Optically Transforming Nail Coatings, Processes, and Systems

Abstract

Optically Transforming Nail Coatings, Methods, and Systems Compositions, kits, and methods for transforming the color appearance of a nail are provided. The methods include applying a color transforming composition to a nail having a decorative coating formed thereon with a substantially uniform colored appearance. The color transforming composition comprises a solvent; a color system comprising effect colorants; a suspender system comprising hydrophilic silica; and a film-forming system, wherein the color transforming composition is substantially free of clays. Figure for abstract: NONE

Description

Title of the invention: Optically transforming nail coatings, methods and systems FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to nail compositions that optically transform a coated nail surface as well as systems and methods for transforming the appearance of a coated nail surface, background discussion

[0002] Consumers enjoy using nail polishes to create color effects on their nails for fashion, beauty, and self-confidence. Nail polishes or coatings are indeed well known for their use in imparting color and optical effects to nails. This can be accomplished by using various coatings that include one or more colorants. It is also known to apply certain clear topcoats, protective, or gloss-enhancing coatings, to a nail surface on which a layer of color is formed. However, the present inventors have recognized that, for reasons of convenience and fashion, there remains a need to easily and readily alter the perceived color properties of a nail on which a colored coating is already formed.Indeed, the present inventors have now discovered that it is possible to transform the colored appearance of a nail on which one or more coatings are formed. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a method of making nails or transforming the colored appearance of nails. The nail has a decorative coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance formed thereon. The method includes applying a color transforming composition to the nail having the decorative coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance formed thereon. The color transforming composition includes (1) a solvent; (2) a color system; (3) a suspending system; and (4) a film-forming system.

[0004] The color system of the color transforming composition includes one or more colorants, the one or more colorants comprising one or more effect colorants, the one or more effect colorants being present in the color transforming composition at a concentration by weight of about 0.1% to about 2%. The color system optionally includes one or more additional colorants. The color system has a fraction of effect colorants that is at least about 50% by weight (i.e., the majority of the colorants in the transforming composition color are effect dyes). The suspending system includes one or more suspending agents, the suspending agent(s) comprising hydrophilic silica. The color transforming composition is substantially free of clays.

[0005] According to some embodiments, the decorative coating that has been formed on the nail is formed by applying a nail polish composition to the nail. The nail polish composition may have from about 0.5 wt% to about 5 wt% of colorants and may have a colorant fraction of effect colorants that is less than about 10 wt%, e.g., less than about 1 wt%, e.g., less than about 0.25 wt%. According to some embodiments, the one or more effect colorants comprise or consist of pearlescent pigments.

[0006] In certain other aspects, a nail composition that can be used to transform the color appearance includes (1) a solvent; (2) a color system; (3) a suspending system; and (4) a film-forming system.

[0007] The color system includes one or more pigments, the colorant(s) comprising one or more pearlescent pigments, the pearlescent pigment(s) being present in the color transforming composition at a concentration by weight of about 0.1% to about 2%. The color system has a colorant fraction of pearlescent pigments that is at least about 90% by weight. The suspender system includes one or more suspending agents, the suspending agent(s) comprising hydrophilic silica. The suspender system is comprised of at least about 80% hydrophilic silica. The nail composition is substantially free of clays. The nail composition includes from about 50% to about 85% by weight of solvents. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] As used herein, the term "at least one" means one or more and therefore includes individual components as well as mixtures / combinations.

[0009] “Film former” or “film-forming agent” as used herein means a polymer or a resin that leaves a film on the substrate to which it is applied, for example, after a solvent accompanying the film former has evaporated, absorbed into and / or dissipated on the substrate.

[0010] “Makeup result” as used herein refers to compositions whose color remains the same or substantially the same as at the time of application, as seen with the naked eye, after an extended period of time. The "makeup result" may be assessed by evaluation of the color appearance may be assessed by a test involving the application of a composition to the nails and evaluation of the color of the composition after a period of time. For example, the color appearance of a composition may be assessed immediately after its application to the nails and these characteristics may then be reassessed and compared after a certain time. In addition, these characteristics can be evaluated relative to other compositions, such as commercially available compositions.

[0011] “Makeup” as used herein means the act of providing decoration (e.g. example, a color) to the nail.

[0012] “Adhesion,” as used herein, means the chemical or physical bonding between a coating and a substrate. Good adhesion between the nail polish and the nail surface should translate into good holding properties for consumers. Adhesion properties can be quantified by an in-vitro method such as a cross-laminate adhesion test. In this test, a lattice pattern is cut into the polish and penetrates to the substrate. A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is applied to the sample and then peeled off. The adhesion property can be quantified by the area of ​​the coating remaining after peeling. For example, if the entire film remains after peeling, this indicates excellent adhesion. If most of the film is peeled off, this indicates poor adhesion. The cross-laminate test is an industry standard test for testing the adhesion of coatings. (Reference # ISO / DIN 2409, ASTM D3359).

[0013] “Substituted” as used herein means comprising at least one substituent. Non-limiting examples of substituents for substitution include atoms, such as oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms, as well as functional groups, such as hydroxyl groups, ether groups, alkoxy groups, acyloxyalkyl groups, oxyalkylene groups, polyoxyalkylene groups, carboxylic acid groups, amine groups, acylamino groups, amide groups, halogen-containing groups, ester groups, thiol groups, sulfonate groups, thiosulfate groups, siloxane groups, and polysiloxane groups. The substituent(s) may be further substituted.

[0014] The term "nail" as used herein includes fingernails and toenails.

[0015] “Color appearance transformation” refers to the ability to change the color and / or color uniformity such as that of a decorative coating (also referred to herein as a "first coating") having a substantially uniform colored appearance that is formed on a nail. The transformation may be from a substantially uniform color to a non-uniform color that may vary depending on viewing conditions, such as viewing angle.

[0016] “Volatile,” as used herein, means having a flash point less than about 100°C.

[0017] “Non-volatile,” as used herein, means having a flash point greater than about 100°C.

[0018] “Substantially free” as used herein means that, although it is preferred that no amount of the specific component is present in the composition, it is possible to have very small amounts of it in the compositions of the invention, provided that such amounts do not materially affect at least one, preferably most, of the beneficial properties of the conditioning compositions of the invention. In some embodiments, substantially free means less than about 2% of the identified ingredient, such as less than about 1%, such as less than about 0.5%, such as less than about 0.1% of the ingredient. The term "anhydrous" means substantially free of water.

[0019] Except in the working examples, or unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients and / or reaction conditions are to be understood as being modified in all cases by the term "about", i.e. to within 10% to 15% of the number indicated. For example, a concentration by weight of about 60% means a concentration of 60% by weight to within 15%, i.e. 51% to 69%, or 60 to within 10%, i.e. 54% to 66%.

[0020] The numerical ranges include the bounds and are intended to include all combinations and subcombinations. For example, from about 5%, 10% or 15% to about 20%, 50% or 60% means about 5% to about 20%, about 5% to about 50%, about 5% to about 60%, about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 50%, about 10% to about 60%, about 15% to about 20%, about 15% to about 50% or about 15% to about 60%.

[0021] All concentrations in this specification are by weight unless otherwise specifically indicated.

[0022] “Asset base” as used herein means considering only the particular component of the ingredient (e.g., in a composition) and ignoring other chemically unrelated components that may also be present in the same raw material source of that particular component.

[0023] “Solids basis” as used herein means considering only the solid components including coatings and absorbed materials such as dyes (e.g., in a composition) and ignoring volatile solvents and water. Effect dye fractions, as described herein, are calculated on a solids basis.

[0024] “Polymer,” as used herein, means a compound whose molecules comprise repeating units. In some embodiments, polymers useful for the embodiments described herein have a repeating unit comprising carbon and hydrogen, such as repeating units comprising carbon, hydrogen, and optionally oxygen or nitrogen.

[0025] The compositions, layers, and methods of the present invention may comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and limitations of the invention described herein, as well as any additional or optional ingredients, components, or limitations described herein or otherwise useful. For example, the compositions and layers may “consist essentially of” or “consist of” effect dyes (such as pearlescent pigments) as the coloring agent.

[0026] The compositions and methods of the present invention may "comprise," "consist of," or "consist essentially of" the essential elements and limitations of the invention described herein, as well as any additional or optional ingredients, components, or limitations described herein or otherwise useful. For the purposes of the compositions and methods of the present invention where the invention "consists essentially of" the identified ingredients and / or process steps, the only "basic and novel property" of these compositions and / or methods is the ability to transform the color appearance of a decorative coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance formed on a nail. Moreover, since it is contemplated that other colorants may be added to the color transforming composition within the context of the present invention, a "material effect" on the basic and novel property of the invention can only be a negative effect.In other words, since positive effects on color transformation properties (such as those influenced by effect colorants, like pearlescent pigments) are within the scope of the present invention, only ingredients that have a significant negative effect on the color appearance transformation properties provided by the effect pigments would be relevant in determining whether the compositions or methods "consist essentially of" the required elements or not.

[0027] decorative coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance

[0028] According to aspects of the present invention, a fingernail has a decorative coating (also known as "nail polish" or "nail enamel") formed thereon. The decorative coating has a substantially uniform colored appearance. By "substantially uniform colored appearance" is meant that, although the coating on the fingernail may have some non-uniformities in gloss or thickness, at a distance of two feet, the surface of the fingernail will generally (over distances of at least a few millimeters, preferably over substantially the entire fingernail) have a uniform, non-transparent colored appearance. The uniform color may be any of the various colors commonly used for fingernail coatings (e.g., a shade of red, pink, brown, blue, gray, black, white, among others).

[0029] According to some embodiments, the decorative coating comprises one or more colorants distributed substantially uniformly throughout the decorative coating. The one or more colorants present in the decorative coating are selected from the various colorants described in this specification. The one or more colorants present in the decorative coating include a fraction of conventional colorants and optionally a fraction of effect colorants (each of these terms is described in this specification, below). According to some embodiments, the fraction of effect colorants relative to a total concentration of colorants in the decorative coating (i.e., the "effect colorant fraction" in the decorative coating) is less than about 10%, such as less than about 5%, such as less than about 1%, such as less than about 0.5%, such as less than about 0.25%, such as 0%. For clarity, the colorant fraction of effect colorants is calculated by dividing the total concentration by weight of effect colorants by the total concentration of all colorants in the coating. The concentrations used to determine colorant fractions of effect colorants are all calculated on a solids basis.

[0030] The decorative coating formed on the nail may be formed, for example, by applying a conventional nail polish composition ("color coat") having colorants (e.g., the coloring moieties of effect colorants) as described in the paragraph above - either directly to the nail or, for example, over a clear base coat. In some embodiments, the nail polish composition will include from about 0.5% or 1% to about 3% or 5% by weight of colorants on a solids basis; and may include about 50% to about 85% solvents, with the balance being other solids such as film formers and the like. A conventional clear top coat may optionally be formed over the color coat. The various coatings are generally allowed to dry (by evaporation of the solvent) or cure (e.g., by radiation such as ultraviolet radiation) before applying additional coatings.

[0031] COLOR TRANSFORMATION COMPOSITION

[0032] According to certain embodiments of the invention, a color transforming composition is applied to the nail on which the decorative coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance is formed. The color transforming composition includes (1) a solvent; (2) a color system; (3) a suspending system; and (4) a film-forming system.

[0033] SOLVENT

[0034] The color transforming composition includes one or more solvents. According to preferred embodiments, the compositions of the invention comprise at least one solvent. Suitable examples of solvents include, but are not limited to, organic solvents such as ketones that are liquid at room temperature such as, for example, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, diisobutyl ketone, isophorone and acetone; alcohols that are liquid at room temperature, such as ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, diacetone alcohol and 2-butoxyethanol; glycols that are liquid at room temperature, such as propylene glycol, pentylene glycol and glycerol; propylene glycol ethers that are liquid at room temperature, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene monomethyl ether acetate glycol and dipropylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether; short-chain esters (having a total of 3 to 8 carbon atoms), such as ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, propyl acetate, n-butyl acetate and isopentyl acetate; ethers that are liquid at room temperature; alkanes that are liquid at room temperature such as decane, heptane, dodecane and isododecane; aromatic cyclic compounds that are liquid at room temperature. In some embodiments, the solvent is selected from ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, isopropanol and ethanol, and combinations thereof. The solvent preferably comprises from about 10% to about 95% by weight, preferably from about 30% to about 90% by weight, and preferably from about 50% to about 85%, by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

[0035] COLOR SYSTEM

[0036] The color transformation includes a color system consisting of one or more colorants. Suitable colorants (coloring agents) include any colorant typically found in nail compositions. Suitable colorants include conventional colorants and effect colorants.

[0037] In accordance with preferred embodiments of nail compositions for imparting color to a nail, the colorants are preferably present in a total amount sufficient to impart color to the nail, preferably in an amount of about 0.1% to about 4% by weight, preferably about 0.25% to about 3% by weight, and preferably about 0.5% to about 2% by weight, of the total weight of the composition, including all intermediate ranges and sub-ranges.

[0038] Suitable conventional colorants include, but are not limited to, lipophilic dyes, conventional pigments, and mixtures thereof.

[0039] Suitable examples of lipophilic dyes are, for example, Sudan red, DC Red 17, DC Green 6, [3-carotene, soybean oil, Sudan brown, DC Yellow 11, DC Violet 2, DC Orange 5 and quinoline yellow.

[0040] Suitable conventional pigments may be white or colored, inorganic and / or organic, and coated or uncoated. Examples include inorganic pigments such as titanium dioxide, optionally surface-treated, zirconium or cerium oxides and iron or chromium oxides, manganese violet, ultramarine blue, chromium hydrate, and ferric blue. Organic pigments also include carbon black, D & C type pigments and lakes based on cochineal carmine or barium, strontium, calcium or aluminium, such as D & C Red Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 13, D & C Red No. 7, D & C Red Nos. 5 and 6 and D & D Red No. 34, as well as lakes such as D & C Yellow No. 5 and D & C Red No. 2. Conventional pigments may further include rosin surface treatments (i.e., they are rosin dyes).

[0041] In accordance with preferred embodiments, conventional colorants are optionally present in the color transforming composition in an amount of from about 0% to about 2% by weight, preferably from about 0% to about 1% by weight, preferably from about 0% to about 0.5%, such as from about 0% to about 0.2%, of the total weight of the composition, including all intermediate ranges and sub-ranges.

[0042] EFFECT COLORING

[0043] By "effect colorant" is meant pigments that generally create a colored appearance (characterized by a certain shade, brightness and brilliance) that is non-uniform and that changes depending on the viewing conditions (light, temperature, viewing angles, and the like). They thus contrast with conventional colorants, which give a conventional opaque, semi-transparent or transparent uniform shade.

[0044] There are several types of effect dyes: those with a low refractive index, such as fluorescent or photochromic pigments, and those including a higher refractive index, such as pearlescent agents (also referred to herein as "pearlescent pigments" or "pearl pigments"), interference pigments or glitter.

[0045] In some embodiments, the effect colorant is selected from a pearlescent pigment. Pearlescent pigments typically include a substrate material that may be in the form of a plate having a face dimension of about 4 to 1000 microns, for example about 1 to 150 microns, and a thickness of about 0.2 microns to about 1 micron. The substrate may comprise or consist of a synthetic mica such as a fluorophlogopite mineral, a natural mica, silica, a borosilicate, or titanium dioxide. One or more coatings, such as those having a thickness of about 40 nm to about 165 nm, are formed on the substrate. The coatings, at least some of which are chemically different (and, for example, have a higher refractive index) than the substrate, may include metal oxides such as iron oxide, tin oxide or titanium dioxide, silica, and combinations thereof.The coatings may further include one or more dyes or pigments such as a ferrocyanide or carbon black.

[0046] Examples of pearlescent pigments include mica coated with titanium or bismuth oxychloride, colored pearlescent pigments, such as mica coated with titanium and iron oxides, mica coated with iron oxide, mica coated with titanium and in particular ferric blue or chromium oxide, mica coated with titanium and an organic pigment as defined above, and pearlescent pigments based on bismuth oxychloride. Pearlescent pigments include Cellini pearlescent agents sold by BASF (mica-TiCh-lake), Prestige sold by Eckart (mica-TiCk), Prestige Bronze sold by Eckart (mica-FeiCh) or Colorona sold by Merck (mica-TiCk-FeiCh).

[0047] Mention may also be made of the gold-colored pearlescent agents sold in particular by BASF under the names Brilliant Gold 212G (Timica), Gold 222C (Cloisonne), Sparkle Gold (Timica), Gold 4504 (Chromalite) and Monarch Gold 233X (Cloisonne); the bronze-colored pearlescent agents sold in particular by Merck under the names Bronze Fine (17384) (Colorona) and Bronze (17353) (Colorona) and by BASF under the name Super Bronze (Cloisonne); the orange pearlescent agents sold in particular by BASF under the names Orange 363C (Cloisonne) and Orange MCR 101 (Cosmica) and by Merck under the names Passion Orange (Colorona) and Matte Orange (17449) (Microna); brown pearlescent agents sold in particular by BASF under the names Nu-Antique Copper 340XB (Cloisonne) and Brown CL4509 (Chromalite); copper-tinted pearlescent agents sold in particular by BASF under the name Copper 340A (Timica);the red-tinted pearlescent agents sold in particular by Merck under the name Sienna Fine (17386) (Colorona); the yellow-tinted pearlescent agents sold in particular by BASF under the name Yellow (4502) (Chromalite); the red-tinted pearlescent agents with a gold tint sold in particular by BASF under the name Sunstone GO 12 (Gemtone); the pink-tinted pearlescent agents sold in particular by BASF under the name Tan Opale G005 (Gemtone); the black pearlescent agents with a gold tint sold in particular by BASF under the name Nu-Antique Bronze 240 AB (Timica), the blue pearlescent agents sold in particular by Merck under the name Matte Blue (17433) (Microna), the white pearlescent agents with a silver tint sold in particular by Merck under the name Xirona Silver, and the orange-pinkish-golden-green pearlescent agents sold in particular by Merck under the name Indian Summer (Xirona), and mixtures thereof. ;

[0048] Mention may also be made, still as examples of pearlescent agents, of particles comprising a borosilicate substrate coated with titanium oxide. Particles comprising a glass substrate coated with titanium oxide are in particular marketed under the name Metashine MC1080RY by the company Toyal.

[0049] Examples of other effect pigments that may also be mentioned are poly(ethylene terephthalate) glitter, in particular those marketed by Meadowbrook Inventions under the name Silver IP 0.004X0.004 (silver straw). It is also possible to envisage multi-layer pigments based on synthetic substrates, such as alumina, silica, sodium calcium borosilicate or aluminum calcium borosilicate and aluminum.

[0050] The effect pigments may also be chosen from reflective particles, namely in particular particles having a size, a structure, in particular a thickness of the layer(s) which compose it and their physical and chemical nature, and the surface state which allow them to reflect the incident light. This reflection may, where appropriate, have sufficient intensity to create, on the surface of the composition or mixture, when it is applied to the support to be formed, highlights visible to the naked eye, namely brighter points which contrast with their environment by appearing to sparkle.

[0051] The reflective particles may be chosen so as not to significantly impair the coloring effect generated by the coloring agents combined with them and more particularly so as to optimize this effect in terms of color rendering. They may more particularly have a yellow, pink, red, bronze, orange, brown, gold and / or copper color or reflection.

[0052] These particles can have various shapes and can in particular be in the form of platelets or globules, in particular in spherical form.

[0053] The reflective particles, whatever their shape, may or may not have a multi-layer structure and, in the case of a multi-layer structure, may have, for example, at least one layer of uniform thickness, in particular of a reflective material.

[0054] When the reflective particles do not have a multilayer structure, they may be composed, for example, of metal oxides, in particular of titanium or iron oxides obtained by synthesis.

[0055] When the reflective particles have a multi-layer structure, they may for example consist of a natural or synthetic, in particular synthetic, substrate, at least partially coated with at least one layer of a reflective material, in particular at least one metal or metallic material. The substrate may consist of one or more organic and / or inorganic materials.

[0056] More particularly, it can be chosen from glasses, ceramics, graphite, metal oxides, aluminas, silicas, silicates, in particular aluminosilicates and borosilicates, synthetic mica and their mixtures, this list not being limiting.

[0057] The reflective material may comprise a layer of metal or a metallic material. Reflective particles are described in particular in JP-A-09188830, JP-A-10158450, JP-A-10158541, JP-A-07258460 and JP-A-05017710.

[0058] Mention may also be made, still as an example of reflective particles comprising an inorganic substrate coated with a layer of metal, of the particles comprising a borosilicate substrate coated with silver.

[0059] Particles comprising a silver-coated glass substrate, in platelet form, are marketed under the name Microglass Metashine REFSX 2025 PS by Toyal. Particles comprising a glass substrate coated with a nickel / chrome / molybdenum are marketed under the names Crystal Star GF 550 and GF 2525 by the same company.

[0060] It is also possible to use particles comprising a metal substrate, such as silver, aluminum, iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, gold, copper, zinc, tin, magnesium, steel, bronze or titanium, said substrate being coated with at least one layer of at least one metal oxide, such as titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, iron oxide, cerium oxide, chromium oxide, silicon oxides and mixtures thereof.

[0061] Examples include aluminum powder, bronze powder, or SiCk-coated copper powder sold under the name Visionaire by Eckart.

[0062] Also included are interference pigments that are not fixed to a substrate, such as liquid crystals (Helicones HC from Wacker) or holographic interference flakes (Geometry Pigments or Spectra f / x from Spectratek). Special effect pigments also include fluorescent pigments, whether they are substances that fluoresce in daylight or that produce ultraviolet fluorescence, phosphorescent pigments, photochromic pigments, thermochromic pigments and quantum dots, for example sold by Quantum Dots Corporation.

[0063] The various effect dyes that can be used in the present invention make it possible to obtain a rich palette of colors but also specific optical effects, such as metallic effects or interference effects.

[0064] The size of the effect dye used in the composition according to the present invention is generally between 10 nm and 200 microns, preferably between 20 nm and 80 microns and more preferably between 30 nm and 50 microns.

[0065] In accordance with preferred embodiments of the color transforming compositions, the effect colorants (preferably pearlescent pigments) are preferably present in an amount of between about 0.1% and about 2%, such as between about 0.2% and about 2% by weight, preferably between about 0.25% and about 1.5% by weight, preferably between about 0.5% and about 1.5%, of the total weight of the color transforming composition, including all intermediate ranges and sub-ranges.

[0066] According to some embodiments, the color system of the color transforming composition has a colorant fraction of effect colorants that is at least about 50%, preferably at least about 75%, preferably at least about 85%, preferably at least about 90%, preferably at least about 95%, such as 100%.

[0067] SUSPENSION SYSTEM

[0068] The color transformation product includes a suspending system consisting of one or more suspending agents. The suspending agent is useful for suspending colorants in the composition. The suspending system includes one or more suspending agents and specifically includes hydrophilic silica.

[0069] The hydrophilic silica may be a fumed silica, such as those with an average particle size of less than 1 pm. By hydrophilic silica is meant that the surface silanol groups are not chemically modified, such as with trimethylsiloxyl groups.

[0070] The suspending system may optionally include other suspending agents, including polymers having good absorption affinity for the surface of the pigments / dyes. According to certain embodiments, the color transformation composition (and thus the suspending system) is substantially free of clays.

[0071] Clays are layered aluminosilicate materials and may optionally be modified, particularly modified montmorillonite clays such as modified hydrophobic bentonites or hectorites such as hectorites modified with C10 to C22 ammonium chloride, such as a hectorite modified with distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride such as, for example, the product Disteardimonium Hectorite (CTFA name) (reaction product of hectorite and disteardimonium chloride) sold under the name Bentone 38 or Bentone Gel by the company Elementis Specialties. Examples include the product Stearalkonium Bentonite (CTFA name) (reaction product of bentonite and quaternary ammonium stearalkonium chloride) such as the commercial product sold under the name TIXOGEL MP 250® by the company Sud Chemie Rheologicals, United Catalysts Inc.

[0072] In accordance with preferred embodiments, the suspending agents are preferably present in a total amount of between about 0.5% and about 2.5% by weight, preferably between about 0.75% and about 2.5% by weight, and preferably between about 1% and about 2% by weight. Further, the suspending system is preferably comprised of at least about 50% hydrophilic silica, such as at least about 60%, at least about 70%, such as at least about 80%, such as at least about 90%, such as at least about 100% hydrophilic silica.

[0073] FILM-FORMING SYSTEM

[0074] The color transformation product includes a film-forming system consisting of one or more film-formers (film-forming agents or film-forming polymers).

[0075] The film-forming system preferably includes a cellulose compound. Suitable cellulose compounds include, but are not limited to, cellulose polymers, such as, for example, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, and nitrocellulose. Preferably, the cellulose compound includes or consists of nitrocellulose.

[0076] According to preferred embodiments, the at least one cellulose compound, if present, is present in the compositions of the present invention in an active material amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 30% by weight, more preferably from about 0.1 to about 20% by weight, and most preferably from about 5 to about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, including all intermediate ranges and sub-ranges.

[0077] Suitable film-forming agents include water-soluble film-forming agents and oil-soluble film-forming agents.

[0078] Specific examples of suitable water-soluble film-forming agents include, but are not limited to, latexes, proteins, keratins, e.g., keratin hydrolysates and sulfonic keratins; acrylic polymers or copolymers; vinyl polymers; gums; and mixtures thereof.

[0079] According to preferred embodiments, the at least one film-forming agent is present in the compositions of the present invention in an amount of active material ranging from about 0.01 to about 30% by weight, more preferably from about 0.1 to about 20% by weight, and most preferably from about 5% to about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, including all intermediate ranges and sub-ranges.

[0080] Other ingredients

[0081] A person of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand the types of other ingredients typically found in nail compositions. A non-exhaustive list of such ingredients includes, but is not limited to, plasticizing agents, coalescing agents, preservatives, fragrances, oils, waxes, surfactants, antioxidants, antifoaming agents, active ingredients selected from essential oils, UV protectants, sunscreens, moisturizing agents, vitamins, shine enhancing agents, shine reducing agents, ceramides, plant extracts, fibers and the like, and mixtures thereof.

[0082] Plasticizers (plasticizing agents) are additives used to optimize the mechanical properties of films. They tend to reduce the glass transition temperature (Tg) and increase the softness and flexibility of the films. Preferably, the plasticizer has a distribution coefficient D less than or equal to 0.1.

[0083] Preferably, the plasticizer has a boiling point measured at ambient pressure of less than or equal to 285°C, preferably less than or equal to 270°C, and preferably less than or equal to 250°C. In this specification, boiling point values ​​should be considered accurate to ±2°C due to uncertainties in boiling point measurement.

[0084] Any plasticizing agent typically found in nail polish compositions may be used. Examples of suitable plasticizers include, but are not limited to, limited to, glycols and their ester derivatives, acid esters, in particular carboxylic acids, such as citrates, adipates, carbonates, tartrates, phosphates or sebacates, oxyethylenated derivatives, such as oxyethylenated oils, and mixtures thereof. For example, suitable plasticizing agents include, but are not limited to, adipates, phthalates, citrates such as triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate, tri(2-ethylhexyl) acetyl citrate, and mixtures thereof.

[0085] In accordance with preferred embodiments, the plasticizer, if present, is preferably present in the primer composition in an amount of 0.1% to 25% by weight, preferably 1% to 10% by weight, preferably 2% to 8% by weight, of the total weight of the composition, including all intermediate ranges and sub-ranges.

[0086] Coalescers (coalescing agents) are additives used to assist the film formation process of certain film-forming agents (e.g., latex).

[0087] Any coalescing agent typically found in nail polish compositions may be used. Examples of suitable plasticizers include, but are not limited to, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol propyl ether, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, isopropyl lactate, and mixtures thereof.

[0088] In accordance with preferred embodiments, the coalescing agent, if present, may be present in the primer composition in an amount of 0.1% to 25% by weight, preferably 1% to 15% by weight, preferably 3 to 10% by weight, of the total weight of the composition, including all intermediate ranges and sub-ranges.

[0089] A person skilled in the art will take care to choose the optional additional additives and / or their quantity in such a way that the advantageous properties of the compositions according to the invention are not, or are not significantly, negatively affected by the envisaged addition.

[0090] These substances can be chosen in various ways by those skilled in the art in order to prepare a composition which has the desired properties, for example consistency or texture.

[0091] These additives may be present in the composition in a proportion of 0% to 20% relative to the total weight of the composition and also such as 0% to 10% or 0.5% to 5%, including all intermediate ranges and sub-ranges.

[0092] It goes without saying that the compositions of the invention must be cosmetically or dermatologically acceptable, that is to say that they must contain a physiologically acceptable non-toxic product. The compositions may be in any galenic form normally used in the fields cosmetic and dermatological product suitable for topical administration on nails.

[0093] According to preferred embodiments, the color transforming compositions of the present invention are anhydrous. According to certain other embodiments, the color transforming compositions of the present invention are phase stable, i.e., they show no visible phase instability after being maintained for one, more, or all of the following periods: four weeks at 105°F, six weeks at 105°F, and / or three freeze-thaw cycles.

[0094] As detailed above, in some embodiments, the color transforming composition is applied to the surface of nails having formed thereon a (first) decorative coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance. This transforms the colored appearance of the first coating. In some alternative embodiments, the color transforming composition is applied directly to the nails. In this manner, the color transforming composition acts to impart a translucent, non-uniform colored appearance to the nail rather than transforming the colored appearance of the first coating.

[0095] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, a kit comprising (1) at least one color transforming composition comprising (a) a solvent; (b) a color system comprising one or more pigments, the one or more pigments comprising one or more pearlescent pigments, wherein the one or more pearlescent pigments are present in the color transforming composition at a concentration by weight of about 0.1% to about 2%, and wherein the color system optionally comprises one or more additional colorants, the one or more additional colorants being collectively present at a concentration by weight such that the colorant fraction of the effect colorants is at least about 50% by weight; (c) a suspending system comprising one or more suspending agents, the one or more suspending agents comprising hydrophilic silica;and (d) a film-forming system, wherein the color transforming composition is substantially free of clays; and;

[0096] The kit further comprises, (2) at least one nail polish composition with a fraction of effect colorants relative to a total colorant concentration that is less than about 10%, such as less than about 5%, such as less than about 1%, such as less than about 0.5%, such as 0%.

[0097] The compositions according to the invention can be manufactured by known processes generally used in the cosmetic or dermatological field.

[0098] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so on, used in the specification and claims should be understood as being modified in all cases by the term "about". Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical parameters presented in the following specification and the appended claims are approximations which may vary depending on the desired properties which the present invention seeks to achieve.

[0099] Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters within the general scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values ​​presented in the specific examples are reported as accurately as possible. However, any numerical value inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation observed in their respective measurements. The following examples are intended to illustrate the invention without limiting its scope. The percentages are given on a weight basis. Examples

[0100] Decorative coatings were applied to artificial nails. VITRO-NAILS (available from Florida Suncare Testing, Inc., IMS Division, Bunnell, Florida) were coated with three different nail polish compositions and allowed to dry to form a decorative nail coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance. The first decorative color polish formulation, EX1, ("color coat") provided a red decorative nail coating. The second, EX2, provided a brown decorative nail coating. The third, EX3, provided a blue decorative nail coating. All three had a substantially uniform colored appearance.The three decorative color coat formulations included about 70% to about 75% solvents; a color system comprising only conventional pigments, a film-forming system, plasticizers, and other ingredients typically used in nail polish formulations, such as sunscreens. The weight percentage of colorants (on a solids basis) included in each of the decorative color coat compositions is shown in Table 1 below.

[0101] [Tables 1] Colorant EX 1 (Red) EX 2 (Brown) EX 3 (Blue) Titanium dioxide (and) oxidized polyethylene (and) aluminum hydroxide [white pigment] 0.986 1.58 0.222 Rosin red lake 34 [red pigment] 0.322 0.326 0 Rosin Red Lake 6 [Red Pigment] 0.321 0.326 0 Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide [Blue Pigment] 0.0360 0 0.687 Red Lake 7 [Red Pigment] 0 0 0.261 Black 2 [Black Pigment] 0 0.165 0.103 TOTAL COLORANT 1.67 2.40 1.27

[0102] After applying these decorative color coat formulations and allowing them to dry, a sample of each was then separately coated with each of the three color transformation compositions, generating 9 samples in total.

[0103] The color transformation compositions had the following composition: as shown in Table 2:

[0104] [Tables2] CLASS OF INGREDIENTS CONCENTRATION BY WEIGHT (%) Solvent 60-80 Film formers 10-20 Plasticizer 4-10 Suspending agents (hydrophilic silica only) 1-2 Colorants (pearlescent pigments only) 0.25-1.5 Other ingredients 0-5

[0105] Other ingredients included sunscreens and dimethicone.

[0106] The colorants included effect colorants (only pearlescent pigments) and, in some cases, very low concentrations of conventional colorants. The pearlescent pigments used in the three color transformation compositions are shown below in Table 3.

[0107] [Tables3] Colorant EX 11 EX 12 EX 13 Calcium borosilicate (and) titanium dioxide (and) silica (and tin oxide 0.69 Mica (and) titanium dioxide (and) Carthaus t intorius flower extract (and) tin oxide 0.30 Calcium aluminum borosilicate and (and) silica (and) titanium dioxide (and) tin oxide Synthetic fluorophlogopite (and) silica (and) titanium dioxide 0.40 Synthetic fluorophlogopite (and) silica (and) iron oxides 0.20 Silica (and) titanium dioxide 0.40 0.40 Silica and synthetic fluorophlogopite and titanium dioxide and carbon black 0.10 TOTAL COLORS 0.99 1.00 0.50

[0108] The color fraction of the effect colorants was approximately 100%. The color transformation compositions were substantially free of clays and were anhydrous. All color transformation compositions transformed the colored appearance of the decorative nail coating from a uniform colored appearance to one that varied depending on the viewing conditions. The color transformations are noted in Table 4, below:

[0109] [Tables4] Reference Decorative coating for nails Color transformation composition Initial colored appearance Final colored appearance Ex 21 Ex 1 Ex. 11 Uniform red Non-uniform: gold and grainy red Ex 24 Ex 1 Ex. 12 Uniform red Non-uniform: gold and grainy red Ex 25 Ex 1 Ex. 13 Uniform red Non-uniform: silver and granular red Ex 26 Ex 2 Ex. 11 Uniform brown Non-uniform: gold and granular brown Ex 27 Ex 2 Ex. 12 Uniform brown Non-uniform: gold and granular brown Ex 28 Ex 2 Ex. 13 Uniform brown Non-uniform: Silver / gold and granular brown Ex 29 Ex 3 Ex. 11 Uniform blue Non-uniform: gold and granular blue Ex 30 Ex 3 Ex. 12 Uniform blue Non-uniform: gold and granular blue Ex 31 Ex 3 Ex. 13 Uniform blue Non-uniform: Silver / gold and granular blue

[0110] Surprisingly, the background color of the decorative nail polish is not erased or completely hidden by the color transformation composition. On the contrary, completely new color aspects are achieved.

[0111] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the compositions and methods according to the disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the disclosure cover such modifications and variations and their equivalents.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of transforming the color appearance of a nail, comprising the steps of: applying a color transforming composition to a nail having formed thereon a decorative coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance, said decorative coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance having a coloring fraction of effect colorants of less than about 10%, wherein the color transforming composition comprises: a solvent;a color system comprising one or more colorants, the one or more colorants comprising one or more effect colorants, wherein the one or more effect colorants are present in the color transforming composition at a concentration by weight of from about 0.1% to about 2%, and wherein the color system optionally comprises one or more additional colorants, wherein the color system has a colorant fraction of effect colorants that is at least about 85% by weight; a suspending system comprising one or more suspending agents, the one or more suspending agents comprising hydrophilic silica; and a film-forming system, wherein the color transforming composition is substantially free of clays; wherein the one or more effect colorants consist of pearlescent pigments and wherein the color transforming composition comprises from about 0.5% to about 1.5% by weight of effect colorants.;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the decorative coating having a substantially uniform colored appearance has a coloring fraction of effect dyes of less than about 1%.

3. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the color transforming composition transforms the colored appearance of the decorative coating into a non-uniform colored appearance which varies depending on viewing conditions.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the decorative coating is formed by applying a nail polish composition having a coloring fraction of effect colorant of less than about 10% by weight.