INTRODUCTION-
The invention concerns a skin treatment regime formed with two separate day and night
compositions but impart a dual but combined benefit to the skin.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-
Dual purpose single formulation cosmetic products are quite handy and popular, Examples of 2-in-1 commercial formulations are cleanser & moisturizer and shampoo & conditioner products. Unfortunately, single formulations often compromise the performance of the severally combined actives.
A response to this problem has been the development of skin treatment regimes. Two or more different cosmetic compositions are employed in these regimes and applied to the skin in sequential order. Illustrative commercial treatment regime compositions are cleansers, moisturizers, toners and facial foundations.
When a skin treatment regime requires multi-composition use, there have been problems with consumer education and discipline. Education is particularly a problem in mass market outlets where a cosmetic knowledgeable sales staff is generally absent. A customer may purchase one product in a treatment regime but may be uninformed with respect to a necessary complementary regime product. Even a somewhat educated customer may select the wrong complementary product. Most frustrating is when a totally educated customer discovers that the store either does not carry the complementary product or is temporarily out of stock.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cosmetic product for a skin treatment regime that assists the consumer in maintaining the regime.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A skin treatment synergistic composition is disclosed which comprises-a first composition containing one or more or a combination of sunscreen constituent(s) within any known pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the first composition functioning to impart a protection to the skin from the harmful rays of the sun;
a second composition containing one or more or a combination of skin lightening constituent(s) within a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the second composition functioning to skin lightening ( whitening).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Cosmetic compositions present in the market contain the two active constituents belonging to the broad category of Sunscreen Agents which protect the skin from the tanning due to sun light and skin lightening agents to make the skin fairer. The constituents from these two broad groups are present in the available compositions in a combined form whereby the user is expected to apply the said composition in whatsoever form thereby enabling such consitutents to play their respective roles.
The Inventors of the present invention have found that in such compositions containing the constituents of both the sunscreen agents and the skin whitening / lightening agents in a single composition the effect of the either of the constituents of the group is generally reduced in the presence of the other.
Therefore, the Inventors of the present invention have now found a novel skin treatment regime whereby the cosmetic composition will be comprising a cream to be applied during the night and another cream to be applied during the dayl
The night cream shall comprise a novel composition in accordance with the present
invention comprising substantially natural products including herbal extracts functioning
as skin lightening agents which has to be applied during the night after sunset. The
constituents of the skin lightening cream shall be active during which an individual is
asleep and away from the sunlight.
The day cream shall be applied when the user is exposed to sunlight. The constituents
of the Sun screen agent group shall protect the skin of the user when the user is being
exposed to the sun.
The usage of such a dual cream composition shall also ensure that the sunscreen
agents do not interfere with the activity of the skin lightening agents and vice versa
A method is provided for cosmetically improving human skin through a treatment regime
including:
providing a first composition containing at least one suncreen agent within any known
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the first composition functioning to impart a first
benefit to the skin;
providing a second composition containing skin lightening constituents within another
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the second composition functioning to impart a
second benefit to the skin,
applying the first composition to the skin after application of the first composition to
achieve the first benefit.
applying the second composition to the skin after the first composition to achieve the second benefit;
with the proviso that the first composition is to be applied during exposure to sunlight and the second composition is to be applied during night.
The composition of the present invention is unique in that it protects the skin from the harmful UV radiations and at the same time reduces the melanin synthesis and thereby resulting in skin lightening.
The existing composition available in the market contains Niacin and/or Niacinamide as one of the Sunscreen Agents. It has been found in studies that 26% of the people using such composition were affected by irritation due to the presence of Niacin and/or Niacinamide in such composition. In the US Patent 5968528 (assigned to The P&G Company, Ohio), it has been mentioned that 'Current vitamin B3 (Niacin) formulations, however, can be drying and irritating. Such formulations may cause individuals to refrain from using vitamin B3 products as frequently and copiously as is necessary for optimum benefit. Vitamin B3 compound means (a) Niacinamide (b) Nicotinic acid (3) Nicotinyl alcohol and derivatives thereof; and salts of any of the foregoing'. Therefore, cosmetic compositions containing Niacin, Niacinamide or its derivatives are neither user friendly nor safe in the long run.
The composition of the present invention is also characterized by the feature that it has an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) preferably in the range of 1-10, which can go to as high as 30 in the different batches made by the inventors in the day cream.
The ingredients of the composition of the present invention being from natural sources is also unique, since it has virtually no side effects and is rather very much compatible with the skin.
The inventors of the present invention have also developed novel processes for extracting the active ingredients from the herbs and plants, in the right proportion and concentration and thereafter incorporating it in a suitable delivery form, such as a cream, lotion, etc. for topical application on the skin.
The sunscreen composition (the daytime application product) of the present invention comprises one or more sunscreen agents, comprising chemical sunscreens (UVA, UVB and UVC absorbers) like Octyl methoxycinnamate, Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, etc., alone or combination thereof or physical sunscreens (of various particle size) like Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide etc., alone or in combination thereof.
The skin lightening composition (the nighttime application product) comprises a synergistic combination of the undermentioned herbal extracts-
1. Doorba (Cynodon dactylon)
2. Kustha {Saussurea lappa)
3. Sariva (Haemindus indicus)
4. Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre)
Preferably the cosmetic composition comprises the herbal extracts in the following range-
1. Doorba (Cynodon dactylon) from 0.1% to 99.9 % w/w
2. Kustha {Saussurea lappa) from 0.1% to 99.9 %% w/w
3. Sariva (Haemindus indicus) from 0.1% to 99.9 %% w/w
4. Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre) from 0.1% to 99.9 %% w/w
More preferably the cosmetic composition further comprises one or more of the undermentioned herbal extracts in the range mentioned-
1. Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia) 1.0 to 99.0 % w/w
2. Priyangu (Callicara macrophylla) 1.0 to 99.0 % w/w
3. Usheer (Vetiveria zizaniodes) 1.0 to 99.0 % w/w
Preferably the composition comprises one or more skin conditioning agents.
More preferably the skin conditioning agents are selected from the group comprising Masoor daal, Saffron, Sandalwood, Milk, Papaya, Liquorice, Achuka, purified water, Coconut water / coconut milk alone or combination thereof.
Preferably the composition may further comprise known skin lightening (whitening) agents.
More preferably the skin lightening agents are selected from the group comprising Arbutin, Niacinamide, Niacin and Kojic Acid and its derivatives alone or in combination.
The composition of the present invention is not a mere admixture. The ingredients of the composition interact synergisticaily so as to enhance/ potentiate the activity of the other ingredients.
It has been observed by the inventors that the constituents of the composition interact synergisticaily with each other so as to enhance each others characteristics.

We Claim-
1. A skin treatment synergistic composition comprising -a first composition ( daytime application product) containing one or more or a combination of sunscreen constituent(s) within any known pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the first composition functioning to impart a protection to the skin from the harmful rays of the sun;
a second composition ( night time application product) containing one or more or a combination of skin lightening constituent(s) within a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the second composition functioning to skin lightening ( whitening ).
2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said sunscreen constituent(s) are present in the range of 0.1 % w/w to 10% w/w.
3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the sunscreen constituents comprises one or more sunscreen agents, comprising chemical sunscreens (UVA, UVB and UVC absorbers) like Octyl methoxycinnamate, Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, etc., alone or combination thereof or physical sunscreens (of various particle size) like Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide etc., alone or in combination thereof.
4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the skin lightening constituents comprises a combination of the undermentioned herbal extracts-

1. Doorba (Cynodon dactylon)
2. Kustha (Saussurea lappa)
3. Sariva (Haemindus indicus)
4. Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre)
5. A composition as claimed in claim 4 wherein the herbal extracts are in the following
range-
1. Doorba (Cynodon dactylon) from 0.1% to 99.9 % w/w
2. Kustha (Saussurea lappa) from 0.1% to 99.9 %% w/w
3. Sariva (Haemindus indicus) from 0.1% to 99.9 % % w/w
4. Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre) from 0.1% to 99.9 %% w/w
6. A composition as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises one or more of the
undermentioned herbal extracts in the range mentioned-
1. Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia) 1.0 to 99.0 % w/w
2. Priyangu (Callicara macrophylla) 1.0 to 99.0 % w/w
3. Usheer (Vetiverla zlzaniodes) 1.0 to 99.0 % w/w

7. A composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims 4 to 6 which comprises one or more skin conditioning agents.
8. A composition as claimed in claim 7 wherein the skin conditioning agents are selected from the group comprising Masoor daal, Saffron, Sandalwood, Milk, Papaya, Liquorice, Achuka, purified water, Coconut water / coconut milk alone or combination thereof.
9. A composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims which is in a topically usable form such as a cream, lotion, gel, oil, emulsion and the like.
10. A skin treatment synergistic composition substantially as herein described with reference to the foregoing description.