptides, anti-inflammatory agents, humectants, whitening agents, skin tone-altering agents, and combinations thereof;

wherein the article is a treatment mask comprising at least a first region having a first surface path length and at least a second region having a second surface path length, the first region being incrementally stretched, the first and second surface path lengths being measured generally parallel to a defined direction, the first surface path length being different from the second surface path length.

2. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1, wherein the first zone and the second zone are interconnected or interrelated with each other.

3. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1 wherein the article has a plurality of first and second regions.

4. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1, wherein the first surface pathlength is greater than the second surface pathlength.

5. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 4 wherein the second region is either an unaltered surface or an incrementally stretched surface.

6. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 5, wherein the second region is an unaltered surface and the first surface pathlength is at least 3% greater than the second surface pathlength.

7. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1, wherein the first surface pathlength is at least 3% greater than the second surface pathlength.

8. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the water insoluble substrate comprises a hydrophilic material.

9. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a nonwoven substrate.

10. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 9 wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises an at least partially synthetic material.

11. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 9 wherein the nonwoven substrate is a trilayer substrate.

12. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 11 wherein the three layer substrate comprises one inner layer of natural material and two outer layers of synthetic material.

13. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1 wherein the water insoluble substrate comprises a substrate having a skin facing side and a sealing side.

14. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 13 wherein the sealing surface has less than 5mg/cm²Air permeability per minute.

15. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 13 wherein the sealing surface of the substrate comprises at least in part a hydrophobic material.

16. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 13 wherein the sealing surface of the substrate has a backsheet.

17. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 13, wherein the skin-facing side of substrate at least partially comprises a hydrophilic material.

18. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1, wherein the water-insoluble substrate is configured to cover a substantial area of a human face.

19. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1, wherein the water insoluble substrate has a thickness of 100 μ ι η to 1 cm.

20. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1 wherein the treatment composition is bonded to the water insoluble substrate.

21. The cosmetic treatment article of claim 1 wherein the water insoluble substrate has a machine direction and a cross direction, the direction of the first incremental stretching being in the cross direction.

22. A method of cosmetic treatment, the method comprising the steps of: providing a cosmetic treatment article having a water insoluble substrate and a treatment composition, the substrate having at least one elongated zone, at least a portion of the elongated zone having an incremental stretch beyond the plastic yield point of the material; applying the cosmetic treatment article to an area of a human body; conforming the article to the contours of a human body; and contacting the article with the human body for a time effective to provide a cosmetic treatment;

wherein the treatment composition comprises at least one skin care active selected from the group consisting of: skin texture improving agents, anti-acne actives, antioxidants, peptides, anti-inflammatory agents, humectants, whitening agents, skin tone-altering agents, and combinations thereof; and

wherein the article is a treatment mask comprising at least a first region having a first surface path length and at least a second region having a second surface path length, the first region being incrementally stretched, the first and second surface path lengths being measured generally parallel to a defined direction, the first surface path length being different from the second surface path length.