Dry emollient compositions

Abstract

The present invention are dry-feel emollient compositions comprising jojoba oil based esters that have use in personal care, cosmetic, cosmaceutical and pharmaceutical products. These compositions are essentially solid at room temperature, can be provided in various shapes and sizes (especially as particulates such as spheres), and can be produced from combinations of fatty alcohols, isopropyl esters and wax esters obtained from the oil contained in the seed of the jojoba plant. These new compositions also increase the range of applications for cosmetic compositions through an emollient that is more polar and hydrophilic than is found in jojoba oils. The compositions of the present invention may be obtained by a novel process of a base catalyzed alcoholysis reaction between jojoba oil and an alcohol, such as isopropyl alcohol. These components, whether exclusively jojoba esters or when combined with other carrier and vehicle components (including other emollients or binders) can form excellent carrier composition for use in the cosmetic, personal care and / or pharmaceutical field. Typical materials with which the compositions of the present invention may be blended include, but are not limited to, cosmetic oils and waxes, both natural and synthetic, (including hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils), silicone oils, mineral oils, long chain esters, vitamins, long chain fatty acids, cosmeceuticals, pigments, botanical extracts, esters and ethers, dimers, trimers, oligomers, and polymers, and the like. The proportions of the jojoba esters should be chosen to provide the dry-feel to the composition, which is highly desired. This will usually require a weight percent that ranges from 10% to 100% by weight of carrier material in the composition.

Description

This invention relates to emollient compositions for use in cosmetic, personal care and pharmaceutical preparations. The invention particularly relates to such emollient compositions and processes for their preparation, and more particularly to jojoba ester compositions which function as a dry carrier and vehicle for the delivery of actives such as fragrances, vitamins, medications, repellents, sun screens, cosmeceuticals (materials that combine a cosmetic and therapeutic effect) and the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the field of cosmetic, personal care, and pharmaceutical products emollients are usually defined as an agent that softens or smooths the skin and which tend to reduce the roughness, cracking and irritation of the skin. This smoothing is believed to be effected by the penetration of the emollient into the surface layers of tissue, through the slight congestion induced by rubbing and massage upon application, and especially through interference with sensible and inse...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Jojoba ester compositions have been found to finction well as a dry carrier or vehicle for the application of active materials to the skin or hair of customers. These esters have been found to be useful in pure or blended forms as carriers or vehicles in the personal care, cosmetic, and / or pharmaceutical fields of use. The esters to be used may be provided with a range of properties (from the composition of the ester itself or from additives and blended materials) and can provide improved feel when used with other conventional carriers, vehicles, bases, actives and additives. Upon application and `rubbing in` of the compositions, the jojoba ester based compositions leave the skin feeling soft (which is typical of high quality emollients), yet provide a mildly persistent coating which carriers the actives without leaving a wet or oily feel to the skin of the user.

These new emollient compositions preserve the excellent skin feel attributed tojojoba oil, which has long been used as an emollient. These new compositions also increase the range of applications for cosmetic compositions through an emollient that is more polar and hydrophilic than is found in jojoba oils, (which may also be referred to in the art as jojoba wax esters). The composition forms stable emulsions much more readily than does jojoba oil. The composition may also further provide excellent emolliency to normally dry cosmetic systems involving high levels of pigments, with the emollient acting as a pigment wetting agent and as an aid to a smooth and even application of the dry system. It also functions as an excipient in pressed powder.

Problems solved by technology

Although it has often been suggested that such emollient vehicles facilitate the transport of such drugs through the skin, it has been found that when the oil:water partition coefficient is greater than 1.0, the penetration of lipid-soluble drugs tends to be impeded.

One of the problems with typical emollients is that the emollient itself provides a wet or oily feel to the applied areas.

This can lead to an uncomfortable feeling or appearance to the user, which is very important in the cosmetic and pharmacological industry.