Cosmetic composition and methods of use

Abstract

There are disclosed cosmetic compositions and methods for protection of keratinous tissue against environmental aggressors, such as smoke, smog and UV radiation. The compositions have as an essential antioxidant: (i) hesperetin, (ii) tetrahydrocurcumin, (iii) tetrahydrodemethoxycurcumin, or (iv) tetrahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin, or mixtures of thereof. The compositions are preferably in the form of oil in water emulsions and may optionally contain one or more emulsifiers, preservatives, thickeners, sunscreens, additional antioxidants, emollients, skin protectants, hair protectants, nail protectants and the like.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cosmetic composition comprising: 
 an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) hesperetin, (ii) tetrahydrocurcumin, (iii) tetrahydrodemethoxycurcumin, (iv) tetrahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin, and (v) mixtures of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv); and  
   a cosmetically acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an emulsifier, a preservative, and a thickener.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising a sunscreen.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said sunscreen is selected from the group consisting of ethylhexyl methoxy cinnamate, benzophenone-3, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising an additional antioxidant.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said additional antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of gamma oryzanol, mixed tocopherols, ascorbyl monopalmitate, algae extract, tomato extract, rosemary extract, decarboxy carnosine hydrochloride, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said antioxidant is hesperetin, and wherein the hesperetin is present in an amount about 0.01 wt. % to about 3.0 wt. % of the total weight of the composition.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said antioxidant is the mixture of tetrahydrocurcumin, tetrahydrodemethoxycurcumin and tetrahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin, and wherein the mixture is present in an amount about 0.1 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. % of the total weight of the composition.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the antioxidant is a mixture of hesperetin and tetrahydrocurcumin.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the antioxidant is a mixture of hesperetin and terahydrodemethoxycurcumin.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the antioxidant is a mixture of hesperetin and terahydrobis-demethoxycurcumin.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the antioxidant mixture further comprises hesperetin.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the composition is in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion.  
     
     
         14 . A method of protecting the skin from the adverse effects of environmental substances that may come into contact with the skin, the method comprising applying to the skin the composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A method of protecting the skin from sunburn damage, the method comprises applying to the skin the composition of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         16 . A method of improving the appearance of the skin, the method comprises applying to the skin the composition of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         17 . A method of preventing damage to the skin from smoke, ozone or other atmospheric pollutants, the method comprises applying to the skin the composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         18 . A method of neutralizing free radicals that may come into contact with the skin, the method comprises applying to the skin the composition of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         19 . A method of protecting chafed, cracked, sunburned or windburned skin from further damage, the method comprises applying to the skin the composition of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         20 . A method for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of skin changes associated with intrinsic or extrinsic aging, the method comprises applying to the skin the composition of  claim 1.