Skin cosmetics

Abstract

An anti-reflective cosmetic composition for skin is disclosed. The composition includes a material that, when applied to skin, forms a layer of the material that adheres to the skin, has a thickness of from about 60 nm to about 140 nm, and a refractive index of between about 1.1 and 1.4. The layer reduces the Fresnel component of light reflected from skin. In addition, cosmetic compositions that include colored, shaped additives that mimic the appearance of colored structures in healthy skin are disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An anti-reflective cosmetic composition for skin comprising a material that, when applied to skin, forms a layer of the material that adheres to the skin, has a thickness of from about 60 nm to about 140 nm, and has a refractive index of between about 1.1 and 1.4, wherein the layer of material reduces the Fresnel component of light reflected from skin.  
     
     
         2 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 1 , wherein the layer has a thickness of between about 80 nm and 120 nm and a refractive index of between about 1.2 and 1.3.  
     
     
         3 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 1 , wherein the layer is a molecular monolayer.  
     
     
         4 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 3 , wherein the molecular monolayer comprises amphipathic molecules.  
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 4 , wherein the amphipathic molecules comprise straight-chain phospholipids.  
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 4 , wherein the amphipathic molecules have lengths of between about 95 nm and 100 nm.  
     
     
         7 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 4 , wherein the material further comprises a trapped gas to reduce the index of refraction of the layer.  
     
     
         8 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 7 , wherein the trapped gas is in a microsphere.  
     
     
         9 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 7 , wherein the trapped gas is in a microbubble.  
     
     
         10 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 7 , wherein the trapped gas is in the form of microbubbles or microspheres having diameters less than about 55 nm.  
     
     
         11 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 4 , further comprising a carrier.  
     
     
         12 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 11 , wherein the carrier comprises water.  
     
     
         13 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 3 , wherein the material comprises a monomer, wherein the monomer, when activated, polymerizes to form the molecular monolayer.  
     
     
         14 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 13 , wherein the monomer includes a moiety having a negative charge, such that the moiety is attracted to stratum corneum.  
     
     
         15 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 14 , wherein the moiety comprises an amine group or a carboxyl group.  
     
     
         16 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 13 , wherein the activation of the monomer is triggered by application of the material to skin.  
     
     
         17 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises an aerosolizable liquid that can be sprayed onto skin to form the layer.  
     
     
         18 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a chromophore having a natural skin color.  
     
     
         19 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 18 , wherein the chromophore is selected from the group consisting of melanin granules and liganded hemoproteins.  
     
     
         20 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 1 , wherein the layer is generally translucent.  
     
     
         21 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 1 , wherein the layer is generally transparent.  
     
     
         22 . The cosmetic coating of  claim 1 , wherein the layer comprises trapped gas to reduce the refractive index.  
     
     
         23 . The cosmetic coating of  claim 22 , wherein the trapped gas is in a microsphere.  
     
     
         24 . The cosmetic coating of  claim 23 , wherein the layer further comprises a packing agent.  
     
     
         25 . The cosmetic coating of  claim 24 , wherein the packing agent comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         26 . The cosmetic coating of  claim 25 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylalcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, and polydimethyldiallylammonium.  
     
     
         27 . The cosmetic coating of  claim 23 , wherein the microspheres are encapsulated by a capsule substance comprising a moiety having a negative charge.  
     
     
         28 . The cosmetic coating of  claim 27 , wherein the capsule substance comprises a polycarbonate group.  
     
     
         29 . The cosmetic coating of  claim 22 , wherein the trapped gas is in a microbubble.  
     
     
         30 . The cosmetic coating of  claim 22 , wherein the layer comprises a monolayer.  
     
     
         31 . A method of reducing Fresnel reflectance from skin, the method comprising: 
 applying a cosmetic composition to skin such that a material in the composition forms a layer on the skin, the layer having a thickness of from about 60 nm to about 140 nm, and a refractive index of between about 1.1 and 1.4.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the layer comprises a monolayer.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition is in the form of a lotion and further comprises water as a carrier.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising removing carrier and non-bound material from the skin after formation of the monolayer, such that only the monolayer remains on the skin.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the layer has a thickness of between about 80 nm and 120 nm and a refractive index of between about 1.2 and 1.3.  
     
     
         36 . A method of reducing Fresnel reflectance from a portion of skin, the method comprising: 
 applying a first composition comprising microspheres and a carrier to a portion of skin, the microspheres forming a monolayer when applied to the skin;    applying a second composition comprising a packing agent to the portion of skin, such that the combination of the first and second compositions forms a coating on the skin, the coating having a thickness of between about 60 nm and 140 nm and a refractive index of between about 1.1 and 1.4.    
     
     
         37 . A cosmetic composition comprising a carrier and colored, shaped additives that mimic the appearance of colored structures in healthy skin, wherein the additives are mixed into the carrier in an amount sufficient to mimic spectral texture of healthy skin when the composition is applied to the skin.  
     
     
         38 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 37 , wherein the carrier comprises a chromophore having a natural skin color.  
     
     
         39 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 38 , wherein the carrier includes a chromophore comprising the color of melanin or oxyhemoglobin.  
     
     
         40 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 37 , wherein the colored structures mimicked by the additives include natural structures in skin selected from the group consisting of hair follicles, sweat duct openings, fine hairs, freckles, and blood vessels.  
     
     
         41 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 37 , wherein the additives comprise dyed polymers.  
     
     
         42 . The cosmetic composition of  claim 37 , wherein the additives comprise shapes selected from the group consisting of threads, disks, and beads.  
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 37  further comprising a material that, when applied to skin, forms a layer of the material that adheres to the skin, has a thickness of from about 60 nm to about 140 nm, and has a refractive index of between about 1.1 and 1.4, wherein the layer of material reduces the Fresnel component of light reflected from skin.