Stable low-pH personal care compositions and methods therefor

Abstract

Personal care compositions and methods for preparing them are disclosed. The personal care composition may comprise an emulsifying system, one or more emollients, and one or more humectants. The method for preparing the personal care composition may comprise contacting the emulsifying system, the one or more emollients, and the one or more humectants with each other.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Personal care compositions such as lotions typically can include one or more conventional and / or non-natural ingredients that provide skin conditioning, defoaming, and skin protection. Consumers' recent perception of non-natural ingredients has driven compositions towards more natural formulations that include naturally derived ingredients. Thus, efforts have involved reducing or eliminating non-natural ingredients from personal care compositions to provide improved consumer perception. However, it has proven particularly difficult to remove or replace non-natural ingredients for low pH formulations. For example, removing or replacing non-natural ingredients in low pH (e.g., a pH of about 4 to about 5) formulations typically results in products that exhibit instability or phase separation during aging studies.

[0002] Accordingly, there is a need for improved low pH personal care compositions and methods for preparing them. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This summary of the invention is only intended to introduce a simplified overview of some aspects of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Other applicable fields of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. This summary of the invention is not an exhaustive overview, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the teachings, nor is it intended to delineate the scope of the present disclosure. Instead, its purpose is merely to present one or more concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the following detailed description.

[0004] The foregoing and / or other aspects and utilities embodied in the present disclosure can be achieved by providing a personal care composition comprising an emulsifying system, one or more emollients, and one or more humectants.

[0005] In at least one embodiment, the emulsifying system can include a cationic surfactant. The cationic surfactant can include an ester quaternary ammonium salt. The ester quaternary ammonium salt can include one or more of distearoylethyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dipalmitoylethyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, distearoylethyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, ditallowoyl pg-dimethyl ammonium chloride, dipalmitoylethyl hydroxyethyl methyl sulfate, distearoylethyl hydroxyethyl methyl sulfate, or combinations thereof. The cationic surfactant can be dipalmitoylethyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

[0006] In at least one embodiment, the emulsifying system can comprise one or more nonionic surfactants. The one or more nonionic surfactants can comprise cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl ethoxylate-20, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, or combinations thereof. Cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl ethoxylate-20 can be present in an amount of about 3 wt% to about 5 wt% based on the total weight of the personal care composition. Cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl ethoxylate-20 can also be present in an amount of about 4 wt% based on the total weight of the personal care composition. Cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl ethoxylate-20 can further be present in an amount greater than or equal to about 5 wt% based on the total weight of the personal care composition. In at least one embodiment, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the cetyl alcohol is present in an amount greater than or equal to about 3 wt%, optionally about 3.5 wt%.

[0007] In at least one embodiment, the one or more emollients can comprise isopropyl palmitate. Based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the isopropyl palmitate can be present in an amount greater than or equal to about 1.5 wt%.

[0008] In at least one embodiment, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the isopropyl palmitate can be present in an amount greater than or equal to about 4 wt%; based on the total weight of the personal care composition, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol can be present in an amount greater than or equal to about 6.5 wt%; and based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the nonionic surfactant can comprise an amount of cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl ethoxylate-20 greater than or equal to about 4 wt%.

[0009] In at least one embodiment, the one or more humectants can comprise glycerin, caprylyl glycol, or combinations thereof.

[0010] In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition is substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof.

[0011] In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition is substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, or any combination thereof.

[0012] In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition further comprises one or more acids. The one or more acids can comprise lactic acid.

[0013] In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition can have an acidic pH. For example, the pH can be from about 4 to about 6, or the pH can be from about 4 to about 5.

[0014] In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition can have a viscosity at 25 °C that is greater than or equal to 50,000 centipoise (cP) and less than or equal to 200,000 cP.

[0015] In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition does not exhibit phase separation after being exposed to accelerated aging conditions.

[0016] The foregoing and / or other aspects and utilities embodied in the present disclosure can be realized by providing a method for preparing any of the personal care compositions disclosed herein. The method can include contacting the emulsifying system, the one or more emollients, and the one or more humectants with each other.

[0017] Other applicable fields of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided below. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating some exemplary aspects of the present disclosure, are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0018] The following description of various exemplary aspects is merely exemplary in nature and in no way intended to limit the present disclosure, its application, or uses.

[0019] The ranges used throughout this disclosure are used as shorthand for every value within the range. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as a rigid limitation on the scope of any embodiment or implementation disclosed herein. Accordingly, the disclosed ranges should be interpreted as having specifically disclosed all possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. Thus, any value within the selected range can be chosen as the endpoint of the range. For example, a description of a range such as 1 to 5 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as 1.5 to 3, 1 to 4.5, 2 to 5, 3.1 to 5, etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, such as 1, 2, 3, 3.2, 4, 5, etc. This applies regardless of the width of the range.

[0020] Unless otherwise specified, all percentages and amounts expressed herein and elsewhere in this specification are to be understood to refer to weight percentages. The given amounts are based on the active weight of the materials.

[0021] In addition, all numerical values are specified as "about" or "approximately", and experimental errors and variations contemplated by those of ordinary skill in the art are taken into account. It should be understood that all numerical values and ranges disclosed herein are approximate values and ranges, whether or not the term "about" is used in conjunction therewith. It should also be understood that, as used herein, the term "about" in combination with a number means a value that can be ±0.01% (including the end values), ±0.1% (including the end values), ±0.5% (including the end values), ±1% (including the end values) of the number, ±2% (including the end values) of the number, ±3% (including the end values) of the number, ±5% (including the end values) of the number, ±10% (including the end values) of the number, or ±15% (including the end values) of the number. It should also be understood that when a numerical range is disclosed herein, any numerical value falling within the said range is specifically disclosed.

[0022] As used herein, "free of" or "substantially free of" a material may mean a composition, component or phase in which the material is present in an amount of less than 10.0 wt%, less than 5.0 wt%, less than 3.0 wt%, less than 1.0 wt%, less than 0.1 wt%, less than 0.05 wt%, less than 0.01 wt%, less than 0.005 wt%, or less than 0.0001 wt% based on the total weight of the composition, component or phase.

[0023] All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between the definitions in the present disclosure and those of the cited references, the present disclosure shall prevail.

[0024] The inventors have surprisingly and unexpectedly found that stable low-pH personal care compositions can be prepared by providing an amount of one or more primary emulsifiers (e.g., cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl ethoxylate-20) of about 3% to about 5%, about 3.5% to about 4.5%, or about 4%, a total amount of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol greater than or equal to about 4% or greater than or equal to about 5%, and an amount of cetyl alcohol of about 3.5% or greater.

[0025] The inventors have also surprisingly and unexpectedly found that a stable personal care composition having a pH of about 4 to about 5 can be prepared when isopropyl palmitate is present in an amount of about 1.5% or at least 1.5%.

[0026] The inventors have also surprisingly and unexpectedly found that when isopropyl palmitate is present in a personal care composition in an amount of about 4% or greater, then a stable personal care composition having a pH of about 4 to about 5 can be prepared by providing a total amount of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol of about 6.5% or greater and / or an amount of cetearyl alcohol / cetearyl ethoxylate-20 of about 4% or greater.

[0027] Composition

[0028] The compositions disclosed herein can be or comprise stable, low-pH personal care compositions that comprise an emulsifying system that comprises one or more surfactants and / or one or more emulsifiers, one or more emollients, one or more humectants, or any combination thereof. The compositions disclosed herein can be free or substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof. For example, the composition can comprise silicone or silicone compounds and be free or substantially free of PEG. In another example, the composition can comprise PEG and be free or substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, or any combination thereof. In another example, the compositions disclosed herein can be or comprise skin moisturizing compositions such as low-pH skin moisturizing compositions or low-pH lotions or creams that are free or substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof.

[0029] Compared to conventional personal care compositions that comprise silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof, the personal care compositions disclosed herein can exhibit comparable, enhanced, or relatively greater stability. For example, compared to conventional personal care compositions that comprise any one or more of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof, the personal care compositions disclosed herein can not exhibit phase separation, a relatively stable pH, and / or a relatively stable viscosity when exposed to various aging conditions. As used herein, the term or expression "relatively stable" can mean that a property or value does not change (e.g., increase or decrease) by more than 0.5%, more than 1%, more than 1.5%, more than 2%, more than 2.5%, more than 3%, more than 3.5%, more than 4%, more than 4.5%, more than 5%, more than 6%, more than 7%, more than 8%, more than 9%, or more than 10% compared to the original property or value. As further described herein, compared to conventional personal care compositions that comprise any one or more of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof, the personal care compositions can comprise an emulsifying system, one or more emollients, one or more humectants, or any combination thereof that is capable or configured to provide comparable or enhanced stability to the personal care composition.

[0030] As used herein, the term or expression "personal care composition" can refer to a composition for topical application to mammalian, particularly human, skin. Personal care compositions can generally be leave-on personal care compositions or rinse-off personal care compositions and can include any product applied to the human body. The personal care composition is preferably a leave-on personal care composition. The personal care composition can be in any suitable form. Illustrative forms of the personal care composition can be or include, but are not limited to, liquids, lotions, creams, foams, scrubs, gels, soap bars, toners, etc. applied with an implement or via a mask. Illustrative personal care compositions can be or include, but are not limited to, leave-on body lotions and creams, emulsions, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, antiperspirants, deodorants, depilatories, lipsticks, foundations, mascaras, self-tanning agents, sunscreen lotions, etc.

[0031] Personal care compositions can include a hydrophobic phase and a hydrophilic phase that are combined, mixed, contacted, or otherwise emulsified with each other. For example, a personal care composition can be an oil-in-water emulsion that includes a hydrophilic phase dispersed or suspended in a continuous hydrophobic phase. In another example, a personal care composition can be a water-in-oil emulsion that includes a hydrophobic phase dispersed or suspended in a continuous hydrophilic phase. In a preferred embodiment, the personal care composition is a water-in-oil emulsion that includes a hydrophobic phase suspended in a continuous hydrophilic phase.

[0032] Personal care compositions can have an acidic pH. For example, a personal care composition can have a pH of about 3, about 3.5, about 4, or about 4.5 to about 5, about 5.5, about 6, or about 6.5. In another example, a personal care composition can have a pH less than 7, less than 6.5, less than 6, less than 5.5, less than 5, or less than 4.5. In a preferred embodiment, a personal care composition can have a pH of about 4.0 to about 5.0, or about 4.2 to about 4.8, more preferably about 4.2 to about 4.6.

[0033] As used herein, the term or expression "absorbability" may refer to the rate at which a personal care composition is absorbed into the skin or how quickly the personal care composition is absorbed into the skin. As determined by a sensory panel using a standardized method and a 0 to 5 rating scale, the personal care composition may have an absorbability score or value greater than or equal to about 2.0, where '0' represents the lowest level (i.e., none or low) and '5' represents the highest value. For example, as determined by the sensory panel, the personal care composition may have an absorbability score greater than or equal to about 2.0, greater than or equal to about 2.2, greater than or equal to about 2.4, greater than or equal to about 2.6, greater than or equal to about 2.8, greater than or equal to about 3.0, greater than or equal to about 3.2, greater than or equal to about 3.4, greater than or equal to about 3.6, greater than or equal to about 3.8, greater than or equal to about 4.0. In a preferred embodiment, the personal care composition has an absorbability score greater than or equal to about 2.7.

[0034] As used herein, the term or expression "whiteness" or "whiteness score" may refer to the amount of white perceived as visible on the skin during application or rubbing. As determined by a sensory panel using a standardized method and a 0 to 5 rating scale, the personal care composition may have a whiteness score or value less than or equal to about 3.6, where '0' represents the lowest level (i.e., none or low) and '5' represents the highest value. For example, the whiteness score of the personal care composition may be less than or equal to about 3.6, less than or equal to about 3.4, less than or equal to about 3.2, less than or equal to about 3.0, less than or equal to about 2.8, less than or equal to about 2.6, less than or equal to about 2.4, less than or equal to about 2.2, less than or equal to about 2.0, less than or equal to about 1.8, less than or equal to about 1.6, less than or equal to about 1.5, less than or equal to about 1.4, less than or equal to about 1.3, less than or equal to about 1.2, less than or equal to about 1.1, less than or equal to about 1, as determined by the sensory panel. In a preferred embodiment, the personal care composition has a whiteness score less than or equal to about 2.7.

[0035] As used herein, the term or expression "tackiness" or "tackiness score" may refer to the sticky feeling left after applying a personal care composition to the skin surface. As determined by a sensory panel using a standardized method and a 0 - 5 scale of assessment, the personal care composition may have a tackiness score or value less than or equal to about 3.0, where '0' represents the lowest level (i.e., none or low) and '5' represents the highest value. For example, as determined by the sensory panel, the personal care composition may have a tackiness score less than or equal to about 3.0, less than or equal to about 2.8, less than or equal to about 2.6, less than or equal to about 2.4, less than or equal to about 2.2, less than or equal to about 2.0, less than or equal to about 1.8, less than or equal to about 1.6, less than or equal to about 1.4. In a preferred embodiment, the personal care composition has a tackiness score less than or equal to about 2.0.

[0036] As used herein, the term or expression "spreadability" or "spreadability score" may refer to how easily a personal care composition can be distributed on the skin surface or the ease of distribution on the skin surface. As determined by a sensory panel using a standardized method and a 0 - 5 scale of assessment, the personal care composition may have a spreadability score or value greater than or equal to about 2.0, where '0' represents the lowest level (i.e., none or low) and '5' represents the highest value. For example, as determined by the sensory panel, the personal care composition may have a spreadability score greater than or equal to about 2.0, greater than or equal to about 2.2, greater than or equal to about 2.4, greater than or equal to about 2.6, greater than or equal to about 2.8, greater than or equal to about 3.0, greater than or equal to about 3.2, greater than or equal to about 3.4, greater than or equal to about 3.6, greater than or equal to about 3.8, greater than or equal to about 4.0, greater than or equal to about 4.1, greater than or equal to about 4.2, greater than or equal to about 4.3 or greater than or equal to about 4.4. In a preferred embodiment, the personal care composition has a spreadability score greater than or equal to about 3.0.

[0037] As used herein, the term or expression "greasiness" or "greasiness score" may refer to the amount of greasiness felt on the skin surface during and / or after application. As determined by a sensory panel using a standardized method and a 0 to 5 point rating scale, the personal care composition may have a greasiness score or value less than or equal to about 3.6, where '0' represents the lowest level (i.e., none or low) and '5' represents the highest value. For example, the greasiness score of the personal care composition may be less than or equal to about 3.6, less than or equal to about 3.4, less than or equal to about 3.2, less than or equal to about 3.0, less than or equal to about 2.8, less than or equal to about 2.6, less than or equal to about 2.4, less than or equal to about 2.2, less than or equal to about 2.0, less than or equal to about 1.8, less than or equal to about 1.7, less than or equal to about 1.6, less than or equal to about 1.5 or less than or equal to about 1.4, as determined by a sensory panel. In a preferred embodiment, the personal care composition has a greasiness score less than or equal to about 2.5.

[0038] As measured using a viscometer at a temperature of about 25 °C, the viscosity of the personal care composition can be greater than or equal to about 5,000 centipoise (cP), about 10,000 cP or about 20,000 cP and / or less than or equal to about 200,000 cP, as measured with a T93 rotor at about 10 RPM, with a viscosity up to about 100,000 cP or as measured with a T95 rotor at about 5 RPM, with a viscosity of about 100,000 cP to about 200,000 cP. As used herein, "viscosity" can refer to the internal resistance to flow exhibited by a fluid or the ratio of shear stress to shear rate and can be measured in poise or centipoise (cP). For example, the viscosity of the personal care composition at about 25 °C can be greater than or equal to about 5,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 10,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 20,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 25,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 30,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 35,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 40,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 45,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 60,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 70,000 cP, greater than or equal to about 100,000 cP. In another example, the viscosity of the personal care composition at about 25 °C can be less than or equal to about 200,000 cP, less than or equal to about 150,000 cP, less than or equal to about 100,000 cP, less than or equal to about 95,000 cP, less than or equal to about 90,000 cP, less than or equal to about 85,000 cP, less than or equal to about 80,000 cP, less than or equal to about 75,000 cP, less than or equal to about 70,000 cP, less than or equal to about 65,000 cP, less than or equal to about 60,000 cP or less than or equal to about 55,000 cP. In a preferred embodiment, the viscosity of the personal care composition at about 25 °C is from about 50,000 cP to about 150,000 cP.

[0039] The personal care compositions disclosed herein may not exhibit any phase separation after exposure to accelerated aging conditions. The personal care compositions disclosed herein may not exhibit any phase separation after subjecting the personal care composition to one or more freeze-thaw treatments. For example, the personal care compositions disclosed herein may not exhibit any phase separation after freeze-thaw treatment at least or about 3 cycles / treatment between -30 °C and room temperature. In another example, the personal care compositions disclosed herein may not exhibit any phase separation after freeze-thaw treatment at least or about 3 cycles / treatment between -10 °C and room temperature.

[0040] The personal care compositions disclosed herein may not exhibit any phase separation after exposing the personal care composition to a temperature of about 30 °C, about 40 °C, or about 49 °C for an extended period of time. For example, the personal care compositions disclosed herein may not exhibit any phase separation after maintaining the personal care composition at about 49 °C for at least 4 weeks or longer. In another example, the personal care compositions disclosed herein may not exhibit any phase separation after maintaining the personal care composition at about 30 °C for at least 4 weeks, at least 8 weeks, at least 13 weeks, or longer. In yet another example, the personal care compositions disclosed herein may not exhibit any phase separation after maintaining the personal care composition at about 40 °C for at least 4 weeks, at least 8 weeks, at least 13 weeks, or longer. It should be understood that phase separation in the personal care composition is determined visually.

[0041] In an exemplary embodiment, the personal care composition may be substantially free of any one or more of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof. For example, the personal care composition may contain polyethylene glycol (PEG) and may be free or substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, and petrolatum. In another example, the personal care composition may exclude all of the following: silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). In yet another example, the personal care composition may contain only one, two, three, four, or five of the following and exclude the rest: silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Exemplary silicones or silicone compounds may be or may include, but are not limited to, polysiloxane polymers such as polydimethylsiloxane, polydimethylsiloxanol, cyclopentasiloxane, or any combination thereof.

[0042] In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition can comprise one or more humectants. Illustrative humectants can be or can comprise, but are not limited to, glycerin (such as refined vegetable glycerin, etc.), propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, ascorbic acid, ascorbyl dipalmitate, acetamide MEA, caprylyl glycol, gluconolactone, glucuronic acid, TEA lactate, TEA-PCA, corn syrup, fructose, glucose, glycerol, ethylene glycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, sodium lactate, sodium PCA, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, inositol, lactic acid, lactose, mannitol, PCA, PEG-10 propylene glycol, polyaminosaccharide condensates, pyridoxine dilaurate, hydroxystearyl methyl glucamine, glucosamine, maltitol, mannitol, methyl gluceth-10, methyl gluceth-20, riboflavin, PEG-4, PEG-6, PEG-8, PEG-9, PEG-10, PEG-12, PEG-14, PEG-16, PEG-18, PEG-20, PEG-32, PEG-40, glutamic acid, glycereth-7, glycereth-12, glycereth-26, sugar isomers, polysorbate 20, sorbitol, sucrose, thioglycerol, tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane, tromethamine, histidine, PEG-75, PEG-135, PEG-150, PEG-200, PEG-5 pentaerythrityl ether, polyglyceryl sorbitol, sorbitol, urea, xylitol, etc. or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the humectant can be or comprise, but is not limited to, glycerin, caprylyl glycol, or combinations thereof.

[0043] Based on the total weight of the personal care composition, one or more humectants can be present in an amount of from about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt% or from about 0.5 wt% to about 20 wt%. For example, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, any one or more of the humectants can be present in an amount of about 0.1 wt%, about 0.2 wt%, about 0.3 wt%, about 0.4 wt%, about 0.5 wt%, about 1 wt%, about 1.5 wt%, about 2 wt%, about 2.5 wt%, about 3 wt%, about 3.5 wt%, about 4 wt%, about 4.5 wt% or about 5 wt% to about 5.5 wt%, about 6 wt%, about 6.5 wt%, about 7 wt%, about 7.5 wt%, about 8 wt%, about 8.5 wt%, about 9 wt%, about 9.5 wt%, about 10 wt% or about 20 wt%. In a preferred embodiment, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the humectant comprises an amount of glycerin and / or caprylyl glycol of from about 1.5 to about 10 wt%, from about 2 wt% to about 8 wt%, from about 3 wt% to about 7 wt% or about 5 wt%.

[0044] In at least one embodiment, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the personal care composition can comprise one or more preservatives in an amount greater than 0% by weight and less than or equal to about 3% by weight, less than or equal to about 2.5% by weight, less than or equal to about 2% by weight, less than or equal to about 1.5% by weight, less than or equal to about 1% by weight, less than or equal to about 0.75% by weight, less than or equal to about 0.5% by weight, or less than or equal to about 0.25% by weight. Exemplary preservatives can include, but are not limited to: benzalkonium chloride; benzethonium chloride, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane; 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol; alkyltrimethylammonium bromide; N-(hydroxymethyl)-N-(1,3-dihydroxymethyl-2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl-N-(hydroxymethyl)urea; 1-3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin; formaldehyde; iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, butylparaben; ethylparaben; methylparaben; propylparaben, a mixture of methylisothiazolinone / methyl-chloroisothiazolinone in a 1:3 weight ratio; a mixture of polyvinylpyrrol / butylparaben / methylparaben / propylparaben; 2-phenoxyethanol; trihydroxyethyl-hexahydrotriazine; methylisothiazolinone; 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane; 1-(3-chloroalkyl)-3,5,7-triaza-azoniaadamantane chloride; sodium benzoate; organic acids, sorbic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, etc. or any combination thereof.

[0045] In at least one embodiment, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, one or more preservatives comprise sodium benzoate in an amount greater than 0% by weight to less than or equal to 2% by weight, greater than 0% by weight to less than or equal to 1% by weight, or about 0.5% by weight. In yet another embodiment, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the preservative comprises sodium benzoate in an amount greater than 0% by weight to less than or equal to 2% by weight, greater than 0% by weight to less than or equal to 1% by weight, or greater than 0% by weight to less than or equal to 0.8% by weight. For example, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the personal care composition can comprise about 0.3% by weight of sodium benzoate. In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition and / or its preservative system can be free or substantially free of phenoxyethanol.

[0046] In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition can comprise one or more acids, one or more bases, and / or one or more buffering agents that are configured to regulate or control the pH of the personal care composition. The one or more acids, one or more bases, and / or one or more buffering agents can be present individually and independently in an amount greater than 0 wt% to less than or equal to about 5 wt%, less than or equal to about 4 wt%, less than or equal to about 3 wt%, less than or equal to about 2 wt%, less than or equal to about 1 wt%, less than or equal to about 0.75 wt%, less than or equal to about 0.5 wt%, less than or equal to about 0.4 wt%, or less than or equal to about 0.35 wt% based on the total weight of the personal care composition or its hydrophilic phase. Illustrative bases can include, but are not limited to: ammonia; monoalkylamines, dialkylamines, and trialkylamines; monoalkanolamines, dialkanolamines, and trialkanolamines; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides; sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, monoethanolamine, triethylamine, isopropanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, etc., or combinations thereof. Illustrative acids can include, but are not limited to, mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid; organic acids, polycarboxylic acids such as citric acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid, etc., or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic phase comprises at least one acid such as lactic acid, etc., and lactic acid is present in an amount greater than 0 wt% to about 0.8 wt%, about 0.4 wt% to about 0.8 wt%, or about 0.65 wt% based on the total weight of the personal care composition.

[0047] The personal care composition can comprise an emulsifying system that comprises one or more surfactants and / or one or more emulsifying agents. Compared to conventional personal care compositions, the one or more surfactants and / or one or more emulsifying agents can be at least partially configured to provide enhanced or relatively greater stability to the personal care composition. The one or more surfactants and / or emulsifying agents can include, but are not limited to, one or more anionic surfactants, one or more cationic surfactants, one or more zwitterionic surfactants, one or more nonionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable surfactants can be found in U.S. Patent No. 3,959,458 to Agricola et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,937,807 to Haefele, and U.S. Patent No. 4,051,234 to Gieske et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference to the extent consistent with the present disclosure.

[0048] Illustrative anionic surfactants can include, but are not limited to: stearic acid, water-soluble salts of monoglyceride monosulfates of higher fatty acids, such as sodium salt of monosulfated monoglyceride of hydrogenated coconut oil fatty acids, such as sodium N-methyl N-cocoyl polyvinyl, sodium monoglyceride sulfate. Illustrative anionic surfactants can also include higher alkyl sulfates. As used herein, "higher alkyl" refers to C6-30 Alkyl. For example, the anionic surfactant can be or can include sodium lauryl sulfate. The anionic surfactant can also include higher alkyl ether sulfates. In another embodiment, the anionic surfactant can include higher alkyl aryl sulfonates such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (sodium laurylbenzenesulfonate), and higher alkyl sulfonatoacetates such as sodium lauryl sulfonatoacetate (sodium dodecyl sulfonatoacetate), higher fatty acid esters of 1,2-dihydroxypropane sulfonate, sulfolaurates (potassium N-2-ethyllaurylsulfonylacetamide), and sodium lauryl sarcosinate. In an exemplary embodiment, the anionic surfactant can be or can include a water-soluble salt of an alkyl sulfate having 10 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety and a water-soluble salt of a sulfonated monoglyceride of a fatty acid having 10 to 18 carbon atoms.

[0049] Exemplary cationic surfactants can be or include, but are not limited to, ammonium salts such as distearyldimethylammonium chloride, halide salts of methylated ammonium, wherein at least one and preferably two or three of the groups on the nitrogen are long-chain substantially saturated materials such as tallow fatty groups, hydrogenated tallow fatty groups, the above-mentioned methyl sulfate anion salts, long-chain amide derivatives such as mink oil amide propyl dimethyl-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride (quaternary ammonium salt 26), aromatic hydrocarbons such as isododecyl benzyl triethanol ammonium chloride, N-alkylated amphoteric materials such as N-alkylated betaines, alkyl amines, alkyl imidazolines, various ethoxylated amines, quaternary ammonium salts -8, -14, -18, -24, -26, -27, -33, -43, -52, -53, -60, -62, -83, ester quaternary ammonium salts, etc. or any combination thereof. Exemplary ester quaternary ammonium salts can be or include, but are not limited to, dicetyldimethyammonium chloride, dipalmitoyldimethyammonium chloride, distearyldimethyammonium chloride, ditallowoyl pg-dimethylammonium chloride, dipalmitoylethyl hydroxyethyl methyl sulfate ammonium, distearoylethyl hydroxyethyl methyl sulfate ammonium, etc. or one or more of combinations and mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the personal care composition comprises one or more cationic surfactants, and the cationic surfactant comprises dipalmitoyldimethyammonium chloride.

[0050] Exemplary nonionic surfactants can be or can include, but are not limited to: higher or fatty alcohols, including straight-chain alcohols or their ethoxylates; sorbitan fatty acid esters (e.g., sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monoisostearate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan trioleate, diglycerol sorbitan penta-2-ethylhexanoate, diglycerol sorbitan tetra-2-ethylhexanoate, etc.); glycerol polyglycerol fatty acids (e.g., glycerol monocottonseed fatty acid, glycerol monoleate, glycerol sesquioleate, glycerol monostearate, stearic acid glyceride, α,α'-oleic acid pyroglutamic acid glycerol ester, glycerol monostearate malic acid, etc.); propylene glycol fatty acid esters (e.g., propylene glycol monostearate, etc.); hydrogenated castor oil derivatives; glycerol alkyl ethers, etc. or combinations thereof. Exemplary nonionic surfactants can be or can include, but are not limited to, sorbitan esters and ethoxylated sorbitan esters (e.g., PEG-20 sorbitan isostearate, sorbitan monolaurate, polysorbate-20, polysorbate-40, polysorbate-60, polysorbate-80); ethoxylates (e.g., ceteth-20, PEG-30 castor oil, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, laureth-7, isolaureth-6, steareth-10, steareth-20, steareth-21, steareth-100, ceteareth-12, oleth-5, oleth-10, etc.); ethoxylated adducts (e.g., PEG-25 stearate, stearic acid glyceride, PEG-100 stearate, etc.); polyoxyethylene (100) monostearate, polyethylene glycol esters of stearic acid, PEG esters (e.g., PEG-8 oleate, PEG-8 laurate, PEG-8 dilaurate, PEG-12 dilaurate, PEG-80 diisostearate, PEG-40 stearate, etc.); propoxylates (e.g., PPG-10 butylene glycol, PPG-50 oleyl ether, PPG-2-ceteareth-9, PPG-3-deceth-3, PPG-5-ceteth-20); ethoxylated modified triglycerides (e.g., PEG-20 corn glyceride, PEG-12 palm kernel glyceride); alkylphenol aromatic ethoxylates (e.g., dinonylphenol ethoxylate with 9 moles of EO, octylphenol ethoxylate with 20 moles of EO, octylphenol ethoxylate with 40 moles of EO); block copolymers of alkoxylated diols having ethoxylated and propoxylated segments (e.g., POLOXAMERTM 182 and 234, POLOXAMERTM 105 benzoate and MEROXAPOLTM 174); etc. or combinations thereof.Exemplary ethoxylates can be or include but are not limited to ceteth-20, PEG-30 castor oil, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, laureth-7, isolaureth-6, steareth-10, steareth-20, steareth-21, steareth-100, ceteareth-12, oleth-5, oleth-10.

[0051] Exemplary nonionic surfactants can also include but are not limited to reaction products of aliphatic alcohols or alkylphenols having 6 to 20 carbon atoms in a linear or branched chain with ethylene oxide and / or propylene oxide, where the alkylene oxide can be from about 6 moles to about 60 moles per mole of alcohol. For example, nonionic surfactants can include but are not limited to alkylamine oxides, monoalkyl and dialkyl alkanolamides, polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, ethoxylated fatty acid amides, saturated fatty acid alcohols reacted with ethylene oxide, alkyl glycosides, and sorbitan ether esters, one or more ceteareth-n such as ceteareth-2, ceteareth-3, ceteareth-4, ceteareth-5, ceteareth-6, ceteareth-7, ceteareth-8, ceteareth-9, ceteareth-10, ceteareth-11, ceteareth-12, ceteareth-13, ceteareth-14, ceteareth-15, ceteareth-16, ceteareth-17, ceteareth-18, ceteareth-20, ceteareth-22, ceteareth-23, ceteareth-24, ceteareth-25, ceteareth-27, ceteareth-28, ceteareth-29, ceteareth-30, ceteareth-33, ceteareth-34, ceteareth-40, ceteareth-50, ceteareth-55, ceteareth-60, ceteareth-80, ceteareth-100, etc. or combinations thereof or one or more combinations of cetearyl alcohol combined with fatty alcohols such as stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, linoleyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol (i.e., a mixture of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol), etc. It should be understood that ceteareth-n is a name in the INCI family and refers to polyoxyethylene ethers of mixtures of high molecular weight saturated fatty alcohols, where 'n' indicates the average number of ethylene oxide residues in the polyoxyethylene chain. In an exemplary embodiment, the nonionic surfactant comprises cetearyl alcohol, ceteareth-20, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, or combinations thereof. It should be understood that ceteareth-20 (CAS No. 68439-49-6) is a polyethylene glycol ether of cetearyl alcohol.

[0052] Nonionic surfactants can include one or more fatty alcohols or higher alcohols. Exemplary fatty alcohols or higher alcohols can be or can include, but are not limited to, straight-chain alcohols such as C 12-22 fatty alcohols, or preferably C 16-18 fatty alcohols, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol 50 / 50, etc. or combinations thereof. Exemplary fatty alcohols can also include branched-chain alcohols such as monostearyl glycerol ether (batyl alcohol), 2-decyltetradecanol, lanolin alcohol, cholesterol, phytosterol, hexyl dodecanol, isostearyl alcohol, octyldodecanol, etc. or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the personal care composition or its emulsion system comprises cetearyl alcohol, ceteth-20, cetyl alcohol, and stearyl alcohol.

[0053] The amount of each of the one or more surfactants and / or emulsifiers present in the personal care composition or its emulsion system can vary widely. For example, based on the total weight of the personal care composition or its emulsion system, each of the one or more surfactants and / or emulsifiers can be present individually and independently in an amount of greater than about 0 wt% to less than or equal to about 20 wt%. For example, each of the one or more surfactants and / or emulsifiers can be present individually and independently in an amount of greater than about 0 wt%, 0.25 wt%, about 0.5 wt%, about 0.75 wt%, about 1 wt%, about 1.25 wt%, about 1.5 wt%, about 1.75 wt%, about 2 wt%, about 2.25 wt%, about 2.5 wt%, or about 3 wt% to about 3.5 wt%, about 4 wt%, about 4.5 wt%, about 5 wt%, about 5.5 wt%, about 6 wt% or higher. In another example, each of the one or more surfactants and / or emulsifiers can be present individually and independently in an amount of greater than about 0 wt%, about 1 wt%, about 2 wt%, about 3 wt%, about 4 wt%, about 5 wt%, about 6 wt% or about 7 wt% to about 8 wt%, about 9 wt%, about 10 wt%, about 11 wt%, about 12 wt%, about 13 wt%, about 14 wt%, about 15 wt% or about 20 wt% based on the total weight of the personal care composition or its emulsion system.

[0054] In at least one embodiment, the weight ratio of any one surfactant or emulsifier in the emulsion system to any other surfactant or emulsifier can vary between about 0.1:1 and about 3:1. For example, the weight ratio of any one surfactant / emulsifier in the emulsion system to any other surfactant / emulsifier can be about 0.1:1, about 0.2:2, about 0.3:1, about 0.4:1, about 0.5:1, about 0.6:1, about 0.7:1, about 0.8:1, or about 0.9:1 to about 1:1, about 1.1:1, about 1.2:1, about 1.3:1, about 1.4:1, about 1.5:1, about 2:1, about 2.5:1, or about 3:1.

[0055] In at least one embodiment, the weight ratio of any one or more of the emulsifiers to any one or more of the stabilizers can be about 1:1 to about 1.5:1. For example, the weight ratio of ceteth-20 and cetearyl alcohol to cetyl alcohol and / or stearyl alcohol can be about 1:1 to about 1.5:1. In another embodiment, the weight ratio of any one or more of the stabilizers to any one or more of the emollients can be about 1:1 to about 3:1.

[0056] The personal care compositions disclosed herein can include one or more emollients. The one or more emollients can be configured to maintain the soft, smooth, and pliable appearance of the skin. The one or more emollients can be or include, but are not limited to, fatty esters, fatty alcohols, or combinations thereof. Illustrative emollients can be or include, but are not limited to, diisopropyl adipate, oleyl alcohol, lanolin, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, cocoalcohol octanoate, diethylhexyl carbonate, caprylic / capric triglyceride, cetyl lactate, cetyl palmitate, hydrogenated castor oil, glycerides, hydroxycetyl isostearate, hydroxycetyl phosphate, isopropyl isostearate, isostearyl isostearate, diisopropyl sebacate, polyoxypropylene(5) polyoxyethylene(20) cetyl ether (PPG-5-Ceteth-20), 2-ethylhexyl isononanoate, 2-ethylhexyl stearate, C 12 to C 16 fatty alcohols, C 12 to C 16 lactic fatty alcohols, isopropyl lanolate, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, etc., or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more emollients can be a combination of fatty alcohols. In some embodiments, the one or more emollients can be 1-hexadecanol, acetylated lanolin, behenoyloxypolydimethylsiloxane, C 12-15Alkyl benzoates, cetearyl octanoate, glyceryl cocoate, dicaprylyl / dicaprate dimethicone copolyol, dimethicone copolyol, dioctyl adipate, glyceryl stearate, isocetyl alcohol, isododecane, isoamyl cyclohexanone, isopropyl palmitate, lauryl lactate, mineral oil, methoxy PEG-22 / dodecyl glycol copolymer, myristyl lactate, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, octyl cocoate, octyl palmitate, octyl stearate, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, polyethylene glycol 40 stearate, polyoxymethylene urea, potassium sorbate, propylene glycol, propylene glycol isoceth-3 acetate, propylene glycol myristyl ether acetate, or combinations thereof. Exemplary emollients can also include, but are not limited to, high molecular weight saturated and unsaturated fatty alcohols such as, but not limited to, carbitol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, isocetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, hydroxystearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, ricinoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol, 2-octyldodecanol, cetearyl alcohol, lanolin alcohol, etc., or any combination thereof. As discussed above, in at least one embodiment, the personal care composition can be free or substantially free of silicone and / or silicone compounds. Thus, the personal care composition can be free or substantially free of behenoxy poly dimethyl siloxane, dicaprylyl / dicaprate dimethicone copolyol, dimethicone copolyol, etc.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, the emollient can be selected from isopropyl palmitate, coco-caprylate, glyceryl cocoate, diethylhexyl carbonate, or combinations thereof.

[0058] In at least one embodiment, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the personal care compositions disclosed herein can include one or more emollients in an amount greater than 0 wt% to about 5 wt%. For example, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, one or more emollients can be present in an amount greater than 0 wt%, about 0.1 wt%, about 0.3 wt%, about 0.5 wt%, about 1 wt% or about 2 wt% to about 2.5 wt%, about 3 wt%, about 3.5 wt%, about 4 wt% or about 5 wt%.

[0059] In at least one embodiment, the emollient system can include one or more stabilizers. One or more stabilizers can be or include, but are not limited to, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, or combinations thereof. Based on the total weight of the personal care composition, one or more stabilizers can be present in an amount greater than 0 wt% to about 5 wt%. For example, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, one or more stabilizers can be present in an amount greater than 0 wt%, about 0.1 wt%, about 0.3 wt%, about 0.5 wt%, about 1 wt% or about 2 wt% to about 2.5 wt%, about 3 wt%, about 3.5 wt%, about 4 wt% or about 5 wt%.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the personal care composition or its emulsifying system can comprise a combination of distearyldimonium chloride, cetearyl alcohol / ceteareth-20, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, isopropyl palmitate, or a combination thereof.

[0061] In some embodiments, the personal care composition can comprise one or more skin care agents. Any suitable skin care agent that does not adversely affect the stability and / or efficacy of the personal care composition can be used. Skin care agents can generally comprise one or more polymers (e.g., polyvinylpyrrolidone), starches (e.g., tapioca starch, hydrophobically modified corn starch such as DRY-FLO CAS Nos. 68989-12-8, 68554-70-1, 9005-25-8, etc.), protein derivatives (e.g., derivatized hydrolyzed wheat protein), ethoxylated fatty ethers, celluloses (e.g., hydroxyethyl cellulose), etc. or a combination thereof. Illustrative skin care agents can include, but are not limited to, esters (e.g., isopropyl myristate, decyl oleate, cetearyl isononanoate, etc.), which include aliphatic alcohols having from about 2 to about 18 carbon atoms condensed with aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids having from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms. The esters can be straight-chain or branched-chain. In a preferred embodiment, the esters have a molecular weight of less than about 500.

[0062] Other skin care agents can include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyquaternium-4, polyquaternium-7, polyquaternium-10, guar gum derivatives, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyethylene glycol, methyl ethers of polyethylene glycol, quaternium-79, wheat germamidopropyl hydroxypropyl dimethylammonium hydrolyzed wheat protein, stearyl polymethylsiloxane, dimethicone copolyol, dimethicone propyl PG-betaine, poly(sodium styrenesulfonate), sorbitan oleate, steareth-2, steareth-21, isoceteareth-20, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, PEG-75 lanolin, glycereth-26, PPG-5-ceteth-20, C 12 -C 20Alcohols, low erucic acid rapeseed oil, glyceryl laurate, tristearin, glycerol monostearate, tocopheryl acetate, sunfloweramidopropyl ethyldimethyl ammonium ethyl sulfate, PEG-7 olive oil carboxylate sodium, PPG-1 hydroxyethyl octanamide, PPG-2 hydroxyethyl cocoamide, mineral oil, petrolatum, Aloe barbadensis, isostearamidopropyl morpholine lactate, strontium acetate, palmamidopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, etc. or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the skin care agent is or comprises a conditioning agent, such as a cationic cellulose polymer (e.g., polyquaternium-7). As indicated above, the personal care composition may be free or substantially free of any one or more of PEG, mineral oil, and petrolatum. Thus, the personal care composition or its other skin care agents may not contain PEG, mineral oil, and / or petrolatum.

[0063] The personal care composition may comprise one or more additional optional ingredients. Illustrative optional ingredients may include but are not limited to one or more dyes, fragrances, preservatives, thickeners, viscosity modifiers, antioxidants, chelating agents (e.g., EDTA, phosphates, etc.), sunscreen agents, hydrogenated solvents, hydrotropes, antimicrobial agents, etc. or any combination thereof. In at least one embodiment, the personal care composition may be free or substantially free of parabens.

[0064] The personal care composition may contain water. The water may be deionized water, demineralized water, and / or softened water. The water may constitute the balance of the personal care composition. For example, based on the total weight of the personal care composition, the amount of water present in the personal care composition may be greater than 60 wt%, greater than 65 wt%, greater than 70 wt%, greater than 75 wt%, greater than 80 wt%, greater than 85 wt%, greater than 90 wt%, greater than 92 wt%, greater than 94 wt%, greater than 96 wt% or more. The amount of water in the personal care composition may include added free water and water introduced with other components or materials of the personal care composition. For example, the amount of water in the personal care composition may include free water and water associated with one or more surfactants and / or any other components of the personal care composition.

[0065] Method

[0066] The present disclosure may provide methods for preparing stable personal care compositions. Specifically, the present disclosure may provide methods for preparing stable, low-pH personal care compositions that are free or substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof. The present disclosure may also provide methods for preventing separation of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic phases in a personal care composition that is free or substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof when exposed to various aging conditions. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the aging conditions may be provided or defined by the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines. The methods may include mixing, combining, agitating, emulsifying, or otherwise bringing into contact two or more of the components / ingredients disclosed herein. The methods may also include heating the components / ingredients before, during, or after mixing, combining, agitating, emulsifying, or otherwise bringing the components into contact with each other. The methods may include preparing a hydrophobic phase and a hydrophilic phase and bringing the hydrophobic phase into contact with the hydrophilic phase. For example, the methods may include preparing a hydrophobic phase comprising one or more of the components disclosed herein, preparing a hydrophilic phase comprising one or more of the components disclosed herein, and mixing, combining, agitating, emulsifying, or otherwise bringing the hydrophobic phase and the hydrophilic phase into contact with each other. The methods may also include heating the hydrophilic phase and / or the hydrophobic phase while mixing, combining, agitating, emulsifying, or otherwise bringing the hydrophobic phase and the hydrophilic phase into contact with each other. The hydrophobic phase and / or the hydrophilic phase may be heated at a temperature of from about 60 °C to about 90 °C, from about 65 °C to about 85 °C, from about 70 °C to about 80 °C, or from about 75 °C to about 80 °C.

[0067] Methods for preparing stable personal care compositions may also include preparing an emulsifying system comprising one or more surfactants and / or emulsifiers to enhance the stability of the personal care composition. The methods for preparing the emulsifying system may include mixing, combining, agitating, or otherwise bringing into contact the one or more surfactants and / or emulsifiers with each other. For example, the methods for preparing the emulsifying system may include mixing, combining, agitating, or otherwise bringing into contact distearoylethyl dimonium chloride, cetearyl alcohol, and cetearyl ethoxylate-20, stearyl alcohol, isopropyl palmitate, cetyl alcohol, or any combination thereof with each other.

[0068] All ingredients used in the compositions described herein should be topically acceptable. As used herein, "topically acceptable" may refer to any ingredient present in the composition as described in an amount and form that does not render the use of the composition on the skin surface unsafe.

[0069] Examples

[0070] The examples and other embodiments described herein are exemplary and are not intended to limit the full scope of the compositions and methods of the present disclosure. Equivalent changes, modifications, and variations of specific embodiments, materials, compositions, and methods may be made within the scope of the present disclosure to obtain substantially similar results.

[0071] Example 1

[0072] Test personal care compositions (1)-(17) were prepared by combining the ingredients / components according to Tables 1A and 1B. Specifically, the amounts of distearyldimonium chloride, cetearyl alcohol and ceteth-20, stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol were combined according to Tables 1A and 1B, and the remaining components were combined according to the ranges provided in Table 1C. Generally, the ingredients / components of each of the test personal care compositions (1)-(17) were combined according to the ranges disclosed in Table 1D. As indicated in Tables 1A and 1B, it should be understood that the amount of distearyldimonium chloride is typically present in an amount of from about 0.3% to about 0.5%, and all remaining raw materials generally remain constant, except for water, which is adjusted to accommodate changes in the amounts of cetearyl alcohol / ceteth-20, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, isopropyl palmitate, or combinations thereof.

[0073] Table 1A

[0074] Personal care compositions (1)-(8)

[0075] Weight (%)

[0076] Component 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dipalmitoylethyl Dimonium Chloride 0.50 0.30 0.30 0.50 0.30 0.50 0.30 0.30 Cetearyl Alcohol / Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate 2.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Stearyl Alcohol 1.50 3.00 3.00 3.00 1.50 3.00 1.50 1.50 Cetyl Alcohol 3.50 1.50 3.50 1.50 3.50 1.50 1.50 3.50 Isopropyl Palmitate 4.00 4.00 1.50 1.50 4.00 4.00 4.00 1.50

[0077] Table 1B

[0078] Personal care compositions (9)-(17)

[0079] Weight (%)

[0080] Component 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Dipalmitoylethyl Dimonium Chloride 0.50 0.30 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.30 0.30 0.40 0.50 Cetearyl Alcohol / Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate 2.00 2.00 4.00 2.00 4.00 2.00 4.00 3.00 4.00 Stearyl Alcohol 3.00 3.00 1.50 1.50 1.50 3.00 1.50 2.25 3.00 Cetyl Alcohol 3.50 1.50 3.50 1.50 1.50 3.50 1.50 2.50 3.50 Isopropyl Palmitate 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 4.00 4.00 1.50 2.75 4.00

[0081] Table 1C

[0082] Remaining components of personal care compositions (1)-(17)

[0083] Component Range Deionized Water 72-80 Caprylyl Glycol 0.1-3 Preservative 0.1-3 Acid 0.1-2 Glycerin 1-6 Amino Acid 0.1-4 Glyceryl Cocoate 1-4 Coco-Caprylate 1-4 Diethylhexyl Carbonate 0.1-3

[0084] Table 1D

[0085] Amounts of personal care compositions (1)-(17)

[0086] Component Range Water QS Humectant 1-6 Preservative 0.5-1.5 Cationic Surfactant 0.1-2 Nonionic Surfactant 2-4 Fatty Alcohol 0.5-4 Emollient / Skin Conditioner 0.1-5

[0087] Example 2

[0088] The stability of each of the test personal care compositions (1)-(17) prepared in Example 1 was evaluated. Specifically, the stability of each of the test personal care compositions (1)-(17) of Example 1 was evaluated by measuring or observing the pH and viscosity under various accelerated aging conditions.

[0089] To evaluate the viscosity under various accelerated aging conditions, each of the test personal care compositions (1)-(17) was placed in a corresponding glass jar and exposed to an environment maintained at specific conditions (such as time and temperature) indicated in Table 2. After the corresponding time in each study under investigation, each of the personal care compositions was removed from the environment and the personal care composition was cooled in a monitored stability chamber maintained at about 25°C. After cooling to about 25°C, the viscosity and pH were measured, and the personal care composition was visually observed / evaluated. The viscosity was measured using a Brookfield rheometer with a rotor T-93 at 10 RPM for about 1 minute.

[0090] The results of the pH and viscosity stability analyses of the test personal care compositions (1)-(17) are summarized in Tables 2 and 3, respectively. It should be understood that based on the definition of "relatively stable" disclosed herein, a personal care composition is considered relatively stable if no separation is observed and the viscosity and pH values are considered relatively stable throughout the analysis.

[0091] Table 2

[0092] pH of the control and test personal care compositions (C) and (1)-(17) A

[0093]

[0094] A Sep. = Phase separation;

[0095] B Aging condition: -30°C freeze-thaw; 3 cycles

[0096] C Aging condition: -10°C freeze-thaw; 3 cycles

[0097] Table 3

[0098] Viscosity (cP) of the control and test personal care compositions (C) and (1)-(17) A

[0099]

[0100] A Sep. = Phase separation;

[0101] B Aging conditions: freeze-thaw at -30°C; 3 cycles

[0102] C Aging conditions: freeze-thaw at -10°C; 3 cycles

[0103] As shown in Tables 2 and 3, personal care compositions (3), (11), and (17) remained stable by maintaining acceptable pH and viscosity values and did not exhibit any phase separation under various accelerated aging conditions. It was observed that the physical properties of personal care compositions (3), (11), and (17) also remained unchanged under various accelerated aging conditions. Specifically, the color, odor, and appearance of personal care compositions (3), (11), and (17) remained unchanged throughout the various accelerated aging conditions.

[0104] It should be understood that personal care compositions (3), (11), and (17) all contain approximately 4% cetearyl alcohol and ceteth-20 and approximately 3.5% cetyl alcohol.

[0105] As indicated above, personal care composition (3) contains approximately 3% by weight of stearyl alcohol, which results in a combined total fatty alcohol content of approximately 6.5% of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. Personal care composition (3) also contains approximately 1.5% by weight of isopropyl palmitate.

[0106] Personal care composition (11) contains approximately 1.5% by weight of stearyl alcohol and approximately 3.5% by weight of cetyl alcohol, thereby providing a total fatty alcohol of approximately 5%. Personal care composition (11) also contains approximately 1.5% by weight of isopropyl palmitate.

[0107] Personal care composition (17) contains approximately 3% by weight of stearyl alcohol and approximately 3.5% by weight of cetyl alcohol, thereby providing a total fatty alcohol of approximately 6.5%. Personal care composition (11) also contains approximately 1.5% by weight of isopropyl palmitate.

[0108] Surprisingly, it was found that personal care composition (17) is the only stable personal care composition that contains approximately 4% by weight of isopropyl palmitate.

[0109] Surprisingly and unexpectedly, it has been found that a stable personal care composition having a pH of from about 4 to about 5 can be prepared when the primary emulsifiers, cetearyl alcohol and cetearyl ethoxylate-20, are present in an amount of about 4%, the combined amount of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol is present in an amount greater than or equal to about 5%, and cetyl alcohol is present in an amount of 3.5% or greater. It has also been surprisingly and unexpectedly found that a stable personal care composition having a pH of from about 4 to about 5 can be prepared when isopropyl palmitate is present in an amount of about or at least 1.5%. Further surprisingly and unexpectedly, it has been found that if isopropyl palmitate is present in an amount of about 4%, then a stable personal care composition having a pH of from about 4 to about 5 can be prepared by providing a total amount of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol of about 6.5% or greater and / or an amount of cetearyl alcohol / cetearyl ethoxylate-20 of about 4% or greater.

[0110] Example 3

[0111] Whiteness, absorbency, spreadability, tackiness, and greasiness were also evaluated. To evaluate whiteness, absorbency, tackiness, spreadability, and greasiness, a sensory evaluation panel consisting of ten panelists who evaluated sensory properties was used. Each of the ten panelists evaluated each of the test personal care compositions (3), (11), and (17) using a standardized method and a 0 to 5 point rating scale, where '0' represents the lowest level (i.e., none or low) and '5' represents the highest value. A controlled amount of each of the test personal care compositions (3), (11), and (17) was used for analysis. The results of the analysis of the sensory properties of personal care compositions (3), (11), and (17) are summarized in Table 4.

[0112] Table 4

[0113] Sensory Properties of Personal Care Compositions (3), (11), and (17)

[0114]

[0115] C W = Whiteness; A = Absorbency; S = Spreadability; T = Tackiness; G = Greasiness

[0116] Reference is made to the exemplary embodiments, and the present disclosure has been described. Although a limited number of embodiments have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the previous detailed description. The present disclosure is intended to be construed as encompassing all such modifications and changes as long as such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.

Claims

1. A personal care composition having an acidic pH of 4.2 to 4.8; and selected from the group consisting of: (A) A formulation comprising 0.30% by weight of distearoylethyl dimonium chloride, 4.00% by weight of cetearyl alcohol / ceteareth-20, 3.00% by weight of stearyl alcohol, 3.50% by weight of cetyl alcohol, 1.50% by weight of isopropyl palmitate, and 1 - 6% by weight of one or more humectants, based on the total weight of the personal care composition; (B) A formulation comprising 0.50% by weight of distearoylethyl dimonium chloride, 4.00% by weight of cetearyl alcohol / ceteareth-20, 1.50% by weight of stearyl alcohol, 3.50% by weight of cetyl alcohol, 1.50% by weight of isopropyl palmitate, and 1 - 6% by weight of one or more humectants, based on the total weight of the personal care composition; (C) A formulation comprising 0.50% by weight of distearoylethyl dimonium chloride, 4.00% by weight of cetearyl alcohol / ceteareth-20, 3.00% by weight of stearyl alcohol, 3.50% by weight of cetyl alcohol, 4.00% by weight of isopropyl palmitate, and 1 - 6% by weight of one or more humectants, based on the total weight of the personal care composition.

2. The personal care composition according to claim 1, further comprising an ester quaternary ammonium salt.

3. The personal care composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more humectants comprise glycerin, octyldecanol, or a combination thereof.

4. The personal care composition according to claim 1, wherein the personal care composition is substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or any combination thereof.

5. The personal care composition according to claim 1, wherein the personal care composition is substantially free of silicone, silicone compounds, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, or any combination thereof.

6. The personal care composition according to claim 1, further comprising one or more acids, wherein the acid comprises lactic acid.

7. The personal care composition according to claim 1, wherein the personal care composition has an acidic pH of 4.2 to 4.

6.

8. The personal care composition according to claim 1, wherein the personal care composition has a viscosity at 25 °C greater than or equal to 50,000 mPa·s and less than or equal to 200,000 mPa·s.

9. The personal care composition according to claim 1, wherein the personal care composition does not exhibit phase separation after exposure to accelerated aging conditions.

10. A method for preparing the personal care composition according to claim 1, the method comprising bringing the components into contact with each other.

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