Patent Picks—Reducing Friction, Gentle Cleansing and Improving Dry Conditioning in Hair

Chosen biweekly for their relevance to personal care, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features technologies related to hair care formulating.

Personal care composition additive for application on keratin substrates to provide long lasting benefits
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/163589
Publication date: Dec. 29, 2011
Assignee: Hercules Inc., P. Erazo-Majewicz, G. Kroon, THL Le-Pham and T. Nuutinen

This patent discloses a personal care composition additive to provide long lasting benefits to keratin substrates such as conditioning in systems including two-in-one shampoos and leave-on and rinse off conditioners for hair and skin, or for imparting greater water resistance to compositions including sunscreens or cosmetics. The described additive is composed of a substantive polymer and a water miscible, polar solvent at a concentration of polymer to solvent in the range of about 0.1% to about 20.0%. The substantive polymer has a molecular weight in the range of greater than approximately 50 kDalton to less than or equal to about 800 kDalton. The substantive polymer also has a cationic degree of substitution (Cat- DS) of greater than about 0.001 units, and is selected from polysaccharides and synthetic polymer-containing cationic monomers.

Polymerizable carbamate and thiocarbamate compounds, polymers derived from them, and compositions thereof
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/163317
Publication date: Dec. 29, 2011
Assignee: ISP Investments Inc. and O.M. Musa

Carbamate and thiocarbamate compounds that comprise a polymerizable moiety and one or more free hydroxyl and/or thiol groups are described in this patent. These polymers may be obtained by polymerizing  the carbamate and/or thiocarbamate compounds. The carbamate and thiocarbamate compounds, as well as the polymers they produce, may be formulated into adhesive, agricultural, biocide, cleaning, coating, encapsulation, membrane, oilfield, performance chemical and personal care compositions. Such personal care/cosmetic compositions may contain one or more protecting agents in combination with the described polymer to prevent or limit the degrading effects of natural physical and/or chemical assaults on keratinous materials.

Clear, leave-on hair care composition comprising aminosilicone and its solvent
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/163199
Publication date: Dec. 29, 2011
Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Co., N Uehara (Matsuoka) and J Hasegawa

Disclosed in this patent is a hair care composition comprising a specific aminosilicone and a solvent for the aminosilicone wherein the composition is intended for leave-on use and wherein the composition has a turbidity of 2.0 NTU or less. Such compositions are designed to provide improved dry conditioning benefits, such as reduced friction.

Low-irritating, clear cleansing compositions with relatively low pH
European Patent Application EP2402000
Publication date: Jan. 4, 2012
Assignee: Johnson and Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.

The methods and compositions of this invention relate to those having low irritation characteristics in combination with relatively high clarity, as well as methods of making and using such compositions. These compositions have low pH values and are described as being useful specifically in cleansing the skin. The compositions comprise a low molecular weight non-crosslinked linear acrylic copolymer and at least one non-ethoxylated anionic surfactant. The cleansing methods described may further comprise additional, optional steps associated conventionally with cleansing hair as well as skin, including, for example, lathering, rinsing steps and the like.

Surfactant-free antiseptic based on bispyridinium alkanes
European Patent Application EP2401914
Publication date: Jan. 4, 2012
Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude and Schülke & Mayr GmbH

This invention relates to an antimicrobially effective composition that comprises: a) at least 0.15% w/w bispyridinium alkane; b) at least 3.5% w/w humectant; and c) water. Upon dilution with water, the composition produces a solution with an osmolality from 230 to 350 mOsmol/kg and is free from surfactant. The composition does not require the presence of surfactant for good wettability, of alcohol for good efficacy, of inorganic salts for isotonicity and/or of antioxidants for good storability and is stable over a broad temperature range. In addition, bispyridinium alkane is not considered a surfactant for the purposes of the present invention. Surfactant-free thus means this invention comprises no anionic, cationic, nonionic or amphoteric surfactant besides the one or, if appropriate, more bispyridinium alkanes.

The invention is suggested for use as an antiseptic to disinfect the skin, especially for newborns born prematurely. According to the inventors, the combination may be used in preparations to treat undesired body odor, such as in cosmetic deodorants,or skin, acne and foot/skin fungus treatments as well as antidandruff hair cleansers.

Structurants to improve stability in oil phases
European Patent EP2004137
Publication date: Jan. 4, 2012
Assignee: Croda International PLC

This invention relates to structurants for oil phases, particularly to oil structurants that are oligoesters reaction products of polyols, dimer dicarboxylic acids and long chain monocarboxylic fatty acids; to oil phases including them; and to the use of such structured oil phases particularly in personal care products. The term structurant refers to the provision of effects ranging from increasing viscosity; to gelling oil, i.e., creating a three dimensional structure at the molecular level that "traps" the continuous phase oil; and includes the possibility of generating liquid crystal like phases in the oil—all of which can enhance the stability of dispersed phases in the oil.

The polyol used as a starting material in making the polyesters of the invention groups has at least 3 and typically up to 8 hydroxyl groups and has an average of from 1 to 2 primary hydroxyl groups and at least one, particularly 1 to 4, secondary hydroxyl group(s). Personal care products utilizing the invention may include lipstick; mascara; cosmetic foundation or cream powder; antiperspirant and deodorant sticks or gels; baby oil; hair, massage and makeup removers or cleansing products; shampoo; or sun care products.

Process for preparation of hair treatment composition comprising composite particles of clay and charged organic molecule
European Patent EP1455740
Publication date: Jan. 4, 2012
Assignee: Unilever PLC and Unilever N.V.

This patent relates to a process for the preparation of hair treatment compositions comprising aqueous dispersions of composite particles and processes for their preparation. Compositions containing particles according to the invention, such as conditioners and shampoos, provide specific feel benefits to hair.

Fragrance compositions and compounds
US Patent 8088725
Publication date: Jan. 3, 2012
Assignee: Givaudan Nederland Services B.V.

A perfume composition including the compound 4-[(1,5-dimethylhexyl)oxy]butanal in both its racemic and enantiomeric forms is disclosed in this patent. According to the inventors, it has been surprisingly discovered that certain fragrance compounds in accordance with the invention show good substantivity to hair and cloth, both wet and dry, and hence have good potential for use in fabric treatment products and hair care products.

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