Cosmetic Composition Stabilizing High Emollient Levels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cosmetic compositions with increased emollient levels often become unstable due to phase-separation upon exposure to high temperatures, posing challenges for maintaining product stability, especially in formulations intended for hand and body care.
Innovation Solution
A cosmetic composition comprising 1 to 30 wt% of a non-hydrocarbon emollient and 2 to 60 wt% of a blend of silicone elastomer gel and solvent, where the solvent is selected from cyclic or linear polydimethylsiloxanes, stabilizes the composition, allowing for higher emollient concentrations without phase-separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the amount of emollient is increased beyond the normal range, then the moisturizing effectiveness is improved, but the formulation stability deteriorates due to phase-separation at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
Silicone elastomer acts as an intermediary substance between the emollient and the aqueous phase. The elastomer forms a network structure that traps and stabilizes the emollient droplets, preventing them from coalescing and separating even at high temperatures. This mediator enables the formulation to maintain stability with increased emollient content.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite formulation system combining silicone elastomer, emollient, and aqueous phase with surfactant. This composite structure leverages the unique properties of each component: the elastomer provides structural stability, the emollient delivers moisturizing benefits, and the surfactant ensures proper dispersion and interface stabilization between phases.
2Reliability
If the amount of emollient is increased to enhance skin care effects, then the moisturizing performance is improved, but the product develops evident signs of phase-separation upon exposure to high temperature around 50°C
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the formulation by introducing silicone elastomer with specific molecular weight and crosslinking density. This alters the phase behavior of the emulsion, raising the temperature at which phase separation occurs and enabling stable formulation with high emollient content that maintains reliability across a broader temperature range.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a cosmetic composition comprising (i) 1 to 30 wt % of a non-hydrocarbon emollient; and (ii) 2 to 60 wt % of a blend of silicone elastomer gel of the Formula (I) and solvent; wherein the solvent for the silicone elastomer gel is selected from cyclic or linear polydimethylsiloxanes; wherein the w/w ratio of the amount of the non-hydrocarbon emollient to the combined amounts of the silicone elastomer gel and said solvent is from 1:50 to 1:1 and where the amount of the non-hydrocarbon emollient is less than the amount of the silicone elastomer gel; and wherein the composition comprises less than 2 wt % capric caprylic triglycerides and less than 5 wt % crosslinked elastomeric silicone polyether, wherein said non-hydrocarbon emollient is an alkenyl or alkyl ester of a C10-20 fatty acid, an ether-ester, a polyhydric alcohol ester, a wax ester, a mono-, di- or triglyceride, a sterol ester, a fatty alcohol, a fatty acid, lanolin or its derivative, wax ester, a phospholipid, beeswax or a sterol.