Cosmetic Composition Transparency Viscosity Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cosmetic compositions struggle to achieve a balance between structure-recovering properties, transparency, and a smooth, pleasant feel when applied to the skin or hair, as they often become too viscous or drippy due to the use of low-viscosity oily agents, making it difficult to apply the right amount effectively.

Innovation Solution

A cosmetic composition is developed that combines a specific polyalkylene glycol derivative with a nonionic surfactant and various oily agents, including ester oils and triglycerides, to maintain transparency and structure-recovering properties while ensuring a smooth application and skin fitness, using a specific formulation that balances the mass ratios of these components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a low-viscosity oily agent is used to provide smoothness and good feeling, then the cosmetic composition exhibits excellent smoothness and moist feeling, but the composition becomes too liquid and causes dripping when taken in the hand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoothness and feeling in useVSAvoidviscosity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a polyalkylene glycol derivative with a specific molecular structure (formula 1) where the ether linkage and alkylene groups create a balance between fluidity and viscosity. By controlling the parameters of the derivative (specific structural components and ratios), the composition achieves both low viscosity for smoothness and sufficient viscosity to prevent dripping

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite system combining the polyalkylene glycol derivative (component A) with specific oily agents (components C and E). This composite approach allows the derivative to modify the rheological properties of the oily agent mixture, achieving both smoothness and appropriate viscosity without compromising the base oily agent's beneficial properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Force

If a gelling agent or thickening agent is added to control viscosity and prevent dripping, then the composition achieves higher viscosity and structure-recovering property, but the composition becomes opaque and loses transparency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveviscosityVSAvoidtransparency
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The polyalkylene glycol derivative acts as an intermediary substance between the oily agents and the desired rheological properties. Instead of using traditional gelling agents that cause opacity, this derivative mediates the interaction between oily agent molecules, creating a transparent network structure that provides viscosity control while maintaining optical clarity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the system by introducing the polyalkylene glycol derivative with specific functional groups (ether linkages and alkylene groups). This chemical modification allows the system to achieve gel-like viscosity control without the physical opacity associated with conventional gelling agents, maintaining transparency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If a gelling agent is used to control viscosity in an oily system, then the composition achieves structure-recovering property, but it is difficult to obtain a transparent gel due to aggregation induced by the gelling agent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure-recovering propertyVSAvoidtransparency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The polyalkylene glycol derivative serves as a mediating agent that enables structure-recovering properties without causing aggregation. It mediates the interactions between oily agent molecules through its amphiphilic structure, creating a transparent network that provides thixotropic behavior and structure recovery while maintaining optical clarity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the aggregation-based mechanism (mechanical/physical association) with a molecular-level interaction mechanism. The polyalkylene glycol derivative creates structure through molecular interactions (ether linkages and hydrogen bonding) rather than macroscopic aggregation, thereby achieving structure-recovering properties while maintaining transparency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 maintains transparency and structure-recovering properties, preventing dripping and allowing for easy application without compromising the smooth feel, thus enhancing user experience and product value.

Implementation Method 1

oily gelling agents having a hydrogen bond part such as a hydroxyl group or an amide group have been developed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogen bonding:

Implementation Method 2

it is difficult to form an association by the action of electric charge since electric conductivity is poor unlike the case in an aqueous system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMolecular association:

Implementation Method 3

The structure-recovering property is a property that viscosity decreases by the action of an external force but returns to the original one when the external force is suppressed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThixotropy: Thixotropy

Implementation Method 4

a nonionic surfactant having a polyoxyethylene group and a hydrocarbon group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and exhibiting an HLB of 8 to 14

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP2732807B1Cosmetic composition
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 NOF CORP
  • EP2732807B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2732807B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2732807B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a cosmetic composition which has a structure-recovering property, is transparent, is satisfactory in smoothness when applied to the skin or hair, and has a good feeling in use. A cosmetic composition comprising the following components (A) to (D), wherein the component (A) is from 0.1 to 30% by mass, the component (B) is from 0.1 to 50% by mass, the component (C) is from 50 to 95% by mass, and the component (D) is from 0.01 to 10% by mass, and the mass ratio of the component (A) to the component (B), (A)/(B) is from 1/5 to 5/1: (A) a polyalkylene glycol derivative represented by Z-{O-(EO)a-(AO)k-H}m where Z is a residual group resulting from removal of hydroxyl groups from a polyhydric alcohol having 3 to 6 hydroxyl groups, EO is an oxyethylene group, AO is an oxyalkylene group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and EO and AO are bonded in a block form; (B) a nonionic surfactant having a polyoxyethylene group and a hydrocarbon group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and exhibiting an HLB of 8 to 14; (C) one or two or more oily agents selected from ester oils and triglycerides which are liquid at 25°C; and (D) water.