ZA200107953B

ZA200107953B - Wet wipes having skin health benefits.

Info

Publication number: ZA200107953B
Application number: ZA200107953A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Duane Gerard Krzysik; Beth Anne Lange; David Roland Otts; Brenda Marie Nelson
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Co
Priority date: 1999-04-23
Filing date: 2001-09-27
Publication date: 2002-09-27

Description

n } 4 WO 00/64408 PCT/US00/11090

WET WIPES HAVING SKIN HEALTH BENEFITS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wet wipes and wipe-type products. More particularly, the present invention particularly relates to wet wipes and wipe-type products that can be used for a variety of purposes including cleaning, cosmetics removal, and sanitation comprising an oil-in-water emulsion composition solution that cleans the surface of the skin and provides enhanced skin health benefits.

Background of the invention

The stratum corneum is the outer-most layer of the skin and is responsible for regulating skin water levels and functioning as a barrier against chemicals and other stressors found in the environment. The complex arrangement of lipids in the intercellular space of the stratum comeum is responsible for the establishment of normal barrier function. Multi-layered structures of cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids, as well as some other minor lipids, provide the major barrier to the transport of hydrophilic substances into the or through the skin. The link between the barrier function and skin : health can be observed through skin inflammation that results from the extraction of lipids ’ from the skin.

In addition to inflammation, disrupted barrier function can result in a number of skin conditions, most notably, dry skin. Moisturizers that consist of occlusive chemistries or humectants are commonly utilized to treat dry skin.

Diaper dermatitis, in infants and adults, is a genre of skin conditions that, in large part, originate from impaired barrier function. Impairment of the skin barrier can result from a variety of factors, including; increased skin hydration due to the occlusion of the skin caused by diapers, enzymatic skin damage due to fecal and urinary enzymes, physical abrasion caused by diapers, washcloths, and wet wipes, and removal of skin lipids by surfactant associated with bathing and cleaning.

Occlusion of the skin results in an increased skin hydration due to the blocking of evaporative water loss from the surface of the skin. The hydration level of diapered skin - may reach between five to ten times that of undiapered skin. Frequent contact of diapered skin with urine may also contribute to increased skin hydration. Increased skin 5s hydration disrupts skin lipid organization in the stratum corneum. This disruption may increase the skin permeability allowing the penetration of irritants from feces and urine into the skin. }

Results from studies performed on hairless mice reveals the fecal enzymes, specifically proteases and lipases, are major skin irritants in the diapered skin environment. Fecal proteases degrade the stratum corneum proteins resulting in inflammatory reactions and facilitation of the penetration of low molecular weight irritants.

Urine was observed to elevate skin pH thereby facllitating enzymatic action on the skin as well causing inflammatory reactions in the skin.

Diapered skin is typically cleaned by the application of cotton wash cloths or disposable wet wipes. The effect on the skin by the wet wipes depends upon the materials and surfactant systems used for the wipes. Diapered skin is normally cleansed several times a day with wipes utilizing solutions containing surfactants. Surfactants are known to extract lipids from the stratum cormeum or disorganize the lipid structure within the stratum corneum, thereby decreasing the barrier function. The wet wipe and Wipe type product material can cause physical abrasion damage to the skin and can lead to an increase in transepidermal water loss, an indication of decreased barrier function. Other : instances from which skin barrier function interruption results are frequent hand washing and contact dermatitis originating from harsh surfactants and other chemical irritants.

Once the skin barrier has been compromised, a series of events occur within the skin to synthesize and organize lipids to restore the barrier function. The body naturally repairs defects in the skin barrier function by increasing the production of key lipids found inthe skin, such as cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids, and key lipid synthesizing enzymes. Two known environmental conditions inhibit the natural skin barrier repair mechanisms relating to diapered skin. The first condition is a neutral skin pH, and the other condition is the occlusion of the skin. Chronic exposure to feces and urine, as well as the continued occlusion of the skin, therefore, leads to chronic disruption of the skin barrier function.

A 4 WO 00/64408 PCT/US00/11090 a Wet wipes are well known commercial consumer products that have been available in many forms. Perhaps the most common form of wet wipes has been a stack of moistened sheets that have been packaged in a plastic container. The wet wipes have s been made from a variety of materials that have been moistened with a variety of suitable mild surfactant-based solutions. Such wet wipes have been used for baby wipes, hand wipes, household cleaning wipes, industrial wipes, body and facial wipes, and the like.

Typically, such conventional wet wipes have included a single layer of a substantially homogeneous material. For example, conventional wet wipes have included an air laid web of fibers that are uniformly mixed or distributed throughout the web. The ‘wipes have included polymeric fibers such as polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene and natural or synthetic fibers such as cellulosic fibers. Other conventional wet wipes have included a coformed web of polypropylene and cellulosic fibers wherein the fibers are uniformly mixed throughout the web.

However, other forms of a wet wipe or wipe-type product includes a wipe product having a nonwoven, layered basesheet. The layered basesheet may include at least two layers positioned in facing relation with each other wherein one of the layers includes } 20 fibers that are not included in the other layer. Such an arrangement may be wherein at least one of the layers includes polyethylene fibers and at least one of the layers includes : polypropylene fibers. In altemate forms, the layers may include similar materials, but in ) differing amounts. The different layers can be configured to provide different physical properties, such as softness, to the wipe product while another layer may be configured to 2s provide other properties, such as strength, to the wipe product.

The balance of physical properties, such as softness, flexibility, strength, integrity and resiliency has not been completely optimized. Topical chemistry may be used to enhance the delivered product properties of the wet wipes and wipe-type products. This has been particularly true for those users desiring improved skin health or the ability to impart skin health benefits. The skin health benefits of the wipe product or the skin health benefits imparted from the wipe product may be perceived to be particularly important for body wipes which are intended for repeated contact the skin of an adult to an infant.

Thus, what is needed in the art are products that help maintain skin barrier function, particularly in the diapered skin environment, such as a wet wipe or wipe-type - product that. a) deposits suitable chemistries on the skin to enhance skin barrier; b) minimizes physical damage to the skin due to wiping; c)leaves the skin feeling soft and 5s supple; and, d) provides a long lasting benefit until the next wiping event while still providing effective cleaning while providing skin barrier enhancement.

Summary of the invention

It has now been discovered that an improved wet wipe or wipe-type product, used for a variety of purposes including cleaning, cosmetics removal, and sanitation, that enhances skin barrier can be made applying, absorbing into, or otherwise wetting the wet wipe or wipe-type product with an oil-in-water emulsion composition comprising a natural fat or oil, sterol or sterol derivative, humectant, emulsifying surfactants and surfactant combinations having an HLB range of about 7 to about 18, and water. The composition also readily transfers from the wet wipe or wipe-type sheet onto the skin being contacted with the sheet to provide enhanced skin barrier benefits while providing desired product purpose.

Hence, in one aspect, the invention is an oilHn-water emulsion composition comprising from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of natural fats or oils, from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of a sterol! or sterol derivative, from about 0.1 to about 99.5 : weight percent of an humectant, and from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent of an emulsifying surfactant having an HLB range of about 7 to about 18, from about 45 to about 99.5 weight percent of water and the pH of the emulsion adjusted to a pH of about 4 to about 7. PH adjustments of the composition can be made using any acid or base known in the art. One example of an acid is malic acid. Optionally, the composition may contain from about 0 to about 30 weight percent of petrolatum or mineral oil.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to wet wipes or wipe-type products that have improved skin health benefits due to the oil-in-water emulsion composition. The wet

CW woowsss PCT/US00/11090 wipes or wipe-type products of the present invention can be used for baby wipes, adult : wipes, hand wipes, face wipes, cosmetic wipes, household wipes, industrial wipes, personal cleansing wipe, cotton balls, and cotton tipped swabs and the like.

One embodiment of the present invention is a wet wipe or wipe-type product that enhances skin barrier having at least one layer and an oil-in-water emulsion composition.

The oil-in-water emulsion composition may comprise from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of natural fats or oils, from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of sterol or sterol derivative, from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of humectant, from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent of emulsifying surfactant having an HLB range from about 7 to about 18, and from about 45 to about 99.5 weight percent of water. The emulsion composition may have a pH ranging from about 4 to about 7. PH adjustments can be made using malic acid. The amount of the oil-in-water emulsion composition contained within each wet wipe or wipe-type product may range from about 150 to about 600 weight percent based on the weight of the product.

The water contained in the composition may be a mixture of water and alcohol.

The preferred alcohols are ethanol and isopropyl alcohol. The amount of alcohol in the water is up to about 70 weight percent of the water and alcohol solution. More preferably, - 20 the amount of alcohol in the water is from about 40 to about 60 weight percent of the water and alcohol solution. ) The natural fat or oil used in the composition may include borage oil, avacado oil, or sunflower oil. The sterol or sterol derivative used in the composition may include soy sterol, avocado sterols, or cholesterol. The humectant used in the composition may include glycerin, sorbitol, or propylene glycol. The emulsifying surfactant used in the composition may include glyceryl stearate SE, emulsifying wax NF, or propylene glycol oleate SE. The composition may further comprise from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent petrolatum or mineral oil.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of making a wet wipe or wipe-type product comprising: (a) providing at least a single layer web of nonwoven material; (b) applying an oil-in-water emulsion composition comprising a natural fat or oil, a sterol or sterol derivative, a humectant, and an emulsifying surfactant having an HLB 1s range from about 7 to about 18, to the nonwoven material; (c) cutting said web into individual sheets to provide wet wipe or wipe-type products. In some instances, the oil-in- water emulsion composition is absorbed into said product. "

Another embodiment of the present invention is a nonwoven wipe-type product s that enhances skin barrier having an oil-in-water emulsion composition. The oil-in-water composition may comprise from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of natural fats or oils, from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of sterol or sterol derivative, from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of humectant, from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent of emulsifying surfactant having an HLB range from about 7 to about 18, and from about 45 to about 99.5 weight percent of water. The composition may have a pH ranging from about 4 to about 7. PH adjustments can be made using malic acid.

The water contained in the composition may be a mixture of water and alcohol.

The preferred alcohols are ethanol and isopropyl! alcohol. The amount of alcoho! in the water is up to about 70 weight percent of the water and alcohol solution. More preferably, the amount of alcohol in the water is from about 40 to about 60 weight percent of the water and alcohol solution.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of making a nonwoven wipe-type product comprising: (a) providing a web of nonwaven material; (b) applying an oil-in-water emulsion composition comprising a naturai fat or oii, a sierol or stero! derivative, a humectant, and an emulsifying surfactant having an HLB range from about 7 to about 18, to the nonwoven material; (c) cutting said web into individual product-sized : pieces wipe-type products or components for wipe-type products. In some instances, the oil-in-water emulsion composition is absorbed into said product.

Another embodiment of the present invention is an oil-in-water emulsion composition comprising from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of natural fats or oils, from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of sterol or stero! derivative, from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of humectant, from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent of emulsifying surfactant having an HLB range from about 7 to about 18, and from about 45 to about 99.5 weight percent of water. The emulsion composition may also include from about 0 to about 30 weight percent of petrolatum or mineral oil. The emulsion composition may have a pH ranging from about 4 to about 7. PH adjustments can be made using malic acid.

; had WO 00/64408 PCT/US00/11090 } The water contained in the composition may be a mixture of water and alcohol.

The preferred alcohols are ethanol and isopropyl alcohol. The amount of alcoho! in the water is up to about 70 weight percent of the water and alcohol solution. More preferably, 5s the amount of alcohol in the water is from about 40 to about 60 weight percent of the water and alcohol solution.

The natural fats or oils of the oil-in-water emulsion composition may be selected from the group consisting of: avocado oil, apricot cil, babassu oil, borage oil, camellia oil, canola oil, castor oil, coconut oil, com oil cottonseed oil, evening primrose oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, hydrogenated palm kernel! oil, maleated soybean oil, meadowfoam oil, palm kernel oil, phospholipids, rapeseed oil, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, benenyl alcohol, rose hip oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, and mixtures thereof. The amount of said fats or oils used in the composition may be from about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent, and more preferably from about 1 to about 5 percent.

The sterol or sterol derivatives of the oil-in-water emulsion composition may be selected from the group consisting of: cholesterol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, ergosterol, . 20 lanasterol, soy sterol, avocado sterols, cholesterol esters, sterol esters, avocadin, lanalin, and mixtures thereof. : The amount of an emulsifying surfactants used in the oil-in-water emulsion composition may be more preferably from about 1 to about 15 weight percent. The amount of the humectant used in the emulsion composition may be more preferably from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent.

One embodiment of the composition comprises about 1 weight percent borage oil, about 0.8 weight percent soy sterol, about 5 weight percent glycerin, about 3 weight percent glyceryl stearate SE, and about 90.2 weight percent water. The emulsion composition may have a pH of about 5.5.

Another embodiment of the composition comprises about 1 weight percent borage oil, about 0.8 weight percent soy sterol, about 5 weight percent glycerin, about 3 weight as percent glyceryl stearate SE, about 1 weight percent petrolatum USP, about 1 weight percent PROLIPID 141, and about 88.9 weight percent water. The emulsion composition may have a pH of about 5.5. (PROLIPID is commercially available from international )

Specialty Products located in Wayne, New Jersey. PROLIPID is generally described in

U.S. Patent No. 5,849,315 to Rerek et al. which issued December 15, 1998; which is herein incorporated by reference to the extent it is consistent herewith.)

Another embodiment of the composition comprises about 0.5 weight percent

Avocadin, about 0.5 weight percent sterol esters, about 5 weight percent glycerin, about 1 weight percent glyceryl stearate in the form of PROLIPID 141, and about 92 weight percent water. The emulsion composition may have a pH of about 5.5.

Another embodiment of the composition comprises about 10 weight percent sunflower oil, about 1 weight percent cholesterol, about 3 weight percent glycerin, about 5 weight percent emulsifying wax NF, and about 81 weight percent water. The emulsion composition may have a pH of about 5.5.

Another embodiment of the composition comprises about 5 weight percent avocado ail, about 1 weight percent lanasterol, about 1 weight percent sorbitol, about 5 weight percent propylene glycol oleate SE, and about 88 weight percent water. The emulsion composition may have a pH of about 5.5.

Another embodiment of the composition comprises about 10 weight percent palm kernel oil, about 1 weight percent lanasterol, about 15 weight percent hydrogenated : starch hydrolysate, about 15 weight percent glyceryl stearate, about 5 weight percent petrolatum or mineral oil, and about 54 weight percent water. The emulsion composition may have a pH of about 5.5.

Another embodiment of the composition comprises about 10 weight percent lanolin, about 5 weight percent soy sterol, about 5 weight percent glycerin, about 10 weight percent emulsifying wax NF, about 5 weight percent petrolatum or mineral ail, and about 60 weight percent water. The emulsion compasition may have a pH of about 5.5.

Another embodiment of composition comprises about 15 weight percent cottonseed oil, about 15 weight percent sterol esters, about 10 weight percent propylene glycol, about 15 weight percent propylene glycol oleate SE, about 10 weight percent

N jo WO 00/64408 PCT/US00/11090 petrolatum or mineral oil, and about 45 weight percent water. The emulsion composition - may have a pH of about 5.5.

Another embodiment of the composition comprises about 30 weight percent evening primrose oil, about 5 weight percent cholesterol, about 5 weight percent sodium

PCA, about 10 weight percent propylene glycol oleate SE, and about 50 weight percent water. The emulsion composition may have a pH of about 5.5.

The amount of a natural fat or oil or a mixture of natural fats or oils in the oil-in- water emulsion composition can be from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent, more specifically from about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent, more specifically from about 1 to about 5 weight percent. As used herein, the phrase natural fats or oils is understood to include fats, oils, essential oils, fatty acids, and mixtures thereof. As used herein, suitable natural fats or oils include, but are not limited to, the following materials classified according to CTFA designations:

Eats and Qils: Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, Babassu Qil, Borage Seed Oil, Butter, C,,-

Css Acid Triglyceride, Camellia Oil, Canola Oil, Caprylic/Capric/Lauric Triglyceride,

Caprylic/Capric/Linoleic Triglyceride, Caprylic/Capric/Stearic Triglyceride, Caprylic/Capric : 20 Triglyceride, Carrot Oil, Cashew Nut Oil, Castor Oil, Cherry Pit Oil, Chia Oil, Cocoa Butter,

Coconut Qil, Cod Liver Oil, Corn Germ Oil, Com Oil, Cottonseed Oil, C,,-C,; Triglycerides, : Egg Oil, Epoxidized Soybean Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Glyceryl Triacetyl ’ Hydroxystearate, Glyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate, Glycosphingolipids, Grape Seed Oil,

Hazelnut Oil, Human Placental Lipids, Hybrid Saffiower Oil, Hybrid Sunflower Seed Oil,

Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Laurate, Hydrogenated Coconut Qil,

Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Hydrogenated C,,-C, Triglycerides, Hydrogenated Fish

Oil, Hydrogenated Lard, Hydrogenated Menhaden Oil, Hydrogenated Mink Oil,

Hydrogenated Orange Roughy Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm

Oil, Hydrogenated Peanut Oil, Hydrogenated Shark Liver Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil,

Hydrogenated Tallow, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Lard, Lauric/Palmitic/Oleic

Triglyceride, Lesquerella Oil, Linseed Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Maleated Soybean Oil,

Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Menhaden Oil, Mink Oil, Moringa Oil, Mortiereila Oil, Neatsfoot

Oil, Oleic/Linoleic Triglyceride, Oleic/Paimitic/Lauric/Myristic/Linoleic Triglyceride,

Oleostearine, Olive Husk Oil, Olive Oil, Omental Lipids, Orange Roughy Oil, Paim Kernel 3s Oil, Palm Oil, Peach Kernel Oil, Peanut Oil, Pengawar Djambi Oil, Pentadesma Butter,

Phospholipids, Pistachio Nut Oil, Placental Lipids, Rapeseed Oil, Rice Bran Qil, Safflower

Oil, Sesame Oil, Shark Liver Oil, Shea Butter, Soybean Oil, Sphingolipids, Sunflower

Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Tall Oil, Tallow, Tribehenin, Tricaprin, Tricaprylin,

Triheptanoin, Trihydroxymethoxystearin, Trihydroxystearin, Triisononanoin, Triisostearin,

Trilaurin, Trilinolein, Trilinolenin, Trimyristin, Trioctanoin, Triolein, Tripaimitin, Trisebacin,

Tristearin, Triundecanoin, Vegetable Oil, Wainut Oil, Wheat Bran Lipids, Wheat Germ Oil,

Zadoary Oil, and the like, as well as mixtures thereof.

Fatty Acids: Arachidic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Behenic Acid, Capric Acid, Caproic Acid,

Caprylic Acid, Coconut Acid, Corn Acid, Cottonseed Acid, Hydrogenated Coconut Acid,

Hydrogenated Menhaden Acid, Hydrogenated Tallow Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid,

Isostearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Linseed Acid, Myristic Acid,

Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Palm Kernel Acid, Pelargonic Acid, Ricinoleic Acid, Soy Acid,

Stearic Acid, Tall Oil Acid, Tallow Acid, Undecanoic Acid, Undecylenic Acid, Wheat Germ

Acid, and the like, as well as mixtures thereof. 1s Fatty Alcohols: Beheny! Alcohol, C,-C,, Alcohals, C,-Cys Alcohols, C,,-C,s Alcohols, C,.-

C,s Alcohols, C,,-Cs Alcohals, Caprylic Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Coconut

Alcohol, Decyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Tallow Alcohol, Laury! Alcohol, Myristy! Alcohol,

Oleyl Alcohol, Palm Alcohol, Palm Kemne! Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Tallow Alcohol,

Tridecy! Alcohol, and the like, as well as mixtures thereof.

Essential Ojls: Anise Oil, Balm Mint Oil, Basil Oil, Bee Balm Oil, Bergamot Oil, Birch Oil, .

Bitter Almond Oil, Bitter Orange Qii, Caienduia Gii, California Nutmeg Cil, Caraway Oil,

Cardamom Oil, Chamomiie Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Clary Oil, Cloveleaf Qil, Clove Ol,

Coriander Oil, Cypress Qil, Eucalyptus Oil, Fennel Oil, Gardenia Oil, Geranium Oil, Ginger

Oil, Grapefruit Oil, Hops Oil, Hyptis Oil, Indigo Bush Oil, Jasmine Oil, Juniper Oil, Kiwi Oil,

Laurel Oil, Lavender Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Lemon Oil, Linden Oil, Lovage Oil, Mandarin

Orange Oil, Matricaria Oil, Musk Rose Oil, Nutmeg Oil, Olibanum, Orange Flower Oil,

Orange Oil, Patchouli Oil, Pennyroyal Oil, Peppermint Oil, Rose Hips Oil, Rosemary Oil,

Rose Oil, Rue Oil, Sage Oil, Sambucus Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Sassafras Qil, Silver Fir Oil,

Spearmint Oil, Sweet Marjoram Oil, Sweet Violet Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Thyme Oil, Wild Mint

Oil, Yarrow Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, and the like, as well as mixtures thereof.

The preferred natural fats or oils include, but are not limited to: avocado oil, apricot oil, babassu oil, borage oil, camellia oil, canola oil, castor oil, coconut oil, corn ail, cottonseed oil, evening primrose ail, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, hydrogenated palm 3s kernel oil, maleated soybean oil, meadowfoam oil, palm kernel oil, phospholipids,

Claims

A WO 00/64408 PCT/US00/11090 What is claimed is:

1. A wet wipe or wipe-type product that enhances skin barrier having at least one layer and an oil-in-water emulsion composition comprising: from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of natural fats or oils; from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of sterol or sterol derivative; from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of humectant,; from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent of emulsifying surfactant having an HLB range from about 7 to about 18; and, from about 45 to about 99.5 weight percent of water.

2. The product of Claim 1, wherein said water is a mixture of alcohol and water.

3. The product of Claim 2, wherein said alcohol is less than about 70 weight percent of said alcohol and water mixture.

4. The product of Claim 1, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH ranging from about 4 to about 7.

5. The product of Claim 1, wherein the amount of said oil-in-water emulsion composition ) contained within each said wet wipe or wipe-type product is from about 150 to about 600 weight percent based on the weight of said product.

6. The product of Claim 1, wherein said natural fat or oil is borage oil.

7. The product of Claim 1, wherein said natural fat or oil is avocado oil.

8. The product of Claim 1, wherein said natural fat or oil is sunflower oil.

9. The product of Claim 1, wherein said sterol or sterol derivative is soy sterol.

10. The product of Claim 1, wherein said sterol or sterol derivative is avocado sterols.

11. The product of Claim 1, wherein said sterol or sterol derivative is cholesterol.

12. The product of Claim 1, wherein said humectant is glycerin.

13. The product of Claim 1, wherein said humectant is sorbitol.

14. The product of Claim 1, wherein said humectant is propylene glycol.

15. The product of Claim 1, wherein said emulsifying surfactant is glyceryl stearate SE.

16. The product of Claim 1, wherein said emulsifying surfactant is emulsifying wax NF.

17. The product of Claim 1, wherein said emulsifying surfactant is propylene glycol oleate SE.

18. The product of Claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent petrolatum or mineral oil.

19. An oil-in-water emulsion composition comprising from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of natural fats or oils, from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of sterol or sterol derivative, from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of humectant, from about 0.5 to about weight percent of emulsifying surfactant having an HLB range from about 7 to about 18, and from about 45 to about 99.5 weight percent of water.

20. The composition of Claim 19, wherein said water is a mixture of alcohol and water.

21. The composition of Claim 20, wherein said alcohol is less than about 70 weight percent of said alcohol and water mixture.

22. The composition of Claim 19, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH ranging from about 4 to about 7.

23. The composition of Claim 19, wherein said natural fats or oils is selected from the group consisting of: avocado oil, apricot oil, babassu oil, borage oil, camellia oil, canola oil, castor oil, coconut oil, com ail, cottonseed oil, evening primrose oil, hydrogenated 32 AMENDED SHEET - DATED 26 NOVEMBER 2002 cottonseed oil, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, maleated soybean oil, meadowfoam oil, palm kernel oil, phospholipids, rapeseed oil, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, benenyl alcohol, rose hip oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, and mixtures thereof.

24. The composition of Claim 19, wherein said sterol or sterol derivative is selected from the group consisting of: cholesterol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, ergosterol, lanasterol, soy sterol, avocado sterols, cholesterol esters, sterol esters, avocadin, lanolin, and mixtures thereof.

25. The composition of Claim 19, wherein the amount of said fats or ails is from about

0.5 to about 10 weight percent.

26. The composition of Claim 19, wherein the amount of said natural fats or oils is from about 1 to about 5 percent.

27. The composition of Claim 18, further comprising from about 0 to about 30 weight percent of petrolatum or mineral oil.

28. The composition of Claim 19, wherein the amount of said emulsifying surfactant is from about 1 to about 15 weight percent.

29. The composition of Claim 19, wherein the amount of said humectant is from about

0.5 to about 20 weight percent.

30. The composition of Claim 19, comprising about 1 weight percent borage oil, about

0.8 weight percent soy sterol, about 5 weight percent glycerin, about 3 weight percent glyceryl stearate SE, and about 90.2 weight percent water.

31. The composition of Claim 30, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH of about

5.5. a3 AMENDED SHEET - DATED 26 NOVEMBER 2002

32. The composition of Claim 19, comprising about 1 weight percent borage oil, about

0.8 weight percent soy sterol, about 5 weight percent glycerin, about 3 weight percent glyceryl stearate SE, about 1 weight percent petrolatum USP, about 1 weight percent of a mixture between about 3 to about 40% lecithin, between about 15 to about 30% glyceryl monostearate, between about 15 to about 40% blend of palmitic and stearic acid, and between about 0 to about 30% maleated soybean oil, and about 88.9 weight percent water.

33. The composition of Claim 32, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH of about

5.5.

34. The composition of Claim 19, comprising about 0.5 weight percent Avocadin, about

0.5 weight percent sterol esters, about 5 weight percent glycerin, about 1 weight percent glyceryl stearate in the form of a mixture between about 3 to about 40% lecithin, between about 15 to about 30% glyceryl monostearate, between about 15 to about 40% blend of palmitic and stearic acid, and between about 0 to about 30% maleated soybean oil, and about 92 weight percent water.

35. The composition of Claim 34, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH of about

5.5.

36. The composition of Claim 19, comprising about 10 weight percent sunflower oil, about 1 weight percent cholesterol, about 3 weight percent glycerin, about § weight percent emulsifying wax NF, and about 81 weight percent water.

37. The composition of Claim 36, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH of about

5.5.

38. The composition of Claim 19, comprising about 5 weight percent avocado oil, about 1 weight percent lanasterol, about 1 weight percent sorbitol, about 5 weight percent propylene glycol oleate SE, and about 88 weight percent water.

39. The composition of Claim 38, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH of about

5.5. 34 AMENDED SHEET —- DATED 26 NOVEMBER 2002

40. The composition of Claim 19, comprising about 10 weight percent palm kernel oil, about 1 weight percent lanasterol, about 15 weight percent hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, about 15 weight percent glycery! stearate, about 5 weight percent petrolatum or mineral oil, and about 54 weight percent water.

41. The composition of Claim 40, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH of about

5.5.

42. The composition of Claim 19, comprising about 10 weight percent lanolin, about 5 weight percent soy sterol, about 5 weight percent glycerin, about 10 weight percent emulsifying wax NF, about 5 weight percent petrolatum or mineral oil, and about 60 weight percent water.

43. The composition of Claim 42, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH of about

5.5.

44. The composition of Claim 19, comprising about 15 weight percent cottonseed oil, about 15 weight percent sterol esters, about 10 weight percent propylene glycol, about 15 weight percent propylene glycol oleate SE, about 10 weight percent petrolatum or mineral oil, and about 45 weight percent water.

45. The composition of Claim 44, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH of about

5.5.

46. The composition of Claim 19, comprising about 30 weight percent evening primrose oil, about 5 weight percent cholesterol, about 5 weight percent sodium PCA, about 10 weight percent propylene glycol oleate SE, and about 50 weight percent water.

47. The composition of Claim 46, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH of about

5.5. AMENDED SHEET - DATED 26 NOVEMBER 2002

48. A nonwoven wipe-type product that enhances skin barrier having an oil-in-water emulsion composition comprising: from about 0. 1 to about 30 weight percent of natural fats or oils: from about 0. 1 to about 10 weight percent of sterol or sterol derivative; from about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent of humectant; from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent of emulsifying surfactant having an HLB range from about 7 to about 18; and, from about 45 to about 99.5 weight percent of water.

49. The product of Claim 48, wherein said emulsion composition has a pH ranging from about 4 to about 7.

§0. The product of Claim 48, wherein said water is a mixture of alcohol and water.

51. The product of Claim 50, wherein said alcohol is less than about 70 weight percent of said alcohol and water mixture. 36 AMENDED SHEET - DATED 26 NOVEMBER 2002