Skincare inspiration from US Patent No 4,569,839 --Cosmetic compositions for the treatment of the hair and skin

One place that I like to look for skincare inspirations is patent database.  OK, I know that sounds very geeky.  But here is my rationale: filing a patent is not a trivial thing, economically and resource wise, for most of the people.  If someone has gone through the trouble of getting a patent on a something, there got be something valuable in that document we can learn from.

US patent No. 4,569,839 relates to skin and hair care compositions made from the pulverized plant source(s) and a cohesion agent.  The cohesion agent could be something that facilitates the spreading of the composition on the skin or hair, avoids drying out of the composition where it is exposed to the air, and facilitates the removal of the composition from the hair or skin. 

The plant powder substance can be roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds of plants. These powders can be obtained from diverse varieties of plant substances.  As I have noted in my other posts, many plant substances exhibit properties such as emollient properties, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-pruriginous properties, antiseptic properties, antiperspirant properties, astringent properties, soothing properties, cicatrisive properties or tonic properties.  For hair treatment, you can use plant substances capable of coloring hairs.

Here is how to make the cosmetic composition according to this patent: pulverizing 5-30 weight percent of a plant source and an adhesion agent together.  Vary the amount of the plant amount to achieve a desired viscosity and consistency. 

Cohesion agent could be a mixture of a solvent and a thickening agent.  The mixture should be capable of maintaining homogeneity of the composition. Here is a list of solvents according to the patent:

-        mineral oils include petrolatum oil,

-        animal oils such as lanolin,

-        vegetable oils such almond oil, peanut oil, wheat germ oil, apricot pit oil, walnut oil, palm oil, pistachio oil, sesame oil, soy oil, avocado oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, olive oil, grape seed oil, turnsol oil, colza oil, cade oil, corn germ oil, peach pit oil, coffee oil, and jojoba oil

-        wax such as Carnauba wax, Candellila wax or beeswax.

Here is a list of thickening agents:

-        vegetable thickening agents soluble in water such as gum arabic, karaya gum, xanthane gum, gum tragacanth, guar gum, carob seed gum, tara gum, pectines, alginates, carraghenates, agar-agar, furcellaria, starches, the water soluble portions of mucilagenous plants such as those of mullein, wild chamomile, fenugreck, marsh mallow, mallow, linen, lime tree, fleawort, plantain, borage, star thistle, alder buckthorn, large blackroot, asparagus, senna and lichen

-        mineral thickening agents such as: compounds of silicon, silicates, silica, clays (montmorillonite, attapulgite, kaolite, zeolite, etc)

Here are some plant sources categorized according to the plant’s property.

-        plants exhibiting emollient properties: apricot hee (Prunus armenica), cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), mullein (Verbascum spp), chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), wild chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), red poppy (Papaver rhoeas), fenugreck (Trigonella foenum graecum), marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis), linen (Linum usitissimum), white lily (Lilium candidum), mallow (Malva spp), marigold (Calandula officinalis), elder (Sambuscus nigra), lime tree (Tilia spp), colt's -foot (Tussilage Iarfara), fleawort (Plantago psyllium), plantain (Plantago spp), quince (Cyclonia vulgaris), peach-tree (Prunus persica), sweet orange tree (Citrus aurantium), barbary fig (Opuntia vulgaris), and apple-tree (Pirus malus),

-        plants exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties: agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), hawthorn (Grataegus oxyacantha), common heather (Calluna vulgaris), quick grass (Agropurum repens) or Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), juniper (Juniperus communis), marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis), elder (Sambuscus nigra), lime tree (Tilia spp), fenugreck (Trigonella foenum graecum), gentian (Gentiana lutea), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), pansy (Viola spp), plantain (Plantago spp), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis), black bryony (Tamus communis), colt's-foot (Tussilage Iarfara), tea (Camellia theasinensis), live ever (Helicrysum arenarium), and daisy (Bellis perennis),

-        plants exhibiting anti-pruriginous properties: lady's mantel (Alchemilla vulgaris), lavender (Lavandula officinalis), walnut-tree (Juglon spp), plantain (Plantago spp), Devil's bit scabious (Scabiosa succisa), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium), muermera (Clematis vitalba), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), black root (Symphytum officinale), birthwort (Aristolochia clematitis), burdock (Arctium majus), mullein (Verbascum spp), chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), euphrasy (Euphrasia rostkowiana), and ivy (Hedera helix),

-        plants exhibiting antiseptic properties: garlic (Allium sativum), agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), burdock (Arctium majus), chestnut tree (Quercus spp), black root (Symphytum officinale), blue-gum (Eucalyptus globulus), juniper (Juniperus communis), geranium (Geranium spp), oleander (Nerium oleander), lavender (Lavandula officinalis), marjoram (Majorana hortensis), mint (Mentha spp), pine tree (Pinus spp), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sandalwood (Santalum spp), serpollet (Thymus serpyllum), garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris), sage (Salvia officinalis), honey suckle (Conicera spp), live ever (Helicrysum arenarium), daisy (Bellis perennis), and tansy (Tanatecum vulgare),

-        plants exhibiting antiperspirant properties include: sage (Salvia officinalis), chestnut tree (Quercus spp), walnut tree (Juglon spp), pine tree (Pinus spp), horsetail (Equisetum spp), and colt's foot (Tussilage Iarfara),

-        plants exhibiting astringent properties: acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia), yarrow (Achillea Millefolium), agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), lady's mantel (Alchemilla vulgaris), strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), black root (Symphytum officinale), evergreen cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), chestnut tree (Quercus spp), dog rose (Rosa canina), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), black mulberry tree (Morus nigra), blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), common hazel (Corylus avellana), walnut tree (Juglon spp), nettle (Urtica spp), poplar (Populus spp), plantain (Plantago spp), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), rhantany (Krameria triaudra), French rose (Rose gallica), grass-polly (Lythrum salicaris), willow (Silix alba), tea (Camellia theasinensis), tormentil (Potentilla tormentilla), vine (Vitis vinifera) and melilot (Melilotus officinalis),

-        plants exhibiting soothing properties: carrot (Daucus carota), pansy (Viola spp), elder (Sambuscus nigra), lime tree (Tilia spp), basil (Ocimum basilicum), camphor-tree (Cinnamonum camphora), pear tree (Pyrus communis), apple-tree (Pirus malus), vine (Vitis vinifera), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and French rose (Rose gallica), passion flower (Possiflora spp),

-        plants exhibiting cicatrisive properties: St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), silverweed (Potentilla anserina), marigold (Calandula officinalis), wild chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), black root (Symphytum officinale), chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), yarrow (Achillea Millefolium), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), arnica (arnica montana), chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium), myrthe (Myrtus communis), periwinkle (Vinca spp), plantain (Plantage spp), poplar (Populus spp), cowslip (Primula officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis), groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), elder (Sambuscus nigra), common vervain (Verbena officinalis), angelica (Angelica archangelica), birthwort (Aristolochia clematitis), alder (Aulnus glutinosa), southerwood (Artemisia abrotanum), bistort (Polygonum bistorta), birch (Betula alba), blessed thistle (Onicus benedictus), juniper (Juniperus communis), medlar (Nespilus germanica), blue-gum (Eucalyptus globulus), lady's fingers (Anthyllis vulnerara), herb-bennet (Geum urbanum), star thistle (Centaurea calcitrapa), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum), strawberry (Fragaria vesca), horsetail (Equisetum spp), meadowsweet (Spiraea ulmaria), colt's-foot (Tussilage Iarfara), pansy (Viola spp), burdock (Arctium majus), daisy (Bellia perennis) and white lily (Lilium candidum),

-        plants exhibiting tonic properties: wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), arnica (Arnica montana), calamint (Calamentha officinalis), cinnamon-tree (Cinnamonum spp), geranium (Geranium spp), hyssop (Hysopus officinalis), marjoram (Majorana hortensis), balm (Melissa officinalis), parsley (Petroselenium hortense), pine-tree (Pinus spp), sylvestre, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), savory (Satureia Hortensis), serpollet (Thymus serpyllum), basil (Ocimum basilicum), dog rose (Rosa canina), gentian (Gentiana lutea), hops (Humulus lupulus), white laurel, mint (Mentha spp), sage (Salvia officinalis), tormentil (Potentilla tormentilla), yarrow (Achillea Millefolium), agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), herb-bennet (Geum urbanum), bistort (Polygonum bistorta), chestnut tree (Quercus spp), quince (Cyclonia vulgaris), evergreen cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), medlar (Nespilus germanica), walnut tree (Juglon spp), nettle (Urtica spp), plantain (Plantago spp), water pepper (Polygonum hydropiper), cinquefoil (Potentille reptans), bloodwort (Polygonum aviculare), grass-polly (Lythrum salicaria), speedwell (Veronica officinalis), angelica (Angelica archangelica), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), sweet woodruff (Asperula odorata), juniper (Juniperus communis), black mustard (Brassica nigra), cinchona (Cinchona spp), fumitory (Fumaria officinalis), large indian cress (Tropeolum majus), water-cress (Nasturtium officinale), bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus), butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus) and tansy (Tanatecum vulgare),

-        plants capable of coloring the hair: henna (Lawsonia inermis), walnut tree (Juglon spp), wild chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), rhubarb (Rhuem spp), bedstraw (Gallium spp), madder (Rubia tinctorium), sweet woodruff (Asperula odorata), alkannet (Alkanna tinctoria), roselle (Hibiscus spp), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), indigo (Indigofera tinctoria), red sandalwood (Pterocarpus spp), dogwood (Hematoxylon campechianum), brazilwood (Caesalpinia spp), weld (Reseda luteola), sumac (Rhus spp), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadiensis), saffron (Crocus sativus), arrow root (Curcuma spp), annata (Bixa orellana), lichen (Parmella spp or Rocella spp), broom (Cytisus scoparius), marigold (Tagetes spp), black-thorn (Prunus spinosa), elder (Sambuscus nigra), goldenrod (Solidago Virga aurea), strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), privet (Ligustrum vulgare), alder (Aulnus glutinosa), garden peony (Paeonia officinalis), gilower (Dianthus caryophyllus), red poppy ( Papaver rhoeas), marigold (Calandula officinalis), French rose (Rose gallica), pansy (Viola spp), cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia), Mallow (Malva spp), sweet orange tree (Citrus aurantium), lucern (Medicago sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), black currant (Ribes nigrum), beet (Beta vulgaris), rough cherry (Prunus cerasus), carrot (Daucus carota) and red quebracho (Loxoterygium lorentzi).

Thanks for reading.

Connie

connie@cherruby.com