Cosmetic Adhesive Composition for Flexible Long-Wear Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cosmetic adhesives face challenges such as premature failure, difficulty in removal, visible adhesion, flaking, smudging, and limited gloss and color intensity, especially in high shine products, which affect their performance and consumer acceptance.
Innovation Solution
The development of cosmetic adhesive compositions combining acrylates/VA copolymer and acrylates copolymer in specific ratios, forming a single aqueous phase that is flexible, hydrophilic before application, and hydrophobic upon drying, allowing for long wear, easy removal with warm water, and high shine without cracking or flaking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If film forming agents are used to achieve high shine and staying power, then gloss and durability are improved, but the product becomes hard, subject to cracking, and difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the adhesive system by using a water-soluble polymer (acrylates copolymer) instead of traditional film-forming agents. This allows the adhesive to be water-soluble when wet (easy removal) while forming a flexible, non-cracking film when dry (staying power). The polymer concentration (1%-95%) and molecular weight are optimized to balance film strength and solubility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite adhesive system combining acrylates copolymer with water-soluble plasticizers (glycols, glycerin derivatives, or polyether derivatives). This composite formulation provides both the film-forming capability for staying power and the water solubility for easy removal, while the plasticizer maintains flexibility to prevent cracking.
2Illumination intensity
If more film former is used to achieve higher gloss, then shine is improved, but the product becomes hard and cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition from traditional film-formers to water-soluble polymers that form flexible films. The gloss is achieved through the smooth, continuous film formed by the acrylates copolymer at optimized concentrations (1%-95%), which provides shine without the hardness and cracking associated with high concentrations of conventional film-formers.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-soluble plasticizer acts as an intermediary between the polymer chains, maintaining flexibility and preventing cross-linking that would lead to hardness and cracking. The plasticizer molecules intercalate between polymer chains, allowing movement and flexibility while the polymer provides the continuous film structure for gloss.
3Reliability
If adhesive provides long term adhesion without premature failure, then reliability is improved, but removal becomes difficult requiring harsh abrasive action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by making the adhesive water-soluble in its applied state. Instead of using solvents or harsh chemicals for removal, the adhesive is designed to dissolve in water (the same substance used during application), providing strong adhesion during wear but easy removal afterward. The acrylates copolymer forms strong bonds during application but dissolves readily in water for removal.
4Ease of manufacture
If adhesive is formulated to be invisible, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but visibility control for blending or standing out is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal adhesive base (clear acrylates copolymer solution) that can serve multiple aesthetic functions. The same base formulation can be used for invisible applications (when clarity is desired) or can have pigments added for visible applications (when blending or standing out is desired). This multi-functional base provides both invisible and pigmented options without requiring separate formulation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows for local quality modification by adding pigments or colorants to specific regions or batches of the adhesive formulation. The clear base provides invisibility where needed, while pigment additions create visible adhesive for blending or standing out effects, allowing customization based on specific application requirements without changing the core adhesive chemistry.
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 adhesive compositions provide long-lasting, smudge-resistant, and transfer-resistant performance with high gloss and color intensity, while being easy to remove with warm water and scrubbing, ensuring comfort and effective adhesion on skin, lips, and nails.
Implementation Method 1
forming a single aqueous phase that is flexible, hydrophilic before application, and hydrophobic upon drying
Implementation Method 2
The adhesive compositions are flexible and resistant to water below 43° C.
Implementation Method 3
The compositions are easy to manufacture, flexible and comfortable, and suitable for use on skin, lips, hair and nails... easily removed when scrubbed with water above a certain temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Single phase cosmetic adhesive compositions that are flexible and resistant to water below a selected temperature, 43° C. for example. The adhesive compositions wear well, are smudge and flake resistant, as well as oil resistant, making them very suitable for long wear without adhesive failure. Adhesive compositions according to the invention comprise specific combinations of acrylates/VA copolymer and acrylates copolymer in a cosmetically acceptable base or delivery vehicle. Adhesive compositions according to the invention are hydrophilic and easily removed when scrubbed with water above a certain temperature, but not as easily removed with water below that temperature. The adhesive compositions are easy to manufacture, flexible and comfortable, and suitable for use on skin, lips, hair and nails, particularly to secure strips of false eyelashes and eyebrows, as well as individual lash and brow extensions. Cosmetic adhesives of the present invention may also be used to affix glitter or extensions to skin, hair, lips, or nails, and other cosmetic products to keratinic surfaces.