Compositions and methods for treating hot flashes

A method of treating hot flashes, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing to a user in need thereof a composition comprising from about 0.01% to about 12% by weight of a salt of a fatty acid containing from 13 to 20 carbon atoms, from about 70% to about 99.5% by weight water;
• wherein:
• the salt of a fatty acid functions as a crystallizing agent to form a crystalline mesh with voids;
• the voids comprising aqueous solution;
• and
• applying the composition to at least a portion of keratinous tissue of the user by compressing the composition above a critical stress to express the aqueous solution, wherein the keratinous tissue is skin or hair;
• and
• leaving the composition on the keratinous tissue for at least about 60 seconds;
• wherein the personal care composition has a liquid expression from about 300 J m-3 to about 9,000 J m-3, as determined by the AQUEOUS SOLUTION EXPRESSION TEST METHOD at room temperature (25±3° C.);
• and
• wherein the composition has a firmness between about 0.1 N to about 50.0 N, as determined by the FIRMNESS TEST METHOD at room temperature (25±3° C.).