Skin Care Composition and Method of Using the Same

Abstract

A skin care composition that contains a combination of a vitamin B 3 compound, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, acetyl tetrapeptide-11, and a dermatologically acceptable carrier. The combination of vitamin B 3 compound, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, and acetyl tetrapeptide-11 increases activation of a cell's Antioxidant Response Element (ARE), (e.g., synergistically) to improve a visible sign of skin aging.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A skin care composition, comprising:
 a) a combination of a vitamin B 3  compound, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (pal-KTTKS) [SEQ ID NO: 1], and acetyl tetrapeptide-11 (ac-PPYL) [SEQ ID NO: 2], wherein the combination of vitamin B 3  compound, pal-KTTKS and ac-PPYL synergistically increases activation of a cell's Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) according to the ARE Assay and exhibit a synergy factor of at least 1.3; and   b) a dermatologically acceptable carrier;   c) at least one additional ingredient chosen from vitamins, minerals, peptides, sugar amines, sunscreen agents, 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, pH adjustors, thickening agents, preservatives, or mixtures thereof;   wherein a ratio of the vitamin B3 compound to the pal-KTTKS [SEQ ID NO: 1] and to the ac-PPYL [SEQ ID NO: 2] is between 500:1:2 and 1:1:0.5   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the combination of vitamin B 3  compound, pal-KTTKS [SEQ ID NO: 1], and ac-PPYL [SEQ ID NO: 2] synergistically upregulates at least one gene selected from the group consisting of Nuclear Factor E2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2) [SEQ ID NO: [3], Schlafen Family Member 5 (SLFNS) [SEQ ID NO: [41, Glycerophosphodiester Phosphodiesterase 1 (GDE1) (SEQ ID NO: [5], Multiple Inositol-Polyphosphate Phosphatase 1 (MINPP1) [SEQ ID NO: [6], and 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-CoA Lyase (HMGCL) [SEQ ID NO: [7]. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the vitamin B 3  compound is present at about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the vitamin B 3  compound is selected from the group consisting of niacinamide, nicotinic acid, nicotinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the vitamin B 3  compound is niacinamide. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pal-KTTKS [SEQ ID NO: 1] is present at about to about 2% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ac-PPYL [SEQ ID NO: 2] is present at about to about 2% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating oxidative stress in skin:
 a) identifying a target portion of skin where treatment is desired; and   b) applying the skin care composition of  claim 1  to the target portion of skin during a treatment period;   d) wherein the effective amount of vitamin B 3  compound, pal-KTTKS [SEQ ID NO: 1] and ac-PPYL [SEQ ID NO: 2] is sufficient to increase activation of the Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) according to the ARE Assay.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method improves the appearance of a visible sign of skin aging.