Anhydrous Powder Cleansing Composition with Water-Soluble Pouch

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleansing formulations, primarily liquid and water-based, lead to high transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and existing solid forms like soap bars are not desirable for customers accustomed to liquid products, while anhydrous powder-based formulations face challenges in maintaining stability and pH control when mixed with varying tap water qualities.

Innovation Solution

A substantially anhydrous cosmetic powder composition comprising sodium coco sulfate, disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate, sodium benzoate, and hydroxyacetophenone, with a pH-buffering system using citric acid and sodium citrate, packaged in a water-soluble pouch for easy mixing with tap water, reducing bacterial growth and flocculation issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If water-based liquid cleansing formulations are used, then customer convenience and ease of application are improved, but transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of applicationVSAvoidtransportation emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cleansing formulation is divided into two separate components: a concentrated anhydrous powder composition and water. The powder is packaged in a water-soluble pouch that dissolves during application, releasing the concentrate into water to form the complete cleansing formulation. This segmentation eliminates the need to transport and store large quantities of water, reducing transportation emissions while maintaining the ease of liquid application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If solid bar formulations are used, then transportation costs are reduced, but customer acceptability and ease of use decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation emissionsVSAvoidease of use
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state and delivery mechanism of the cleansing agents. Instead of a solid bar requiring manual rubbing and lathering, the powder is delivered in a water-soluble pouch that dissolves upon contact with water, automatically forming a liquid cleansing formulation. This parameter change from solid to dissolved liquid state maintains the environmental benefits of reduced transportation while restoring the ease of use associated with liquid formulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If preservatives are added to control bacterial growth in powder formulations, then product safety is improved, but formulation stability and clarity deteriorate due to flocculation at low pH

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct safetyVSAvoidformulation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces an intermediary substance - water - that serves as a medium to dissolve the powder and control the pH environment. By dissolving the anhydrous powder in water, the formulation achieves a stable pH level that prevents flocculation and maintains clarity, while the water itself acts as a barrier to bacterial growth. This intermediary approach allows both product safety and formulation stability to be achieved simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the powder formulation is packaged in a water-soluble pouch, then ease of use and environmental friendliness are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidpackaging complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a disposable water-soluble pouch made from materials like polyvinyl alcohol that dissolve completely upon contact with water. This simple, single-use packaging eliminates the need for complex dispensing mechanisms, pumps, or pumps. The pouch is inexpensive to manufacture and provides ease of use by simply requiring the customer to add water to the pouch, which then dissolves and releases the cleansing agents. This approach balances ease of use with acceptable manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a stable, pH-controlled, and preservative-rich aqueous cleansing formulation that minimizes environmental impact by reducing transportation emissions and customer dissatisfaction, maintaining clarity and stability across various temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

Typical agents to avoid and/or reduce the bacterial concentration in cosmetic compositions are e.g. sodium benzoate, hydroxyacetophenone, hexamidine diisethionate, chlorphenesin and DMDM hydantoin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPreservative: Preservative

Implementation Method 2

the formulations often contain a pH-buffer system ensuring that after mixing with different qualities of tap water a specific target pH in the range between 4 and 5 is always obtained. The buffering system comprises usually sodium citrate and citric acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectpH-buffer system:

Implementation Method 3

This may be achieved by enclosing the powder-based formulation in a water-soluble pouch. The most favored version is to use polyvinyl alcohol films which fully deserve in water and allow a release of the concentrated powder-based formulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater-soluble:

Implementation Method 4

a substantially anhydrous cosmetic powder composition which is dissolvable in water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS20240238169A1Powdery cleansing composition
Publication Date: 2024.07.18 BEIERSDORF AG

AI summary

The present invention belongs to the cosmetic field and relates to a substantially anhydrous cosmetic powder based cleansing formulations characterised by contents of sodium coco sulfate and/or disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate, and sodium benzoate and hydroxyacetophenone.