Patent Picks—Colored Bubbles, Straightening, Suspended Air and More in Hair Care

By: Rachel L. Grabenhofer

Posted: April 6, 2011

Chosen biweekly by Rachel Grabenhofer, editor of Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine, for their relevance to personal care, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features patents related to hair cleansing, conditioning and styling, among others.

Ordered liquid crystalline cleansing composition with suspended air
US Patent 7919441
Publication date: April 5, 2011
Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care, division of Conopco, Inc.

The present patent discloses an ordered liquid crystalline phase cleansing composition is disclosed that is mild to the skin, contains entrained air and is characterized by excellent sensory and skin feel properties, flow properties and stability. The invention relates to detergent compositions suitable for topical application for cleansing the human body, such as the skin and hair. In particular, it relates to ordered liquid crystalline phase compositions containing suspended air and naturally derived thickeners.

The cleansing composition disclosed comprises: a) at least 1% w/w of a non-soap anionic surfactant; b) at least 0.1% w/w of an amphoteric surfactant; c) an effective amount of an ordered liquid crystalline phase inducing structurant for inducing liquid crystal structure formation in said cleansing composition, wherein the density of said cleansing composition is in the range of about 0.5 to 1.2 gms/cm³ at 25ºC; d) a water soluble or dispersible thickening agent selected from proteins, mono, di, oligo and polysaccharides; cellulosic materials, gums, clays, or blends or derivatives thereof and having a yield point in the range of about 3 to 100 Pascals at 25ºC, wherein the volume percent of air suspended in the composition is about 10 to 60%, and wherein the composition is stable at 50ºC for 14 days without noticeable phase separation or a decrease in viscosity of more than about 20% or both.

Cosmetic compositions comprising at least one carboxylic anionic surfactant and at least one vinylamide/vinylamine copolymer, and processes of use thereof
US Patent 7919106
Publication date: April 5, 2011
Assignee: L'Oreal S.A.