Cosmetic devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to pre-formed devices for delivering benefit agents to the skin, hair or nails. The devices are patches or masks for cosmetic or therapeutic use and comprise a unilamellar, solid gel sheet having at least one surface at least partially coated with a discrete coating composition comprising at least one benefit agent for the skin, hair or nails. The invention also encompasses methods of producing and using such devices. The coating composition allows more efficient delivery of benefit agents to the skin than previously known devices and/or affords greater formulation flexibility.

1 . A pre-formed device ( 1 ) for delivering benefit agents to the skin, hair or nails, the device comprising a solid gel sheet ( 2 ) having opposed first and second surfaces ( 12 ,  16 ), wherein the gel sheet comprises one or more gelling agents and at least 10% dermatologically acceptable hydrophilic solvent, wherein the first surface is at least partially coated with a discrete coating composition ( 14 ) comprising at least one benefit agent for the skin, hair or nails. 
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the coating composition is a liquid having a viscosity greater than 1000 mPa·s. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein the coating composition is in the form of an oil in water emulsion. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the hydrophilic solvent is selected from water, ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerine, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the gel sheet is unilamellar. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the gel sheet comprises at least one skin benefit agent. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the gel sheet and the coating composition each comprise at least one skin benefit agent in common. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 1  which further comprises a substrate intended to be a part of the device as worn by a user. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 1  which is packaged in a sealed, protective wrapper. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 8  which has a transparency threshold of no greater than 10 point, preferably no greater than 7. 
   
   
       11 . A method of producing a device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing the solid gel sheet;   b) at least partially coating the first surface thereof with a coating composition comprising at least one skin benefit agent; and   c) packaging the coated gel sheet in a sealed, protective wrapper.   
   
   
       12 . A method of delivering at least one cosmetic benefit agent to the skin, hair or nails, the method comprising applying a device according to  claim 10  to a target area of the skin, hair or nails so that the coated first surface is in contact with the target area, and leaving the device at the target area for a period of from 1 minute to 12 hours.