Bicontinuous Skin Cleansing Agent Composition for Waterproof Makeup Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing skin cleansing agents struggle with removing waterproof makeup, such as mascara, due to their oily nature, which leads to a sticky feel and poor rinsability, and often have low viscosity, making them difficult to apply effectively on the skin.

Innovation Solution

A skin cleansing agent composition with a bicontinuous structure, comprising specific nonionic surfactants, oil agents, water-soluble solvents, and polymers, that maintains stability and application ability even when mixed with water, ensuring enhanced cleansing and rinsing capabilities without changing phase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional skin cleansing agents with oily nature are used to remove waterproof makeup, then cleansing ability is improved, but oily residue and poor rinsability occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleansing abilityVSAvoidoily residue
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the cleansing agent by forming a bicontinuous structure with specific surfactant ratios (HLB 5-9 and HLB 10-20 in specific proportions), oil agents with viscosity ≤30 mPa·s, and water-soluble solvents. This structural transformation allows the agent to maintain cleansing effectiveness while eliminating oily residue through improved rinsability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite bicontinuous structure combining hydrophilic and lipophilic phases through specific surfactant combinations. This composite structure simultaneously provides waterproof makeup removal capability and water-like rinsability, resolving the contradiction between cleansing power and residue-free completion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If skin cleansing agents are made with low viscosity for easy application, then application ability is improved, but stability and effectiveness decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication abilityVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes viscosity parameters to a specific range (5-500 cP at 25°C) by controlling the bicontinuous structure composition. This parameter optimization ensures the product remains stable at rest while maintaining easy applicability, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If surfactants with high HLB value are used to improve water solubility and rinsability, then rinsability is improved, but ability to dissolve oily stains decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverinsabilityVSAvoidcleansing ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges surfactants with different HLB values (5-9 and 10-20) in a bicontinuous structure, where low-HLB surfactants provide oil solubility and high-HLB surfactants provide water solubility and rinsability. This combination allows simultaneous achievement of both cleansing power and easy rinsing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the surfactant system from single-HLB to dual-HLB configuration with specific ratio control, transforming the micelle structure into a bicontinuous phase that can accommodate both hydrophilic and lipophilic requirements, thereby achieving both high rinsability and high cleansing ability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 composition effectively removes waterproof makeup without an oily residue, maintains viscosity for easy application, and ensures improved rinsability and stability across various temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

a nonionic surfactant having hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of higher than 9 and equal to or lower than 20; a nonionic surfactant having HLB of equal to or higher than 5 and equal to or lower than 9

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

a water-soluble solvent having 3 or more of hydroxyl groups in single molecule

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogen bonding:

Data Source

PatentUS9072674B2Skin cleansing agent composition
Publication Date: 2015.07.07 KAO CORP

AI summary

A skin cleansing agent composition of the present invention contains an isotropic liquid phase, which is a bicontinuous structure, and containing: 15 to 30 mass % of a nonionic surfactant having HLB of higher than 9 and equal to or lower than 20; 1 to 15 mass % of a nonionic surfactant having HLB of equal to or higher than 5 and equal to or lower than 9; 10 to 40 mass % of an oil agent exhibiting a viscosity at 30 degrees C. of equal to or lower than 30 mPa·s; 10 to 40 mass % of a water-soluble solvent having 3 or more of hydroxyl groups in single molecule; 10 to 30 mass % of a water-soluble solvent having 1 or 2 hydroxyl group(s) in single molecule; 0.05 to 1.0 mass % of a water-soluble polymer containing (meta)acrylic acid as a configuration unit and/or an acryloyl methyl taurate-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer; 0.001 to 2.0 mass % of a water-soluble inorganic salt and/or an organic salt having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and water.