Patent Picks—Radiation-Diffraction Colorants, Fluorescent Pigments and More

Chosen biweekly for their relevance to personal care, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features technologies related to color, such as pigments, films and colorants for skin and hair care.

Solid pigment preparations containing water-soluble anionic surface-active additives that comprise carboxylate groups
US Patent 8124672
Publication date: Feb. 28, 2012
Assignee: BASF AG

Disclosed in this patent are solid pigment preparations having advantageous application properties, especially high color strength and particularly good dispersibility in a wide variety of application media. These preparations contain, as essential components: a) 60% to 95% w/w of at least one pigment; b) 5% to 40% w/w of at least one water-soluble anionic surface-active additive from the group of homopolymers and copolymers of ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acids and/or ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids—which can additionally contain monopolymerized vinyl monomers having no acid function, the alkoxylation products of said homopolymers and copolymers, and the salts of said homopolymers and copolymers and the alkoxylation products thereof; and c) 0% to 20% w/w of at least one nonionic surface-active polyether-based additive. Also disclosed are methods for the production thereof and for dyeing macromolecular organic and inorganic materials.

Long-wearing cosmetic composition
US Patent 8128919
Publication date: March 6, 2012
Assignee: Avon Products Inc.

The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition for the application of color such as in a foundation, lip gloss, lip stick, mascara, eye shadow, blush and nail polish. The disclosed  composition includes a film-forming, silicone-containing polyurethane having a viscosity from about 130,000 cps to 2,500,000 cps, preferably from 400,000 cps to 2,500,000 cps and most preferably from 750,000 cps to 2,500,000 cps. According to the inventors, it was surprisingly found that the film-forming silicone-containing polyurethane of the described viscosity provided long-lasting film-forming and non-transfer properties when applied as a cosmetic composition.

Method for separating carotenoids
US Patent Application 20120059192
Publication date: March 8, 2012
Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation

According to this patent, carotenoids are natural pigments that are useful as food additives, cosmetic ingredients, pharmaceutical agents and the like. Examples of carotenoids include astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, β-carotene, phoenicoxanthin, adonixanthin, echinenone, asteroidenone and 3-hydroxyechinenone. The present invention describes a method for collecting a carotenoid from a culture of a carotenoid-producing bacterium at high yield. Specifically, described is a method comprising a step of precipitating a concentrate containing the carotenoid from a culture of a carotenoid-producing bacterium under acidic conditions and collecting the carotenoid from the obtained precipitate.

Radiation diffraction colorants
US Patent 8133938
Publication date: March 13, 2012
Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

This invention relates to Bragg diffracting colorants produced from core-shell particles. There is a need for durable goniochromatic materials that can be produced in particulate form and that are suitable for use as colorants with minimal haze. Thus, a radiation diffraction material comprising an ordered periodic array of particles held in a polymeric matrix is disclosed wherein the particles each comprise a core surrounded by a shell of a non film-forming composition that is different from the matrix. Methods for using the material are also disclosed.

The special effect colorants of the present invention can be used in a wide variety of coating compositions, such as paints, inks, nail polish and other cosmetics. These include waterborne and solvent-borne liquid coating compositions, powder coating compositions, powder slurry compositions and electrodeposition compositions. They can be used in clear coatings or added to other pigments and/or dyes in colored coatings. Compatibility of the colorants with a variety of polymer types has been observed.

Titanium dioxide particles coated via an atomic layer deposition process
US Patent 8133531
Publication date: March 13, 2012
Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado

This invention relates to titanium dioxide particles coated first with an interstitial coating and then with silicon dioxide or alumina. The coatings are suitably applied via an atomic layer deposition process. The interstitial coating preserves the bright white coloration of the particles after they are coated. The particles therefore can be used as pigments and white fillers in polymers, paints, paper and other applications.

Fluorescent cosmetic composition
US Patent 8133508
Publication date: March 13, 2012
Assignee: L'Oréal Paris

According to this patent, fluorescent pigments or colorants are important to the cosmetics industry. They can produce brilliant, very lively colors that cannot be produced with conventional coloring substances. When they do not absorb in the visible region, they can also lighten and significantly enhance the reflectance of substrates onto which they are deposited, such as the skin and hair. The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition containing fluorescent particles comprising molecules of at least one fluorescent organic compound trapped inside a matrix at least partially formed by at least one metal oxide, with said composition comprising less than 100 mg/l of said fluorescent organic compound or compounds dissolved in a liquid phase of the medium. The composition may be applied to keratinous substances, for example the skin, hair, lips, nails or eyelashes.

Cosmetic nanocomposites based on in-situ cross-linked POSS materials for long wear
US Patent 8133478
Publication date: March 13, 2012
Assignee: Avon Products Inc.

Disclosed herein is a cosmetic composition for caring for and/or making up the skin, lips and/or body in the form of a film that is non-transferable, long-lasting with a comfortable feeling for long wear. The composition contains graftable polyhedral oligo silsequioxanes (POSS), which forms a film when it cures in situ. The invention also relates to using such film for preparing a cosmetic composition and a makeup process and makeup kit comprising the product.

Personal care compositions for coloring hair
US Patent 8133285
Publication date: March 13, 2012
Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Technology LLC; and Rohm and Haas Company

Described by this invention are hair colorant compositions comprising an aqueous dispersion of an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, and optionally a metallocene catalyzed polyolefin, and methods of reducing hair damage from hair colorants.

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