Personal Care Compositions

Abstract

A personal care composition containing an acyltaurate surfactant exhibits improved foaming and lathering in hard water. The surfactant system in the personal care composition also contains an N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactant and / or an amphoteric co-surfactant. The weight ratio of the acyltaurate to the N-alkyl acyltaurate and / or co-surfactant is adjusted to provide the desired hard water lathering effect. The surfactant system also allows for viscosity enhancement with inorganic salts, and exhibits good lathering and lathering when a cationic conditioning polymer is added.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to personal care compositions comprising an acyltaurate surfactant and an N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactant. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to personal care compositions that provide improved foam in hard water, comprising a combination of an acyltaurate surfactant and an N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactant and / or a co-surfactant. [Background technology]

[0002] Human hair and skin become soiled by contact with the surrounding environment and sebum secreted from the skin and scalp. In particular, soiled hair may have an undesirable feel and / or appearance. Soiled hair and skin are typically washed with water and a surfactant-containing personal care composition, such as shampoo or body wash. When using a personal care composition, many consumers desire good foam. In fact, the amount and / or quality of foam is generally related to the performance of a personal care product. For example, a shampoo that provides a lot of rich, creamy foam may be perceived as providing superior hair cleansing compared to a shampoo that produces less foam or less creamy foam. It has also been found that consumers have a more enjoyable washing experience when using a product that generates more foam.

[0003] A factor that can affect the quantity and / or quality of foam produced by a personal care composition is water hardness. Hard water is characterized by a relatively high dissolved mineral content, particularly calcium and magnesium. Water hardness may be based on calcium carbonate content. For example, calcium carbonate greater than 7.5 grains per gallon (gpg) of water is considered hard, while 0-3 gpg is considered soft. One grain is equivalent to 56.7 milligrams (0.002 ounces) of calcium carbonate. Water hardness may also be based on the level of total dissolved solids (TDS) in water. For example, a TDS greater than 120 ppm is typically considered hard, while a TDS of 60 or less is typically considered soft. Water with a TDS of 61-120 may be considered moderately hard, exhibiting the characteristics of soft or hard water, depending on its position on the scale.

[0004] When personal care compositions such as shampoos, conditioners, or body washes are used in hard water, they tend to produce less foam than soft water.It is generally understood that minerals dissolved in water, especially calcium, form metal ions in the water, which can bind to the negatively charged moieties of surfactants in personal care compositions, thereby reducing the amount or quality (richness) of foam.Metal ions can also reduce the ability of surfactants to bind and remove dirt and oil, which negatively affects product performance.Therefore, cleaning compositions such as shampoos, conditioners, and body washes tend to work better (e.g., provide the best foam) in soft water.

[0005] In the United States, it is estimated that 85% of people do not have soft water, and this number may be higher worldwide. Thus, there is a need for cleaning compositions that provide suitable foam when used in hard water.

[0006] Most personal care compositions (e.g., shampoos and body washes) are surfactant-based compositions. That is, the compositions use one or more surfactants to provide a cleansing benefit (detersive surfactant), a solubilizing benefit (co-surfactant), or other benefit (e.g., conditioning benefit). While sulfated surfactants are generally very good at removing oil and other contaminants from hair and skin, they also have drawbacks. For example, sulfated surfactants are sometimes associated with poor post-wash hair feel, dry hair, and / or dry skin. This is commonly referred to as "irritation," and harsh cleansing ingredients can be poorly accepted by consumers. Therefore, there is a need to provide milder surfactant systems that provide good cleansing benefits and overcome the foaming and sudsing problems associated with hard water.

[0007] It is known that various relatively mild surfactants are used in personal care compositions.For example, N-alkyl acyltaurates, such as sodium methyl cocoyl taurate (SMCT) and sodium lauroyl taurate (SLT), are known, and generally exhibit good solubility in water (compared to, for example, sodium cocoyl isethionate) and do not hydrolyze at acidic pH.However, the alkylmethyl group bonded to the amide nitrogen in SMCT and SMLT can make it difficult to generate viscosity in aqueous personal care compositions by adding inorganic salts, which is the method that viscosity is typically built in surfactant-based compositions.Without sufficient viscosity, it may be difficult to distribute and apply the composition in a controlled manner, and the composition may be perceived by consumers as low quality.

[0008] Another drawback of removing sulfated surfactants is the difficulty of adding cationic conditioning polymers. Conditioning shampoos (i.e., shampoos that provide cleansing and conditioning benefits to hair) typically contain anionic cleansing surfactants and cationic conditioning polymers. The cationic conditioning polymers form coacervates with the anionic surfactant system during intended use of the composition, which deposit on the hair, providing the easier wet combing and detangling benefits desired by consumers. However, the formation of coacervates in the product prior to use ties up some of the surfactants, reducing the amount of surfactant available to provide foaming and cleaning. Because non-sulfated surfactants tend to be less effective than sulfated surfactants in foaming and cleaning, adding a cationic polymer can further strain the sulfate-free surfactant system, further reducing foaming and cleaning. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a personal cleaning composition that provides suitable foam and cleaning performance in hard water. It is also desirable to provide a personal cleaning composition that includes a milder surfactant that has suitable solubility, stability, foaming, and cleaning properties. It is further desirable to provide a personal cleaning composition with a milder surfactant that allows for thickening of the composition by the addition of electrolytes such as inorganic salts. It is further desirable to provide a personal care composition with a milder surfactant and a cationic polymer that exhibits good foaming and cleaning. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] Disclosed herein are aqueous personal care compositions comprising a detersive surfactant, which comprises an acyltaurate surfactant or a combination of an acyltaurate and an N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactant, and an amphoteric co-surfactant, wherein the ratio of detersive surfactant to co-surfactant is from about 0.5:1 to about 2:1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Recent trends indicate that consumers desire to replace sulfated cleaning compositions with milder, sulfate-free ones. However, traditional sulfate-free personal care compositions are generally recognized as less effective, at least in part, due to poor foaming and lathering properties compared to their sulfated counterparts. Worse yet, using personal care compositions in hard water further inhibits foaming and lathering. Surprisingly, it has been found that combining an acyltaurate surfactant with an N-alkylacyltaurate surfactant and / or an amphoteric co-surfactant can provide desirable foaming and lathering properties, even in hard water. It has also been found that these surfactant combinations can be combined with cationic polymers (e.g., cationic conditioning polymers) with little or no adverse effect on foaming properties.

[0012] References herein to "an embodiment" or the like mean that a particular material, feature, structure, and / or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment, and optionally in multiple embodiments, but do not mean that all embodiments incorporate the described material, feature, structure, and / or characteristic. Furthermore, materials, features, structures, and / or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner across different embodiments, and materials, features, structures, and / or characteristics may be excluded or substituted from those described. Accordingly, embodiments and aspects described herein may include or be combined with elements or components of other embodiments and / or aspects, even if not explicitly illustrated in combination, unless otherwise stated or incompatible.

[0013] All ingredient percentages described herein are by weight of the cosmetic composition unless otherwise specified and may be expressed as "weight % (wt%)." Unless specifically stated otherwise, all ratios are by weight. All percentages or weights for listed ingredients are based on the active ingredient level and, therefore, do not include carriers or by-products that may be included in commercially available materials. Significant figures do not imply limitations on the amounts given, nor do they imply limitations on the precision of the measurements. Unless otherwise specified, all measurements are understood to be made at about 25°C and ambient conditions, where "ambient conditions" means conditions under about 1 atmosphere and about 50% relative humidity. All ranges are inclusive and combinable. For example, all numerical ranges include narrower ranges, and the upper and lower limits of bounded ranges are interchangeable, creating additional ranges not expressly bounded.

[0014] The compositions of the present invention can comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of the essential and optional components described herein. As used herein, "consisting essentially of" means that the composition or component may include additional ingredients, but only if the additional ingredients do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition or method. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0015] definition "About" modifies a particular value by indicating a range of ±20% or less (eg, ±15% or less, 10% or less, or 5% or less) of the stated value.

[0016] "Applying" or "application" as used in reference to a composition means applying or spreading the composition onto a keratinous surface of a person, such as skin or hair.

[0017] "Charge Density" ("CD") refers to the ratio of positive charges on a polymer to the molecular weight of the polymer.

[0018] "Cleansing composition" refers to a personal care composition or product intended for use in cleansing bodily surfaces such as skin or hair. Some non-limiting examples of cleansing compositions are shampoos, conditioners, conditioning shampoos, shower gels, liquid hand cleansers, facial washes, etc.

[0019] "Cosmetic agent" means any substance, as well as any component thereof, intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, sprayed, introduced, or otherwise applied to the mammalian body or any part thereof to produce a cosmetic effect. Cosmetic agents may include substances and food additives that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

[0020] "Suitable for application to human hair" means that the personal care composition or its components are acceptable for use in contact with human hair and scalp and skin without undue toxicity, incompatibility, instability, allergic reaction, etc.

[0021] "Substantially free of" means that the composition or ingredient contains less than 3% (e.g., less than 2%, less than 1%, or less than 0.5%) of the subject material by weight of the composition or ingredient. "Free of" means that the composition or ingredient contains 0% of the subject material.

[0022] "Sulfated surfactant" means a surfactant that contains a sulfate moiety. Some non-limiting examples of sulfated surfactants are sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, and ammonium laureth sulfate. "Sulfate-free surfactant" refers to a surfactant that does not have a sulfate component.

[0023] Personal Care Compositions The sulfate-free personal care compositions herein comprise a cleansing taurate surfactant for cleansing target body surfaces such as hair and skin. In some examples, the personal care compositions may comprise a co-surfactant, for example, to aid in the solubilization of the cleansing surfactant or another component in the composition. The taurate surfactant comprises an acyltaurate surfactant and, optionally, an N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactant (e.g., an N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, or N-butyl acyltaurate surfactant). The personal care compositions may also comprise a cationic polymer (i.e., a conditioning polymer) to aid in the appearance and / or feel of hair.

[0024] Surprisingly, it has been found that when suitable acyltaurate surfactants are combined with suitable N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactants and / or amphoteric cosurfactants, improved foam can be observed in hard water.This hard water foam effect is also exhibited when cationic conditioning polymers are added.In some examples, the combination of acyltaurate surfactants and N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactants can be adjusted to provide solubility and / or stability effects.

[0025] The personal care compositions herein may be provided in various product forms, such as solutions, suspensions, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, creams, gels, toners, sticks, sprays, aerosols, ointments, cleansing liquid washes, solid bars, pastes, foams, mousses, shaving creams, wipes, strips, patches, hydrogels, film-forming products, facial and skin masks (with or without insoluble sheets), etc. The form of the composition may depend on the specific dermatologically acceptable carrier selected. In some embodiments, the personal care compositions herein may comprise a dispersed gel network phase, which is combined with a detersive taurate surfactant to provide hair with a milder yet effective conditioning effect.

[0026] Liquid personal care compositions herein, such as shampoos, conditioners, and body washes, can have a viscosity of 2,000 MPa·s to 20,000 mPa·s (e.g., 2,500 to 15,000 mPa·s, 3,000 to 10,000 mPa·s, or 3,500 to 9,000 mPa·s), according to the Rheology Method described in more detail below. Viscosities in this range are generally believed to be preferred by users of liquid personal care compositions.

[0027] In some embodiments, the compositions herein may contain inorganic salt thickeners, such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium sulfate, ammonium chloride, sodium bromide, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the inorganic salts may be present at 0-2% (e.g., 0.05-1% or 0.1-0.5%). In some sulfate-free cleaning compositions, inorganic salts may be present, potentially promoting the formation of coacervates between the anionic surfactant and the cationic polymer, resulting in instability. This is typically perceived as composition instability. Coacervates typically have a gel-like consistency and may precipitate if the composition is unstable, potentially affecting the rheological and performance properties of the composition and the perceived quality of the personal care product. Therefore, it may be important to specifically adjust the amount of inorganic salt in the composition formulation. Too little salt may result in a composition with insufficient viscosity, while too much salt may result in an unstable product.

[0028] Of course, it should be understood that when the cleaning composition is used as intended, it will form a coacervate upon dilution to provide the desired cleaning and / or conditioning benefits.

[0029] Taurate Surfactants The sulfate-free surfactant system of the personal care composition herein comprises an acyltaurate surfactant and, optionally, an N-alkylacyltaurate surfactant to provide foaming and cleansing properties to the personal care composition. Such surfactants are commonly referred to as detersive surfactants. Detersive surfactants facilitate cleaning due to their amphiphilic nature, where the surfactant breaks down oils and other contaminants in the hair and forms micelles around them. Detersive surfactants also produce foam, which helps lift "trapped" contaminants from the hair or skin, making them easier to rinse off with water.

[0030] The composition may contain 1 to 20% (e.g., 2 to 15%, 3 to 12%, or 4 to 10%) of a taurate surfactant. The taurate surfactant may comprise a weight ratio of acyl taurate to N-alkyl acyl taurate of 1:4 to 50:1 (e.g., 1:4, 1:3, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1, 11:1, 12:1, 13:1, 15:1, 20:1, 25:1, 30:1, 35:1, 40:1, or 45:1). It may be important not to include too much N-alkyl acyl taurate, as this may interfere with the ability to generate viscosity in the composition using inorganic salts such as, for example, sodium chloride and / or potassium chloride. Compositions with insufficient viscosity (ie, "runny") may be perceived by consumers as being of poor quality.

[0031] Acyl taurate surfactants that may be suitable for use herein are generally described by Formula I, illustrated below.

[0032] [ka]

[0033] wherein R is an alkyl group having 5 to 23 carbon atoms (7 to 21, 7 to 17, 7 to 15, 7 to 13, 11 to 17, 11 to 15, 11 to 13, or even 11 carbon atoms) and X is a suitable counterion (e.g., sodium, potassium, magnesium, ammonium, or triethanolamine).

[0034] Some non-limiting examples of acyltaurates are capric ester taurate, cocoyl taurate, lauroyl taurate, myristoyl taurate, caproyl taurate, oleoyl taurate, capryloyl taurate, palmitoyl taurate, stearoyl taurate, linoleoyl taurate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

[0035] The N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactants of the present invention are generally represented by Formula II below:

[0036] [ka]

[0037] In the formula, R 1 is an alkyl group having 5 to 23 carbon atoms, 7 to 21, 7 to 17, 7 to 15, 7 to 13, 11 to 17, 11 to 15, 11 to 13, or even 11 carbon atoms), X is a suitable counterion (e.g., sodium, potassium, magnesium, ammonium, or triethanolamine), and R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Some non-limiting examples of N-alkyl acyltaurates that may be suitable for use herein include methyl capric ester taurate, methyl cocoyl taurate, methyl lauroyl taurate, methyl myristoyl taurate, methyl caproyl taurate, methyl oleoyl taurate, methyl capryloyl taurate, methyl palmitoyl taurate, methyl stearoyl taurate, methyl linoleoyl taurate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

[0038] It should be understood that the taurate surfactants described herein are typically not single compounds as shown by their general formula (I) or (II), but rather mixtures of several homologs having various chain lengths and molecular weights. Furthermore, the taurate surfactants herein may be either saturated or unsaturated.

[0039] Co-surfactant The personal care compositions of the present invention may contain a co-surfactant selected from anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of anionic co-surfactants include anionic surfactants other than taurine, such as isethionates, carboxylates, sulfonates (e.g., alpha olefin sulfonates, linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl glyceryl sulfonates, lauryl glucoside hydroxypropyl sulfonate), branched alkyl sulfonates, sulfosuccinates, sulfoacetates, sulfolaurates, amino acid surfactants (e.g., glycinates, sarcosinates, alaninates, glutamates), lactates and lactate-based surfactants (e.g., sodium lauroyl lactylate and sodium lauroyl lactylate), phosphate ester surfactants, and combinations thereof.

[0040] Some non-limiting examples of amphoteric and / or zwitterionic surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic secondary amines and aliphatic tertiary amines, in which one of the aliphatic substituents contains 8 to 18 carbon atoms and one aliphatic substituent contains an anionic group such as a carboxy, sulfonate, phosphate, or phosphonate group. Zwitterionic surfactants are surfactants whose polar functional group has two permanent charges that do not change with changes in pH. Amphoteric surfactants have polar functional groups whose charges depend on the pH of the solution and can exhibit different charges ranging from cationic to zwitterionic to potentially anionic as the pH changes from acidic to neutral to basic. Some non-limiting examples of zwitterionic surfactants include amidosulfobetaine, hydroxysultaine, amidopropylhydroxysultaine, and combinations thereof. Some non-limiting examples of amphoteric surfactants include amphoacetates, amphodiacetates, betaines, amidobetaines (e.g., cocamidopropyl betaine and lauramidopropyl betaine), amidosulfobetaines, propionates, and combinations thereof.

[0041] Some non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants include glyceryl esters of alkanoic acid, polyglyceryl esters of alkanoic acid, propylene glycol esters of alkanoic acid, sorbitol esters of alkanoic acid, alkanolamides, alkoxylated amides, alkyl glycosides, alkyl polyglucoside acyl glucamides, amine oxides, and combinations thereof.Some particularly suitable examples of nonionic surfactants include cocamide, cocamide MEA, PPG-2 cocamide, PPG-2 hydroxyethyl cocamide, PPG-2 hydroxyethyl isostearamide, lauroyl / myristoyl methyl glucamide, capryloyl / caproyl methyl glucamide, cocoyl methyl glucamide, decyl glucoside, coco glucoside, lauryl glucoside, lauramine oxide, cocamine oxide, and combinations thereof.

[0042] More specific examples of the optional co-surfactants mentioned above are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2019 / 0105246, U.S. Patent No. 2018 / 0098923, U.S. Patent No. 9,271,908, WO 2020 / 016097, and McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents, 2019, MC Publishing Co.

[0043] The co-surfactant may be present in the personal care composition at 1% to 15% (e.g., 2-10%, 3-9%, 4-8%, or even 5-7%). The amount of co-surfactant in the composition can be important and should be adjusted to balance viscosity buildup with cleansing and / or conditioning benefits. For example, too much amphoteric co-surfactant can reduce the salt tolerance of the surfactant system, which may interfere with the surfactant system's ability to form a suitable coacervate upon dilution with water. This can be particularly problematic when the composition contains a cationic polymer, as the cationic polymer may precipitate if the surfactant system's salt tolerance is reduced. In some embodiments, the composition may comprise a weight ratio of total taurate surfactant to amphoteric co-surfactant of 12:1 to 1:1 (6:1 to 3:10, 4:1 to 1:3, or even 2:1). It may be particularly desirable to provide a detersive surfactant to co-surfactant ratio of 0.5:1 to 2:1 (e.g., 1:1 to 1.5:1).

[0044] cationic polymer The personal care compositions herein may include 0.05 to 3% (e.g., 0.1 to 2%, or 0.2 to 0.8%) of a cationic polymer to enhance the appearance, feel, or adhesion of the polymer to hair or skin. The cationic polymer may have a weight average molecular weight of 50 kDa to about 5 MDa (e.g., 500 kDa to 4 MDa, 1 to 3 MDa, 1.2 to 2 MDa, or even 1.4 to 1.8 MDa) and a charge density of 0.2 meq / g to 12 meq / g (e.g., 0.4 to 10 meq / g, 0.4 to 5 meq / g, 0.4 to 4 meq / g, 0.4 to 3 meq / g, or even 0.4 to 2 meq / g). The charge density may be measured at the pH of intended use of the personal care composition, which may be pH 3 to pH 9 (e.g., pH 4 to 8 or pH 4.5 to 6.5).

[0045] The cationic polymer may contain a cationic nitrogen-containing moiety, such as a quaternary ammonium, or a cationic protonated amino moiety. The cationic protonated amine may be a primary, secondary, or tertiary amine, depending on the specific species and the selected pH of the composition. Anionic counterions can be used in combination with the cationic polymer, as long as the polymer remains soluble. Examples of suitable counterions include halide counterions (e.g., chloride, fluoride, bromide, iodide).

[0046] Some non-limiting examples of cationic polymers include copolymers of water-soluble spacer monomers, such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, alkyl and dialkyl acrylamide, alkyl and dialkyl methacrylamide, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, vinyl caprolactone, or vinyl pyrrolidone, with vinyl monomers having cationic protonated amine or quaternary ammonium functional groups. Some non-limiting examples of cationic protonated amino and quaternary ammonium monomers include vinyl compounds substituted with dialkylaminoalkyl acrylates, dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylates, monoalkylaminoalkyl acrylates, monoalkylaminoalkyl methacrylates, trialkylmethacryloxyalkylammonium salts, trialkylacryloxyalkylammonium salts, diallyl quaternary ammonium salts, and vinyl quaternary ammonium monomers having cyclic cationic nitrogen-containing rings, such as pyridinium, imidazolium, and quaternized pyrrolidone, e.g., alkylvinylimidazolium, alkylvinylpyridinium, and alkylvinylpyrrolidone salts.

[0047] Additional non-limiting examples of cationic polymers include copolymers of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and 1-vinyl-3-methylimidazolium salts (e.g., chloride salts) (referred to in the industry by the Personal Care Products Council (“PCPC”) as Polyquaternium-16), copolymers of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (Polyquaternium-11), cationic diallyl quaternary ammonium-containing polymers, such as dimethyldiallylammonium chloride homopolymer, acrylamide and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride homopolymer, and copolymers of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (Polyquaternium-12). and amphoteric copolymers of acrylic acid, including copolymers of acrylic acid and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (Polyquaternium-6 and Polyquaternium-7, respectively), copolymers of acrylic acid and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (Polyquaternium-22), terpolymers of acrylic acid, dimethyldiallylammonium chloride and acrylamide (Polyquaternium-39), and terpolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride and methyl acrylate (Polyquaternium-47). In some embodiments, suitable cationically substituted monomers include cationically substituted dialkylaminoalkylacrylamides, dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamides, and combinations thereof. The cationic polymer can be AM:TRIQUAT, which is a copolymer of acrylamide and 1,3-propanediamine, N-[2-[[[dimethyl[3-[(2-methyl-1-oxo-2-propenyl)amino]propyl]ammonium]acetyl]amino]ethyl]2-hydroxy-N,N,N',N',N'-pentamethyl-, trichloride (Polyquaternium-76). AM:TRIQUAT can have a charge density of 1.6 meq / g and a molecular weight of 1.1 MDa.

[0048] In some embodiments, the cationic monomer can be polymethylacrylamidopropyltrimonium chloride, available from Solvay (Brussels, Belgium) under the trade name Polycare® 133. Copolymers of cationic monomers can also be suitable, and the charge density of the total copolymer can be from 2.0 meq / g to 4.5 meq / g.

[0049] Other cationic polymers include polysaccharide polymers such as cationic cellulose derivatives and cationic starch derivatives. In certain embodiments, the cationic cellulose polymer can be selected from salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with trimethylammonium-substituted epoxides, known in the industry as Polyquaternium-10 (PCPC) and available from Dow Chemical Company as UCARE® JR-30M, KG-30M, and LR-30M. Other examples of cationic cellulose polymers include polymeric quaternary ammonium salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with lauryldimethylammonium-substituted epoxides, known in the industry as Polyquaternium 24 (PCPC).

[0050] Further examples of cationic polymers include cationic guar gum derivatives, such as guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, such as the Jaguar series available from Solvay, and the N-Hance and AquaCat series from Ashland (Wilmington, Delaware). Additional disclosure of cationic guar gum derivatives can be found in U.S. Patent No. 6,930,078.

[0051] In some cases, the cationic polymer may include a synthetic cationic polymer or derivative thereof present at 0.025% to about 5%. Preferred synthetic cationic polymers are generally water-soluble or water-dispersible and non-crosslinked. In some cases, the synthetic cationic polymer may be a copolymer containing one or more cationic monomer units and one or more nonionic or anionic monomer units, so long as the copolymer has a net positive charge. The synthetic cationic polymer may have a cationic charge density of 0.5 meq / g to 12 meg / g and an average molecular weight of 1 kDa to 5 MDa. Some non-limiting examples of synthetic cationic polymers are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0223951.

[0052] Carrier The composition may optionally contain 20-95% aqueous carrier, such as water and / or a water-miscible solvent. The type and amount of aqueous carrier should be selected to provide a composition with the desired rheological properties. The liquid carrier can be, for example, water with less than 5%, 3%, 1%, 0.5%, or even 0% miscible organic solvent. Some non-limiting examples of organic solvents include lower alkyl alcohols (e.g., ethanol and isopropanol) and polyhydric alcohols (e.g., propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, glycerin, and propanediol).

[0053] Optional Ingredients The personal care compositions described herein may contain various optional ingredients to tailor the properties and characteristics of the composition as needed. Optional ingredients may be materials commonly included in compositions of this type. Optional components should be physically and chemically compatible with the essential components of the personal care composition and should not otherwise unduly impair the stability, aesthetics, or performance of the composition. Individual concentrations of optional components may generally range from 0.001% to 10%.

[0054] Non-limiting examples of optional ingredients that can be incorporated into the personal care compositions herein include deposition aids, cationic polymers, conditioning agents (including gel networks, triglyceride oils, hydrocarbon oils, fatty acid esters, silicones), antidandruff agents (e.g., zinc pyrithione, zinc carbonate, piroctone olamine, piroctone, ciclopirox, lilopirox, MEA-hydroxyoctyloxypyridinone, azoxystrobin, sulfur, azoles, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, 1,10-phenanthroline), antibacterial agents, suspending agents, viscosity modifiers, dyes, pigments, non-volatile solvents or diluents (water soluble and insoluble), pearlizing agents, foaming agents, pediculicides, pH adjusters, fragrances, preservatives, chelating agents, proteins, vitamins, amino acids, skin active agents, sunscreens, ultraviolet light absorbers, stabilizers, and combinations thereof.

[0055] Methods for Making Personal Care Compositions The personal care compositions described herein can be made using conventional methods for making the desired type of composition (e.g., shampoo, conditioner, or body wash). A particularly suitable method for making the compositions herein is described in Example 1 below. In some embodiments, the composition may include a gel network to aid in conditioning the hair or scalp. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006 / 269501 discloses methods for making gel networks that may be suitable for use herein.

[0056] How to use The personal care compositions described herein can be used in a conventional manner to cleanse and condition hair or skin. An effective amount of the composition for use generally ranges from 1 g to 50 g (e.g., 1 g to about 20 g). Generally, a method of treating hair or skin can include applying the personal care composition to the hair or skin. For example, an effective amount of the personal care composition can be applied to hair or skin that has been wetted with water, and the composition can then be rinsed off. Application to hair typically involves working the composition through the hair so that most or all of the hair comes into contact with the composition. The personal care composition can be used as a liquid, solid, semi-solid, flake, gel, foam, in a pressurized container with the addition of a propellant, or in the form of a pump spray. The viscosity of the product can be selected to correspond to the desired form.

[0057] In some embodiments, a method for treating hair or skin may include the steps of: (a) wetting the hair or skin with water; (b) applying an effective amount of a personal care composition to the hair or skin; and (c) rinsing the applied skin or hair area with water. These steps may be repeated as many times as necessary to achieve the desired cleansing and conditioning benefits.

[0058] method Foam robustness Consumers commonly associate foaming and lathering with the quality of personal cleansing compositions, such as shampoos and body washes. This method provides a way to simulate the foam generated by surfactants under typical use conditions and across a wide range of water hardness conditions, and to quantify specific foam characteristics. Oil (e.g., sebum) is one of the most common contaminants found on hair, which can have an undesirable effect on shampoo lather characteristics. Therefore, this method evaluates the effect of oil on lather characteristics.

[0059] 100 mL of DI water at 100°F and 0 gpg water hardness is added to a suitable blender (e.g., KitchenAid KSB560CU1 brand food mixer or equivalent), followed by 2 mL of the test composition and 1 mL of extra virgin olive oil. The mixture is blended for 30 seconds on the "stir" setting, and the foam height in the blender is measured in centimeters and recorded as the 0 gpg foam height.

[0060] 100 mL of 25 gpg water at 100°F is added to a suitable blender (e.g., KitchenAid KSB560CU1 brand food mixer or equivalent), followed by 2 mL of the test composition and 1 mL of extra virgin olive oil. The mixture is blended for 30 seconds on the "stir" setting, and the foam height in the blender is measured in centimeters and recorded as the 25 gpg foam height. 25 gpg water can be made by first making a brine solution containing 22.5 g of magnesium chloride hexahydrate and 61 g of calcium carbonate completely dissolved in 1 L of DI water, then adding 235 mL of the brine solution to 50 L of DI water and mixing thoroughly to ensure homogeneity.

[0061] 25 gpg of water can be prepared as follows: Dissolve 22.5 g of magnesium chloride hexahydrate and 61 g of calcium carbonate in 1 liter of DI water to form a brine solution. Add 235 mL of the brine solution to 50 L of DI water and mix to obtain a 25 gpg aqueous solution.

[0062] The foam robustness of a composition is expressed in terms of the % reduction in foam height between 0 gpg and 25 gpg of water and can be calculated using the following formula:

[0063]

number

[0064] Rheology The viscosity of the personal care composition was measured using a Brookfield® RS brand rheometer with a cone and plate (cone C75-1) at 2 s -1 Measurements can be performed on a 2.5 mL sample at 27°C in 3 minutes.

[0065] water hardness method The water hardness of a water sample can be determined by using test strips from a water hardness test kit, such as WaterWorks™ Total Hardness or its equivalent, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

[0066] Example Example 1: Example Formulations Table 1 provides examples of the working of personal care composition formulations of the present invention. The compositions in Table 1 are made by adding DI water to a mixing vessel, followed by each subsequent ingredient while stirring. If present, a poorly water-soluble surfactant, such as cocamide MEA or sodium cocoyl isethionate, requires heating the composition to 50-75°C and stirring until completely solubilized (i.e., no visible particles remain and the batch is clear). The remaining ingredients, except for the cationic polymer or volatile materials, are then added to the mixing vessel and mixed until completely dissolved or solubilized. If heated, the composition is cooled to below 35°C before adding volatile ingredients, such as fragrance. If a cationic polymer is present, the cationic polymer is mixed with water in a 1:20 ratio (polymer:water) in a separate vessel to form a slurry or dilute solution, which is then added to the cooled composition in the mixing vessel and mixed for 10 minutes. The pH of the composition is adjusted with citric acid (typically 0.2-0.5%). The viscosity is adjusted with sodium chloride. Add deionized water to bring the final volume to 100%. Mix the mixture until homogenous (approximately 10 minutes).

[0067] The foam height of the example compositions was determined according to the foam robustness method described above. A foam height reduction of more than 55% is considered unacceptable. A foam height reduction of 55% or less is considered acceptable, with a reduction of less than 30% being preferred, a reduction of less than 20% being particularly preferred, and a reduction of less than 10% being ideal.

[0068] [Table 1] 1. Sodium Lauroyl Taurate, manufactured by P&G Chemicals 2. Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate manufactured by P&G Chemicals or Geropon® TL 32 L manufactured by Syensqo 3. Bio-terge® AS-40 from Stepan 4. Tego® Betain CK PH 12 from Evonik. 5. Mirataine® DAB ULS MB by Syensqo 6. Naternal™ Excel by Syensqo 7. Dow UCARE® JR30M 8. Octirox® by Clariant 9. BASF Texapon® ALS Benz

[0069] Example 2 - Formulation example Table 2 shows prophetic examples of personal care compositions of the present invention. These examples can be made as described above using known techniques. Unless otherwise specified, the materials used in these examples can be sourced from the same suppliers as those described above in Example 1.

[0070] [Table 2] 1. Sodium Cocoyl Taurate manufactured by P&G Chemicals 2. Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate manufactured by P&G Chemicals or Geropon® TC 95 P or Geropon® TC 30 manufactured by Solvay 3. Plantapon® 1200 N UP manufactured by BASF 4. Chemccinate™ DSLS-BA from Lubrizol 5. Cola® Mate LA-40 manufactured by Colonial Chemical 6. Dehyton™ AB30 manufactured by BASF 7. Empigen® BB / HP manufactured by Innospec 8. Dehyton® AB 30 Cocobetaine (BASF) 9. Amphosol® 2C from Stepan 10. α-Glucan hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride (MW = 185 kDA, DS = 0.03-0.15) 11. Ashland N-Hance™ BF-17 12. Octopirox® manufactured by Clariant. 13. Arxada U2 ZPT or Kolon FPS ZPT 14. EGDS purified from Evonik 15. Kathon™ CG Broad Spectrum Fungicide

[0071] Example 3: Effect of Foam Height This example demonstrates the foam fastness effect that can be provided by the inventive combination of acyltaurate and N-alkylacyltaurate and amphoteric co-surfactant when the personal care composition is used in hard water.The foam height of the test composition was determined according to the foam fastness method.The inventive composition is designated as "Inv", and the comparative composition (i.e., not the present invention) is designated as "Comp".

[0072] [Table 3]

[0073] As can be seen in Table 3, adjusting the taurate to amphoteric ratio is important to provide hard water foam benefits. In particular, going from a 3:1 ratio, which provides essentially no foam and a 75-99% reduction in foam height, to a 1:1 ratio results in a remarkable improvement in hard water foam volume and a substantial reduction in foam reduction.

[0074] Example 4: Effect of additional co-surfactant.

[0075] This example demonstrates the criticality of the ratio of total taurate to amphoteric surfactant, even in the presence of additional cosurfactant, with respect to hard water foam effectiveness of personal care compositions. Example Inv 3b was included to demonstrate that the ratio of acyltaurate to N-alkyl acyltaurate is not as important with respect to robust foam production in hard water as it is with respect to other composition properties, such as acyltaurate solubility or viscosity buildup.

[0076] [Table 4]

[0077] [Table 5]

[0078] [Table 6]

[0079] 1. Dacpon 27-23 AL (54% branched alkyl chain) from Sasol As can be seen in Table 4, the comparative examples demonstrate that adding a third surfactant (e.g., a nonionic or anionic co-surfactant) did not improve hard water foam when the ratio of total taurate to amphoteric surfactant was 2.5:1, despite the ratio of taurate to nonionic or anionic surfactant being 1:1. However, reducing the ratio of taurate surfactant to amphoteric surfactant to 1:1 resulted in a surprising improvement in hard water foam for each of the inventive compositions, reducing the % loss in foam height.

[0080] Perhaps even more surprising was the discovery that adjusting the ratio of taurate to amphoteric surfactant improved hard water foam as much as increasing the total surfactant level, compensating for the known negative impact of hard water on foam volume. For example, composition Inv 9 contained 13% total surfactant and showed an acceptable percent foam height reduction of 35%. Comparing composition Inv 9 to Inv 8 shows that adding 2% sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate to composition Inv 9, thus increasing the total surfactant level to 15% (Inv 8), resulted in a percent drop improvement of 13%. Increasing the total taurate to amphoteric surfactant ratio from 0.6:1 (Inv 9) to 1:1 (Inv 10) while maintaining a low 13% total surfactant level resulted in an unexpected percent drop improvement of 12%, which was comparable to the improvement observed from increasing the total surfactant level. This further emphasizes the importance of the ratio of taurate to amphoteric surfactant for providing hard water foam benefits even at low total surfactant concentrations.

[0081] Example 5: Effect of cationic polymers. This example demonstrates the effect of cationic polymers such as guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride or polyquaternium-10 on the hard water foam effect of personal care compositions. Examples of personal care compositions of the present invention are provided in Table 5 along with a listing of foam test results.

[0082] [Table 7]

[0083] As can be seen in Table 5, the personal care compositions still exhibited an acceptable amount of foam generation, even when cationic polymers were added.

[0084] Example 6: Comparative Example This example provides a comparative personal care composition that does not provide the hard water foam benefits of the compositions described herein.

[0085] [Table 8] 1. StarSurf™ CAPHS manufactured by StarChem 2. Mirataine® LHS by Syensqo 3. Merquat™ 550 PR Polymer from Lubrizol 4. Hallstar® PEG 6000 DS manufactured by Hallstar 5. Hallstar® PEG 4400 MS MB manufactured by Hallstar

[0086] As can be seen in Table 6, the comparative personal care compositions do not provide an acceptable amount of lather fastness.

[0087] Examples / Combinations 1. An aqueous personal care composition comprising: a) a detersive surfactant comprising an acyltaurate surfactant or a combination of an acyltaurate and an N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactant; b) an amphoteric co-surfactant, the ratio of detersive surfactant to co-surfactant being from 0.5:1 to 2:1; (c) water.

[0088] 2. The personal care composition of paragraph 1, exhibiting less than 55%, preferably less than 30%, more preferably less than 20%, and most preferably less than 15% foam reduction according to the Lather Fastness Test.

[0089] 3. The personal care composition of paragraph 1 or 2, wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected from alkylamidopropyl betaines, alkyl betaines, amphoacetates, and combinations thereof.

[0090] 4. The personal care composition of paragraph 3, wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected from cocamidopropyl betaine, lauramidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, lauryl betaine, cetyl betaine, sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, disodium lauroamphodiacetate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, and combinations thereof.

[0091] 5. The personal care composition of any one of paragraphs 1-4, further comprising an additional surfactant selected from a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and combinations thereof.

[0092] 6. The personal care composition of any one of paragraphs 1 to 5, wherein the composition comprises a combination of an acyltaurate and an N-acylalkyltaurate in a weight ratio of acyltaurate to N-alkylacyltaurate of 1:1 to 50:1, preferably 2:1 to 50:1, more preferably 2:1 to 25:1.

[0093] 7. The personal care composition of any one of paragraphs 1-6, wherein the acyl taurate surfactant is a C8 to C24 acyl taurate surfactant, preferably selected from the group consisting of capric acid ester taurate surfactants, cocoyl taurate surfactants, lauroyl taurate surfactants, myristoyl taurate surfactants, caproyl taurate surfactants, oleoyl taurate surfactants, capryloyl taurate surfactants, palmitoyl taurate surfactants, stearoyl taurate surfactants, linoleoyl taurate surfactants, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

[0094] 8. The personal care composition of any one of paragraphs 1-7, wherein the N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactant is selected from the group consisting of methyl-substituted acyltaurates, ethyl-substituted acyltaurates, propyl-substituted acyltaurates, butyl-substituted acyltaurates, salts thereof, and combinations thereof, preferably methyl capric ester taurate, methyl cocoyl taurate, methyl lauroyl taurate, methyl myristoyl taurate, methyl caproyl taurate, methyl oleoyl taurate, methyl capryloyl taurate, methyl palmitoyl taurate, methyl stearoyl taurate, methyl linoleoyl taurate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

[0095] 9. The composition of any one of paragraphs 1-8, further comprising an additional ingredient selected from deposition aids, conditioning agents, antidandruff agents, antibacterial agents, suspending agents, viscosity modifiers, dyes, pigments, non-volatile solvents, diluents, pearlizing aids, foam boosters, pH adjusters, fragrances, preservatives, chelating agents, proteins, vitamins, amino acids, skin active agents, sunscreens, UV absorbers, stabilizers, and combinations thereof, preferably an antidandruff agent selected from the group consisting of azoles, hydroxylpyridone, zinc pyritone, zinc carbonate, piroctone olamine, piroctone, sulfur, ciclopirox, rilopirox, MEA-hydroxyoctyloxypyridinone, salicylic acid, azoxystrobin, 1,10-phenanthroline, and combinations thereof.

[0096] 10. The composition of any one of paragraphs 1-9, wherein the composition is substantially free of sulfated surfactants.

[0097] 11. The composition of any one of paragraphs 1 to 10, further comprising about 0.05% to about 3% of a cationic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of about 50 kDa to about 5 MDa and a charge density of about 0.2 meq / g to about 12 meq / g.

[0098] 12. The composition of any one of paragraphs 1 through 11, wherein the personal care composition is a shampoo, conditioner, or body wash.

[0099] 13. The use of any one of paragraphs 1 to 12 for personal care for cleansing body surfaces, a) applying water to a target body surface desired to be cleaned, the water having a hardness value of greater than 3 grains per gram of water according to the Water Hardness Act; b) applying the composition of any preceding paragraph to a target body surface; c) rinsing the composition from the body surface with water.

[0100] 14. The method of paragraph 13, wherein the target body surface is hair or skin.

[0101] Dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values ​​recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "approximately 40 mm."

[0102] All documents cited herein, including cross-referenced or related patents or applications, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document shall not be deemed to be prior art to any invention disclosed or claimed herein, or that it, alone or in combination with any other reference(s), teaches, suggests, or discloses any such invention. Furthermore, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall control.

[0103] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. 1. An aqueous personal care composition comprising: a) a detersive surfactant comprising an acyltaurate surfactant or a combination of an acyltaurate and an N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactant; b) an amphoteric co-surfactant, wherein the ratio of detersive surfactant to co-surfactant is from 0.5:1 to 2:1; (c) water.

2. 10. The personal care composition of claim 1, wherein the composition exhibits less than 55% foam reduction, preferably less than 30%, more preferably less than 20%, and most preferably less than 15% foam reduction according to the Lather Fastness Test.

3. 3. The personal care composition of claim 1, wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected from alkylamidopropyl betaines, alkyl betaines, amphoacetates, and combinations thereof.

4. 4. The personal care composition of claim 3, wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected from cocamidopropyl betaine, lauramidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, lauryl betaine, cetyl betaine, sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, disodium lauroamphodiacetate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, and combinations thereof.

5. 5. The personal care composition of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an additional surfactant selected from nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and combinations thereof.

6. 6. A personal care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the composition comprises a combination of acyltaurate and N-acylalkyltaurate in a weight ratio of acyltaurate to N-alkylacyltaurate of from 1:1 to 50:1, preferably from 2:1 to 50:1, more preferably from 2:1 to 25:

1.

7. 7. The personal care composition of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the acyl taurate surfactant is a C8 to C24 acyl taurate surfactant, preferably selected from the group consisting of capric ester taurate surfactants, cocoyl taurate surfactants, lauroyl taurate surfactants, myristoyl taurate surfactants, caproyl taurate surfactants, oleoyl taurate surfactants, capryloyl taurate surfactants, palmitoyl taurate surfactants, stearoyl taurate surfactants, linoleoyl taurate surfactants, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

8. 8. The personal care composition of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the N-alkyl acyltaurate surfactant is selected from the group consisting of methyl-substituted acyltaurates, ethyl-substituted acyltaurates, propyl-substituted acyltaurates, butyl-substituted acyltaurates, salts thereof, and combinations thereof, preferably from the group consisting of methyl capric ester taurate, methyl cocoyl taurate, methyl lauroyl taurate, methyl myristoyl taurate, methyl caproyl taurate, methyl oleoyl taurate, methyl capryloyl taurate, methyl palmitoyl taurate, methyl stearoyl taurate, methyl linoleoyl taurate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

9. 9. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising an additional ingredient selected from deposition aids, conditioning agents, antidandruff agents, antimicrobial agents, suspending agents, viscosity modifiers, dyes, pigments, non-volatile solvents, diluents, pearlizing aids, foam boosters, pH adjusters, fragrances, preservatives, chelating agents, proteins, vitamins, amino acids, skin active agents, sunscreens, UV absorbers, stabilizers, and combinations thereof, preferably an antidandruff agent selected from the group consisting of azoles, hydroxylpyridone, zinc pyritone, zinc carbonate, piroctone olamine, piroctone, sulfur, ciclopirox, rilopirox, MEA-hydroxyoctyloxypyridinone, salicylic acid, azoxystrobin, 1,10-phenanthroline, and combinations thereof.

10. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the composition is substantially free of sulfated surfactants.

11. 11. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising from about 0.05% to about 3% of a cationic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 50 kDa to about 5 MDa and a charge density of from about 0.2 meq / g to about 12 meq / g.

12. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the personal care composition is a shampoo, conditioner, or body wash.

13. 10. The personal care use of claim 1 for cleansing a body surface, comprising: a) applying water to a target body surface desired to be cleaned, said water having a hardness value of greater than 3 grains per gram of water according to the Water Hardness Act; b) applying to the surface of the target body a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 12; c) rinsing said composition from said body surface with said water.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the target body surface is hair or skin.

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