Patent Picks—Natural Cationic Emulsifiers, Repeat Sequence Proteins, Amides for Color Uniformity and More

Chosen biweekly for their relevance to personal care, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features patents related to hair care, including cleansing, conditioning and color protection.

Surfactant composition
US Patent 8309510
Publication date: Nov. 13, 2012
Assignee: Kao Corp.

According to this patent, though fatty acid monoethanolamides and fatty acid diglycol amides are superior in thickening effect, they have drawbacks including a high melting point and are therefore deteriorated in solubility when formulated into detergents or cosmetics. In view of this, the inventors of the present invention started to search an anionic surfactant composition having a high thickening effect; that is, an anionic surfactant producing a high thickening effect even in the case where the concentration of the inorganic salt is low.

The inventors believe that if a surfactant composition having a high thickening effect is obtained in the development of an alcohol having both the advantageous effects given by an alcohol derived from petrochemical raw materials and an alcohol derived from oil and fats, respectively, and also in the development of various surfactants derived from these alcohols, applications for raw materials of various products including surfactant compositions derived from the alcohol can be expanded.

Detergent cosmetic compositions comprising four surfactants, a cationic polymer and a silicone, and use thereof
WIPO Patent Application WO/2012/149617
Publication date: Nov. 8, 2012
Assignee: L'Oreal S.A. and D. Alves

The present invention relates to novel detergent compositions comprising: a) one or more anionic surfactants chosen from ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, the corresponding acids, and mixtures thereof; b) one or more anionic surfactants other than the surfactant(s) in a); c) one or more amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants; d) one or more alkylpolyglycoside nonionic surfactants; e) one or more non-silicone cationic polymers preferably with a cationic charge density of less than 4 meq/g; and f) one or more silicones, with the ethoxylated alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant/anionic surfactant b) weight ratio ranging from 0.5 to 1. These combinations make it possible to improve the deposition of silicone on keratin materials as well as cosmetic properties and can be used for cleansing and caring for the hair or skin.

Chemical structure comprising phosphates with polyol dubstructures for hair and skin cosmetics use
US Patent Application 20120283224
Publication date: Nov. 8, 2012
Assignee: Chemyunion Quimica Ltda.

Disclosed in this patent is a composition suitable for application to hair and/or skin that comprises phosphate esters such as xylitol phosphate esters and other polyol units phosphoric acid esters. This composition can be used to improve or treat skin, including scalp, conditions in cosmetic or pharmaceutical products for acne, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and malodor and/or can be incorporated in such formulations as a co-emulsifying agent or preservative, alone or in combination, to other emulsifying or preservative agents in order to increase such activities.

Non-petrochemically derived cationic emulsifiers that are neutralized amino acid esters, related compositions and methods
US Patent 8287844
Publication date: Oct. 16, 2012
Assignee: Inolex Investment Corp.

This invention includes a method of increasing the substantivity of a personal care composition to hair, skin or nails by preparing a composition of an aqueous phase, a non-aqueous phase and a neutralized amino acid ester that is a reaction product of a neutral amino acid having a non-polar side chain with a long chain fatty alcohol. The composition is substantially free of petrochemicals and/or derivatives of petrochemical materials. The aqueous phase and non-aqueous phases are emulsified by the neutralized amino acid ester. Other methods and an emulsifier that is the neutralized amino acid ester are included. Since the neutralized amino acid ester and compositions do not contain petrochemical-derived ingredients, the products are natural, and because of the ester's cationic structure, it is well-suited for personal care applications, particularly for conditioning hair and skin.

Use of repeat sequence protein polymers in personal care compositions
US Patent Application 20120276021
Publication date: Nov. 11, 2012
Assignee: Danisco U.S., Inc.

According to this patent, there remains a need in the art for personal care compositions that have desired characteristics without chemical modification of the proteins, and for methods to deliver a protein from a personal care composition in a useable form. Thus, disclosed herein is a personal care composition that includes an effective amount of a repeat sequence protein polymer for use in hair, skin and nail care compositions, cosmetic compositions or over-the-counter pharmaceutical compositions.

In one embodiment, the hair care composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of shampoo, conditioner, anti-dandruff treatments, styling aids, styling conditioner, hair repair or treatment serum, lotion, cream, pomade and chemical treatments. In another embodiment, the styling aids are selected from the group consisting of spray, mousse, rinse, gel, foam and a combination thereof. In another embodiment, the chemical treatments are selected from the group consisting of permanent waves, relaxers, and permanent, semi-permanent and temporary color treatments and combinations thereof.

Hair conditioning composition comprising silicone polymers containing quaternary groups
European Patent Application EP2517695
Publication date: Oct. 31, 2012
Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company

This invention describes a hair conditioning composition incorporating silicone polymer-containing quaternary groups and a gel matrix. The composition can provide improved conditioning benefits such as smooth feel and reduced friction to both damaged hair and non-damaged hair, while providing other benefits such as slippery and slick feel on wet hair.

Process for inhibiting dyed hair fibers from losing color during shampooing
US Patent Application 20120269756
Publication date: Oct. 25, 2012
Assignee: L'Oreal

Described here is a process for inhibiting dyed hair fibers from losing their color during shampooing involving contacting the dyed hair fibers with a composition containing: a) at least one polyamine compound having at least two amino groups; b) at least one anionic silicone; and c) optionally, at least one surfactant, and wherein a) is present in the composition in an amount sufficient to inhibit the dyed hair fibers from losing their color during shampooing.

Mixture of amides and cosmetic compositions comprising said mixture
European Patent EP2370398
Publication date: Oct. 17, 2012
Assignee: Kao Corp.

The present invention relates to a mixture of specific amides and to cosmetic compositions comprising said mixture, particularly hair dyeing compositions. In the field of hair dyeing compositions, there is a need for compositions containing improved leveling agents that make the color of the dyed fibers more uniform, and provide intense and chromatic shades of low selectivity and good fastness while offering good stability of the compositions, good ease of application leading to uniform and regular colorations of the hair, and a good cosmetic condition to the treated hair. The authors of the present invention have surprisingly found that the mixture of amides according to the invention can provide similar or improved rheological and leveling properties compared to the amides already known in the art.

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