Topical Formulations Including Lipid Microcapsule Delivery Vehicles and Their Uses

A topical formulation, comprising:

• (a) a lipid microcapsule, said lipid microcapsule comprised of tocopherol, tocotrienol, or mixtures thereof;
• a stabilizer/surfactant component;
• and an aqueous component;
• (b) one or more transdermal active agents, said one or more transdermal active agents being dissolved, suspended or encapsulated in said lipid microcapsule;
• and
• optionally (c) one or more topical active agents, wherein said one or more topical active agents is present outside said lipid microcapsule such that said lipid microcapsule is substantially free of said one or more topical active agents;
• wherein said topical formulation is substantially free of skin penetration enhancers;
• and
• wherein, upon topical application of said topical formulation to a mammal, said one or more transdermal active agents is delivered transdermally to the bloodstream of said mammal;
• and said one or more topical active agents remains substantially epicutaneous and is not delivered substantially transdermally to the bloodstream of said mammal.