Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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COSMETIC STICKS
Ronald L. Sampson
Da~id L. Shelton
Technical Field
~he present invention relates to cosmetic composi-
tions in the form of solid sticks. The compositions
herein comprise a polyhydric alcohol, an ethylene oxide
and/or propylene oxide condensation product and soap.
Background Art
Attempts have been made to realize cosmetic
sticks which deliver active ingredients to the skin
such as deodorant materials via a vehicle which glides
easily over the skin surface and which imparts a
cooling sensation to the skin both during and after
application. Soap/alcohol gels can provide such
cosmetic bene~its. Examples of soap gels are disclosed
in U.S. Patent 2,732,327, January 24, 1956 to Teller;
U.S. Patent 2,857,315, October 21, 1958 to Teller;
U.S. Patent 2,900,306, August 18, 1959 to Slater; and
U.S. Patent 2,970,083, January 31, 1961 to Bell.
While soap gels are old as evidenced by the above
patents, such gels are not completely satisfactory.
Generally, soap gels reauire considerable time to set
up and often exhibit syneresis at elevated temperatures.
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It is, therefore, an object of the present lnvention to
provide cosmetic soap gel sticks which have reduced set-up
times and syneresis while being aesthetically pleasing.
It has been surprisingly discovered that the above
objective can be realized by formulating a stick comprising
the ingredients described below.
All percentages used herein are by weight of the total
composition unless otherwise designated.
Disclosure of Invention
The present invention relates to a cosmetic gel stick
composition comprising: A. from about 6% to about 70~ of
an aliphatic, polyhydric alcohol having from 2 to 3 carbon
atoms and from 2 to 3 hydroxyl groups; B. from about 3% to
about 10% of a soap; and C. from about 20~ to about 80% of
a condensation product having the formula
HO(c2H4O)a(c3H6o)bR
wherein R i5 selected from the group consisting of hydrogen
and hydrocarbon chains having from about 2 to about 20
carbon atoms, a and b are each from about 0 to about 35
and a+b is from about 5 to about 35.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The essential elements of the cosmetic gel sticks
of the present invention as well as optional components,
composition preparation, and composition use are dis-
cussed in detail below:
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Polyhydric Aliphatic ~lcohol
An essential component of the present cosmetic
gel stick compositions is a polyhydric aliphatic
alcohol containing 2 or 3 carbon atoms and from 2
5 to 3 hydroxyl groups. The polyhydric aliphatic alcohol
component of the stick comprises from about 6~ to
about 70~, preferably from about 15% to 70%, by weight
of the composition.
Suitable polyhydric alcohols for use in the gel
- 10 compositions herein include ethylene glycol, propylene
- glycol, trimethylene glycol, and glycerine. The most
preferred polyol is propylene glycol.
Soap
Another essential compon~nt of the compositions
15 herein is a gel forming agent. The gel forming agents
used herein can be the sodium and potassium salts
(i.e. soaps) of fatty acids containing from about 14
to 18 carbon atoms.
Soaps generally comprise from about 3% to about
20 10% by weight, preferably from about 4% to about 8% by
weight of the composition. If soap concentrations
lower than those specified are employed, the gels
formed tend to be dimensionally unstable and tend to
deform at summertime temperatures. If concentrations
25 of soap above those specified are utilized, the gels
formed tend to be too hard and do not exhibit desirable
~glide and application characteristics.
The fatty acid portion of the soap gel forming
agents should be essentially pure saturated or
30 unsaturated higher fatty acids having a C14 to C18
backbone. Suitable mixtures of such acids can be
employed provided that such mixtures are free from
significant proportions of other fatty acids of higher
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or lower chain length which substantially adversely affect
or neutralize the desired gel forming effects.
Examples of fatty acids useful in synthesizing the gel
forminy agents herein include myristic, palmitic, stearic,
oleic, linoleic, linolenic, margaric and the mixtures of
such acids. Naturally occurring sources of such fatty
acids include coconut oil, beef tallow, lanolin, fish oil,
beeswax, palm oil, peanut oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil,
soybean oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, rosin acids, and
greases. Conventional fractionation and/or hydrolysis
techniques can be employed if necessary to obtain the
requisite types of fatty acids from such materials.
Preferred fatty acid soap type gel forming agents
include sodium stearate, sodium palmitate, potassium
stearate, potassium palmitate and sodium myristate.
The most preferred gel forming agent is sodium stearate.
Ethylene Oxide and/or Propylene Oxide Condensation Product
Still another essential component of the present
composition is an ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide
condensation product having the following formula:
HO(C~H40)a(c3H6o)bR
wherein R is either hydrogen or a hydrocarbon chain
having from about 2 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from
about 4 to 18, a and b are each from O to 35 and a+b is
from 5 to 35.
. ~ .. .
A _
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Examples o such products are a condensate of about
14 moles of propylene oxide with about one mole of butyl
alcohol sold by Union Carbide under the name Fluid A ~;
a polypropylene glycol having a molecular weigh~ of 120~;
a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weighL of 420;
a condensate of 20 moles of ethylene oxide and 5 moles
of propylene oxid~ with one mole of cetyl alcohol; and
a condensate of 15 moles of propylene oxide with one mole
of stearyl alcohol. The preferred condensate is Fluid
AP~
The condensation product is present in the compo-
sitions of the present invention at a level of from
about 20% to about 80%, preferably from about 30% to
about 70~ by weight of the composition.
Optional Components
The instant stick compositions can contain a variety
of optional ingredients suitable for improving co~posi-
tion efficacy, stability, cosmetics and~or aesthetics.
Such optional components include deodorant material, per-
fumes, dyes, pigments, coloring agents and the like.
A highly preferred optional component of the instant
compositions is a material which helps retard alcohol
evaporation and which acts as an antisyneresis agent.
Especially preferred materials of this type are cellulose
derivatives such as hydro~cyalkylcelluloses. Especially
preferred materials of this type are hydroxypropylcellulose
compounds having the chemical formula:
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_
~ C82~C~3 _~ I
s ~
2~C~3 1 2
OC~2l c~3
C~27~C~3
_ _ N
and wherein N is sufficiently large such that the total
molecular weight of the material ranges from about ~0,000
to 1,000,000. Such materials are sold under the
15 tradename of Klucel~ by Hercules Incorporated. If
present, such alcohol evaporation retarding agents and
anti-syneresis agents comprise from about 0.1% to 5.0%
by weight of the composition.
Another optional ingredient of the instant composi-
20 tions is a conventional deodorant material. Suitable
deodorants include bacteriostatic quaternary ammonium
compounds such as cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide,
cetyl pyridinium chloride, benzethonium chloride,
diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl
2sammonium chloride, N-alkylpyridinium chloride, N-cetyl
pyridinium bromide, sodium N-lauroyl sarcosine, sodium
N-palmetoyl sarcosine, lauroyl sarcosine, N-hyristoyl
glycine, potassium N-lauroyl sarcosine and stearyl
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tri methyl ammonium chloride. If present, deodorants
generally comprise from about 0.1~ to 1.0% by weight of
the composition.
Another optional component is a short chain monohydric
alcohol in an amount from about 0.1% to about 50.0%/
preferably from about 1.0% to about 40.0%. Suitable
alcohols include methanol, ethanol, N-propanol and
isopropanol. The preferred alcohol is ethanol.
Other optional ingredients such as perfumes, dyes,
pigments, coloring agents and the like, if present,
com~rise from about 0.1~ to 1.5% by weight of the
compositions.
Method of Manufacture
The gel sticks of the present invention are made by
combining the ingredients in liquid form and pouring the
mixture into a form having the desired shape. The present
gel may be used as the gel portion of the antiperspirant
sticks described and claimed in U.S. Patent 4,202,879, May
13! 1980 to Shelton. A preferred antiperspirant stick is
where the present gel forms a shell around the antiper-
spirant core.
Compos;tion Use
The gel sticks herein are used by the consumer by
rubbing the stick on the area of the body where application
is desired. In the case of a deodorant stick the stick is
rubbin the axilla area to apply the deodorant agent.
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EXAMPLE S I -- VI I I
Given below are examples of compositions within the
scope of the present invention. In addition, composi-
tions containing similar materials as well as one which
5 does not contain an appropriate condensation product are
shown.
- Formulae: I I II IV V VI VII Vlll
Ethanol 20.0 7.5 - 20.0 - 20.0 20.0
~ropylene 15.5 27.924.0 25.5 24.0 25.5 70.0 24.0
10 Glycol
Fl~id AP~ 1 ~7.555.6 ~ -- 67.25
H~ tconol ~ . 25 47 . 5 - - - -
~p~ 2
Carbitol~ 3 - - - -- 67.25 47.5
Sod~um 7,0 6.56.25 7.0 6.25 7.0 7.0 6.25
Stearate
N~C. - 2.5 2.5 - 2.5 - 3.0 2.5
8et-up-time 2 g 35 45 38 17 30 8
~n. )
l Condensation product of one mole of butyl alcohol
with 14 moles of propylene oxide supplied by Union
Carbide Corporation.
2 Condensation product of one mole of myristyl alcohol
~ith three moles of propylene oxide supplied by
Witco Chemical Company.
3 Condensation product of one mole of butyl alcohol
with two moles of ethylene oxide supplied by Union
Carbide Corporation.
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The above-mentioned compositions were made and
poured into packages. The pour temperature of the
compositions was 190F. in each case. After pouring,
the units were allowed to set at room temperature until
gel set up was observed.
Gel Set_up Time (Definition)_~
The time necessary for the gel to set up to the
point where there are no visible signs of exudation -
during trimming.
It is seen that the compositions containing Fluid
have significantly shorter set-up times than do the
other compositions. The shorter times result in easier
gel processing.
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
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