Water-based Cosmetic Compositions Reducing Tackiness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Water-based cosmetic compositions with acrylate-based thickeners often suffer from tackiness and pilling issues, leading to unstable applications on keratin materials like skin or lips.

Innovation Solution

Formulations incorporating a hydrophilic sunscreen active agent with a sulfonic acid group, specific surfactants such as alkoxylated fatty alcohols or sorbitan esters, and a copolymer with carboxylic acid unsaturation and oxyalkylenated fatty alcohol monomers, which improve stability and reduce tackiness and pilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If acrylate-based thickeners are used in water-based cosmetic compositions, then viscosity is increased, but tackiness and pilling occur

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveviscosityVSAvoidtackiness and pilling
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameter of the thickening agent from acrylate-based to a copolymer containing carboxylic acid groups, oxyalkylenated fatty alcohol, and specific monomer ratios. This parameter change maintains the desired viscosity while eliminating the harmful tackiness and pilling effects associated with acrylate-based thickeners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite polymer structure combining multiple functional components: carboxylic acid-containing monomers for viscosity control, oxyalkylenated fatty alcohol for stability, and specific ratios of unsaturated monomers. This composite approach achieves the desired rheological properties without the harmful side effects of single-component acrylate thickeners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If water content is increased for oil-free compositions, then water-based benefits are achieved, but stability and application properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater contentVSAvoidcomposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the thickening agent to be compatible with high water content formulations. The copolymer structure with specific functional groups (carboxylic acid, oxyalkylene) is designed to maintain composition stability in water-based systems, preventing phase separation and maintaining uniformity despite high water content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If acrylate-based thickeners are used, then viscosity is maintained, but spreadability and application properties worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveviscosityVSAvoidspreadability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular structure parameters of the thickening agent to improve rheological behavior. The copolymer with carboxylic acid groups and specific monomer composition provides appropriate viscosity while enhancing spreadability by reducing intermolecular adhesion and improving flow characteristics during application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10639259B2Water-based cosmetic compositions
Publication Date: 2020.05.05 LOREAL SA

AI summary

Compositions containing (1) water, (2) at least one hydrophilic sunscreen active agent having a sulfonic acid group, (3) at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated fatty alcohols, sorbitan esters, alkoxylated silicones, and mixtures thereof, and (4) at least one copolymer comprising at least one monomer comprising a carboxylic acid containing α,β-unsaturation, at least one monomer containing an ester of a carboxylic acid containing α,β-unsaturation, and at least one monomer containing an oxyalkylenated fatty alcohol are provided.