Low pH Skin Care Composition and Methods of Using the Same

Abstract

Disclosed is an efficacious, low-pH skin care composition that provides good sensory properties and has a low skin irritation potential. The low-pH composition includes an effective amount of a vitamin B3 compound and, optionally, one or more additional skin care actives to provide a skin health and/or appearance benefit. The low-pH composition also includes a salt/acid pH buffer system, an acid tolerant polymeric thickener and, optionally, a silicone fluid having a kinematic viscosity of 100 cSt or less at 25° C. The pH of the low-pH composition can range from 2.0 to 5.0.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A low-pH skin care composition, comprising:
 a. about 0.1% to 10% of a vitamin B 3  compound;   b. about 0.1% to 10% of a low-pH buffering system comprising gluconic acid and sodium gluconate;   c. about 0.1% to 5% of a polymer thickener comprising at least one of sodium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate and polyacrylate crosspolymer-6; and   d. wherein the pH of the composition is between about 2.0 and about 5.0.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising about 0.01% to about 1% of a silicone emulsifier. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has an Opacity of about 15 to about 75, according to the Opacity Test. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the composition has an opacity of about 35 to about 60. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising about 0.1% to about 10% of an oil that reduces tackiness. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the oil is a silicone oil that has a viscosity of 100 cSt or less at 25° C. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the silicone oil has a viscosity of less than 10 cSt. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a stable fatty alcohol thickener selected from the group consisting of cetyl alcohols, stearyl alcohols, behenyl alcohols and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, peptides, sugar amines, sunscreens, oil control agents, flavonoid compounds, anti-oxidants, protease inhibitors, tyrosinase inhibitors, anti-inflammatory agents, moisturizing agents, exfoliating agents, skin lightening agents, anti-acne agents, anti-wrinkle agents, phytosterols, N-acyl amino acid compounds, antimicrobials, antifungals, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the vitamin B 3  compound is niacinamide. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pH is about 2.5 to about 4.5. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the pH is about 3.5 to about 4.3. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition exhibits a TRPV1 activation of less than about 10% according to the TRPV1 assay. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of an essence that has a viscosity of about 1 cP to about 30000 cP at 25° C. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the low-pH buffer system further comprises an additional acid buffering agent selected from lactic acid, lactobionic acid, and maltobionic acid and an additional salt buffering agent selected from sodium lactate, calcium lactate gluconate, potassium lactate, zinc lactate, and potassium gluconate. 
     
     
         16 . A low-pH skin care composition, comprising:
 a. about 0.1% to 10% of a vitamin B 3  compound;   b. about 0.1% to 10% of a low-pH buffering system comprising an acid buffering agent selected from gluconic acid, lactobionic acid, and maltobionic acid and a salt buffering agent selected from sodium gluconate, calcium lactate gluconate, potassium lactate and potassium gluconate;   c. about 0.1% to 5% of a polymer thickener comprising at least one of sodium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate and polyacrylate crosspolymer-6; and   d. wherein the pH of the composition is between about 2.0 and about 5.0.   
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one of lactic acid and sodium lactate. 
     
     
         18 . A method of cosmetically treating skin, comprising:
 identifying a target portion of skin where treatment is desired; and   applying an effective amount of the composition of  claim 1  to the target portion of skin over the course of a treatment period.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the composition exhibits a TRPV1 activation of less than about 10% according to the TRPV1 assay. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the composition causes no noticeable skin irritation to the target portion of skin during the treatment period.