From Skin Warming Foam to Octoxynol Safety Skin and Skin Care

By: Charles Fox, Independent Consultant

Posted: December 7, 2005, from the July 2005 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

Pola Chemical Industries discloses skin-warming cosmetic foam compositions containing polyhydric alcohols and defined polyglycerin fatty acid esters. The foam is suitable for massaging and/or cleansing. The composition contains 50%-94% of a hydration heat-generating liquid polyethylene glycol and/or glycerin² and 0.1%-10% of a polyglycerin fatty acid ester, and 0.1%-10% of other hydrophilic nonionic surfactants. An example of a massaging foam composition is shown in Formula 1.

Urea, γ-linolenic acid glycerin ester in skin care: Henkel discloses skin preparations containing urea and γ-linolenic acid glycerin ester. The invention concerns cosmetic skin care preparations that contain urea, γ-linolenic acid and diunsaturated fatty acids. γ-linolenic acid is a form of glycerin ester that is taken from sources such as hempseed oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, black current seed oil, echium oil, trichodesma oil, and nutmeg oil. Antiseptic oils, plant extracts, lactic acid, citric acid, and their sodium and potassium salts can also be added. An example of an oil/water (o/w) emulsion based on this system is shown in Formula 2. 

This is only an excerpt of the full article that appeared in Cosmetics & Toiletries, but you can purchase the full-text version.