Topical compositions comprising fermented extracts of traditional chinese medicinal (tcm) ingredients, and methods of making and using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to topical compositions containing fermented extracts of Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) ingredients for improving the appearance and skin condition of the user. The topical compositions of the present invention are tailored for different users of different skin compositions according to TCM principles. The fermented TCM extracts are characterized by reduced odor and/or color in comparison with unfermented TCM extracts and are therefore more suitable for use in cosmetic products.

1 . A method for selecting a topical composition for a user based on his or her skin composition to improve the appearance or condition of the skin, comprising:
 (a) collecting biological data from the user;   (b) categorizing the skin composition of the user based on the collected biological data, wherein said categorization is indicative of the Yin-Yang balance of the skin or the lack thereof; and   (c) selecting a topical composition for the user, wherein said topical composition contains a blend of fermented Chinese herbal extracts for maintaining or restoring the Yin-Yang balance of the skin.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological data collected from the user comprises one or more types selected from the group consisting of age, bodily sensation, life style, sleep pattern, energy level, tongue color, tongue fur color, and skin condition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skin composition of the user is categorized by using a statistical model that weights the biological data according to Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) principles. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skin composition categories comprise balanced, Yang-dominant, and Yin-dominant. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a first topical composition is selected if the user has a balanced skin composition, wherein said first topical composition comprises fermented extracts of  Cordyceps sinensis  mycelia,  Ginkgo biloba  leaf,  Polygonum cuspidatum  rhizome, and  Citrus reticulata  peel for maintaining and strengthening the Yin-Yang balance of the skin. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first topical composition further comprises one or more fermented extracts derived from Chinese herbs selected from the group consisting of  Poria cocos  sclerotium,  Panax ginseng  root, and  Perilla frutescens  fruit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a second topical composition is selected if the user has a Yang-dominant skin composition, wherein said second topical composition comprises fermented extracts of  Ganoderma lucidum  fruiting body,  Selaginella tamariscina  plant,  Ginkgo biloba  leaf, and  Calendula officinalis  flower for nourishing Yin and restoring the Yin-Yang balance of the skin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second topical composition further comprises one or more fermented extracts derived from Chinese herbs selected from the group consisting of  Centella asiatica  plant,  Scutellaria baicalensis  root, and  Polygonum cuspidatum  rhizome. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the skin composition categories further comprise a balanced-to-Yang category, wherein a third topical composition is selected if the user has the balanced-to-Yang category, and wherein said third topical composition comprises the same ferment Chinese herbal extracts as the second topical composition but at lower concentrations. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a fourth topical composition is selected if the user has a Yin-dominant skin composition, wherein said fourth topical composition comprises fermented extracts of  Rhodiola rosea  rhizome,  Perilla frutescens  fruit,  Phellodendron amurense  bark, and  Foeniculum vulgare  seed for nourishing the Yang and restoring the Yin-Yang balance of the skin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fourth topical composition further comprises one or more fermented extracts derived from Chinese herbs selected from the group consisting of  Santalum album  stem,  Hordeum distichon  seed, and  Citrus reticulata  peel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the skin composition categories further comprise a balanced-to-Yin category, wherein a fifth topical composition is selected if the user has the balanced-to-Yin skin composition, and wherein said fifth topical composition comprises the same ferment Chinese herbal extracts as the fourth topical composition but at lower concentrations. 
     
     
         13 . A topical composition for application to the skin of a user with a balanced skin composition, comprising fermented extracts of  Cordyceps sinensis  mycelia,  Ginkgo biloba  leaf,  Polygonum cuspidatum  rhizome, and  Citrus reticulata  peel. 
     
     
         14 . The topical composition of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more fermented extracts derived from Chinese herbs selected from the group consisting of  Poria cocos  sclerotium,  Panax ginseng  root, and  Perilla frutescens  fruit. 
     
     
         15 . A topical composition for application to the skin of a user with a Yang-dominant or balanced-to-Yang skin composition, comprising fermented extracts of  Ganoderma lucidum  fruiting body,  Selaginella tamariscina  plant,  Ginkgo biloba  leaf, and  Calendula officinalis  flower. 
     
     
         16 . The topical composition of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more fermented extracts derived from Chinese herbs selected from the group consisting of  Centella asiatica  plant,  Scutellaria baicalensis  root, and  Polygonum cuspidatum  rhizome. 
     
     
         17 . A topical composition for application to the skin of a user with a Yin-dominant or balanced-to-Yin skin composition, comprising fermented extracts of  Rhodiola rosea  rhizome,  Perilla frutescens  fruit,  Phellodendron amurense  bark, and  Foeniculum vulgare  seed. 
     
     
         18 . The topical composition of  claim 17 , further comprising one or more fermented extracts derived from Chinese herbs selected from the group consisting of  Santalum album  stem,  Hordeum distichon  seed, and  Citrus reticulata  peel. 
     
     
         19 . A topical composition for application to the periorbital areas of a user, comprising fermented extracts of  Ligusticum chuangxiong  root,  Paeonia lactiflora  root,  Rehmannia glutinosa  root, and  Zizyphus jujube  fruit. 
     
     
         20 . A method for preparing a topical composition, comprising fermenting a blend of extracts from one or more Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) ingredients known to have undesirable odor and/or color in the presence of an aerobically metabolizing microorganism under suitable aerobic conditions for a period of time sufficient to reduce or eliminate the undesirable odor and/or color while preserving desirable biological activities of said TCM ingredients, and formulating the fermented blend of TCM extracts into a cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to form said topical composition.