Methods and compositions for treating skin

1. A method for treating intact irritated or inflamed skin by topically applying a composition that comprises:

at least one Histamine pathway inhibitor in the form of a botanical extract having a component selected from the group consisting of flavones, apigenins, flavonoids, luteolins, phloretins, chalcones and mixtures thereof,

at least one Phospholipase A2 pathway inhibitor in the form of a botanical extract having a component selected from the group consisting of amentoflavone, licochalcone, ellagic acid, hesperitin, polyphenol, and mixtures thereof,

at least one Cyclooxygenase-2 pathway inhibitor in the form of a botanical extract selected from the group consisting of Acacia genus, Calluna genus, Rosa genus, Polyporus genus, Chamomilla genus, nettle leaf, Butcher's broom; hesperidin, methyl chalcone, resveratrol, HOPS beta acids, and mixtures thereof; and

at least one Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor pathway inhibitor in the form of a botanical extract selected from the group consisting of Saussurea genus, Magnolia genus, Cynara genus, Echineacea genus, Pallida genus; sesquiterpene lactones, hypoestoxide, and mixtures thereof;

wherein the composition has an efficacy equal to or greater than a topically applied composition containing 1% hydrocortisone in ameliorating the adverse effects of skin irritation or inflammation when the composition is tested for such efficacy by applying same to a 1.5 inch square of the volar forearm and after 20 minutes 4 mg/cm 2 Balsam of Peru is applied in a 1.5 cm diameter circle to the site where the composition was applied and the degree of redness is measured with a chromameter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition additionally comprises one or more of the following:

a Lipooxygenase pathway inhibitor,

a Chemotaxis pathway inhibitor,

an Adhesion pathway inhibitor,

a Collagenase pathway inhibitor,

an Elastase pathway inhibitor,

a Phosphodiesterase pathway inhibitor; and

a Histamine Receptor pathway inhibitor.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein one or more of the ingredients selected inhibit more than one of the pathways.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the composition comprises all of the pathway inhibitors.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the pathways inhibitors are present in an amount of 0.0001-75% by weight of the total composition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the Histamine pathway inhibitor is a flavone.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the flavone is an amentoflavone or an extract from celery, parsley, or citrus fruits.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the citrus fruit extract is from grapefruit.

9. A method for treating intact irritated or inflamed skin for redness, pain or heat by topically applying to the skin a composition comprising:

at least one Histamine pathway inhibitor;

at least one Phospholipase A2 pathway inhibitor,

at least one Lipooxygenase pathway inhibitor,

at least one Cyclooxygenase 2 pathway inhibitor,

at least one Chemotaxis pathway inhibitor,

at least one Adhesion pathway inhibitor,

at least one Collagenase pathway inhibitor,

at least one Elastase pathway inhibitor,

at least one Phosphodiesterase A2 pathway inhibitor,

at least one VEGF pathway inhibitor; and

at least one Histamine receptor pathway inhibitor.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the ingredient that inhibits the Phospholipase A2 pathway is selected from the group consisting of Lyngbya extract; grapeseed extract; licochalcone; Viapure poria extract; Polyporus umbellatus ; avocado extract; Camellia sinensis; Chrysanthellum indicum; Tridentata marginata extract; Pomegranate extract; Gorgonian extract; and mixtures thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the ingredient that inhibits the Lipooxygenase pathway is selected from the group consisting of Haplophyllum hispanicum Spach; Scutellaria Rivularis extract; alpha ketoboswellic acid; (1-(1-benzothiophen-2-ylethyl)-1-hydroxy-urea); Centaurium extract; nordihydroguaiaretic acid; ginger oil; resveratrol; Polygonum Cuspidatum extract; cedar himalaya extract; tetrahydrocurcuminoids; Nigella Sativa essential oil; copaiba balsam; Australian sandalwood; Rhodiola Rosea ; frankincense; blue cypress oil; blue chamomile oil; vetiver mada; bulgarian rose oil; Helichrysum oil; rosmarinic acid; resveratrol triphosphate; noni leaf extract, and mixtures thereof.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the Cyclooxygenase-2 pathway inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of Acacia genus; Calluna Vulgaris; Rosa Canina fruit extract; nettle leaf extract; Polyporus Umbellatus; Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) flower oil; a mixture of Butcher's Broom extract and heperidin methyl chalcone; resveratrol; HOP's beta acids; and mixtures thereof.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the Chemotaxis pathway inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides isolated from seaweeds such as kombu, limu, moui, bladderwrack, wakame, mozuku, hijiki; fucoidan; sea cucumber; kelp; sea buckthorn; Laminaria Japonica; Fucus Vesiculosis ; extracts from onions, potatoes, celery, carrots, turnips, parsley, parsnip, sweet potato, yucca, or beets; licorice extracts; genestein; extracts from the genus Scutellaria ; extracts from the Boswellia genus such as Boswellia Serrata, Boswellia Bhau - dajiana, Boswellia Frereana, Boswellia Papyrifera, Sudanese Boswellia Sacra , and Boswellia Carteri; Commiphora Incisa; Commiphora Myrrha; Commiphora Abyssinica; Commiphora Erthraea; Commiphora Molmol; Bursera Microphylla; Nidularium Procerum ; sequoia extract; hypoestoxide; Curcuma Longa (turmeric) extract; butyloctyl salicylate; abyssine; plai oil; geranium bourbon oil; caffeine; galactoarabinan; lion's mane mushroom extract; clerilys; Macrycystis Pyrifera extract; reishi mushroom extract; Pleurotus Ostreatus extract; Hypsizygus Ulmarius extract; Cladosiphon Okamuranus extract; Acalypha Wilkesiana extract; Acanthopanax Gracilistylus extract; Allium Sativum extract; Ananus Comosus extract, Cissampelos Sympodialis extract; Coriolus Versicolor extract; Echinacea Purpurea extract; Grifola Frondosa extract; Harpagophytum Procumbens extract; Panax Ginseng extract; Polygala Tenuifolia extract; Poria Cocos extract; Silybum Marianum extract; Smilax Glabra extract; Tinospora Cordfolia extract; Uncaria Tomentosa extract; and Withania Somnifera extract; slime mold extract; Echinancea extract; Viscum Album extract; coffee robusta seed extract; capsaicin; and mixtures thereof.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the Adhesion pathway inhibitor is selected from the group consisting Algae extract; neem oil limonoids; Asparagus Racemusus extract; Platycodon extract; Chaga Mushroom extract; Emblica Officinalis extract; Criste Marine extract; Lavande Papillon extract; Polygonum Cuspidatum ; ginger; and mixtures thereof.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the Collagenase pathway inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of Siegesbeckia orientalis extract; an extract from the Doliocarpus genus such as Doliocarpus Verruculosus ; an extract from the Kaempferia genus such as Kaempferia Galanga root extract; an extract from the Camilla genus such as Camilla Sinensis ; an extract from the Sauropus genus such as Sauropus Androgynus ; an extract from the Tetracapidium genus such as Tetracapidium Conophorum ; glucosamine; N-acetyl glucosamine; chondroitan sulfate; Pinus Pinaster (pine bark) extract; lysine; Vitis Vinefera (grape) seed extract; retinoids such as retinyl palmitate, retinol, retinoic acid; extracts from the Pluchea genus such as Pluchea Indica (Compositae); extracts from the Viola genus such as Viola Hondoensis ; cocoa bean; extracts from the Triphala genus such as Triphala Chebula ; anthocyanins; epigallocatechingallate; epicatechingallate; luteolin; Citri Reticulatae peel extract; winter begonia extract; extracts from the Tepescohuite genus such as Tepescohuite spray dried extract; extracts from the Mimosa genus such as Mimosa Pudica extract; picolinic acid; Silymarin extract, Eucommia extract, amentoflavone; from the Menyanthes genus such as Menyanthes Trifoliate extract; and mixtures thereof.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the Elastase pathway inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of Boswellia Serratia extract; winter begonia extract; oleanolic acid; ursolic acid; phytocohesin; Pygeum Africanum extract; Padina Pavonica extract; Actina Boswellia extract; ligustrum; dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline; Soft pygeurm extract; chaga mushroom extract; 7-DHC (7-dehydrocholesterol); white birch extract; polyphenon E; jojoba protein isolate; red raspberry powder; heather extract; hesperitin; hibiscin; a mixture of soybean protein and oxido reductases; grapeseed extract; a mixture of butcher's broom extract and hesperidin methyl chalcone; hesperidin; caffeine; a protein hydrolysate obtained from extracted organic germinated wheat seeds; hesperitin; glycine soja protein; jojoba oil; and a mixture of butylene glycol, water and Olea Europaea fruit extract.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the Phosphodiesterase pathway inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of nordihydroguaiaretic acid; emodin (an extract from Rheum Emodi or rhubarb); 18-B-glycerrhetinic acid; caffeine; wild yam powder; Anemarrhena asphodeloides extract; Zhi Mu extract; Eucomia extract; Uncaria tomentosa ; and mixtures thereof.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the VEGF pathway inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of extracts from the Saussurea genus such as Saussurea Cost, Saussurea Lappa ; Sesquiterpene lactones; magnolia extract; a mixture of butylene glycol, water, and Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract); hypoestoxide (HE); Magnolia Officianalis Bark extract; Echineacea Pallida extract; and mixtures thereof.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein the Histamine receptor pathway inhibitor is selected from the group Mangosteen, Japanese Butterbur extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, and mixtures thereof.

20. The method of claim 9 wherein the formulated composition comprises:

(a) a Histamine pathway inhibitor that is grapefruit peel extract,

(b) a Phospholipase A2 pathway inhibitor that is Gorgonin extract,

(c) a Lipooxygenase pathway inhibitor that is nordihydroguaiaretic acid,

(d) a Cyclooxygenase 2 pathway inhibitor that is resveratrol,

(e) a Chemotaxis pathway inhibitor comprising Cladosiphon okamuranus extract,

(f) an Adhesion pathway inhibitor comprising algae extract,

(g) a Collagenase pathway inhibitor comprising Siegesbeckia orientalis extract,

(h) an Elastase pathway inhibitor comprising White birch extract,

(i) a Phosphodiesterase A2 pathway inhibitor comprising B-glycyrrhetinic acid,

(j) a VEGF pathway inhibitor comprising Magnolia extract; and

(k) a Histamine receptor pathway inhibitor comprising Garcinia mangostana extract.