Cosmetic Emulsifier Stabilizing UV Protectants in Water Phase

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oil-in-water emulsion cosmetics struggle to stably blend ultraviolet protectants while maintaining a soft texture and providing good skin feel, as they often result in dryness and instability when using high quantities of protectants.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a (meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate/(meth)acrylic acid-POE monoalkyl ether ester copolymer as an emulsifier, along with a non-ionic surfactant and higher alcohol, to create an α-gel structure that stabilizes ultraviolet protectants and enhances the cosmetic's texture and spreadability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ultraviolet protectants are blended into the oil phase to achieve high sunscreen effects and excellent stability, then ultraviolet protection performance is improved, but the cosmetic becomes difficult to wash away and causes dryness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveultraviolet protection performanceVSAvoidease of washing away
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by blending ultraviolet protectants into the water phase instead of the oil phase. This is achieved by using a specific copolymer emulsifier that enables stable dispersion of ultraviolet protectants in water, thereby maintaining high sunscreen effects while improving washability and reducing dryness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the phase distribution parameter of ultraviolet protectants from oil-phase to water-phase blending. By adjusting the emulsifier system to include a specific copolymer with prescribed compositional ratios, the patent achieves stable water-phase blending while maintaining protection performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high quantities of ultraviolet protectants are used to improve sunscreen effects, then ultraviolet protection performance is improved, but a feeling of dryness occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesunscreen effectsVSAvoidfeeling of dryness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific copolymer emulsifier as an intermediary substance that enables high quantities of ultraviolet protectants to be blended into the water phase. This mediator allows the ultraviolet protectants to maintain their protective function while being distributed in a manner that prevents dryness on the skin.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If acrylic polymers are used as thickeners to obtain soft texture and excellent spreadability, then texture quality is improved, but stable blending of ultraviolet protectant is not realized

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovespreadabilityVSAvoidstable blending of ultraviolet protectant
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite emulsifier system consisting of a specific copolymer with prescribed compositional ratios. This composite material combines emulsifying and thickening functions, enabling both stable blending of ultraviolet protectants and soft texture with excellent spreadability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of operation

If oil-in-water emulsion is used to provide easy washability and improved feeling in use, then ease of washing away is improved, but stable blending of ultraviolet protectant becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of washing awayVSAvoidstable blending of ultraviolet protectant
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the blending parameter by using a specific copolymer emulsifier that enables ultraviolet protectants to be stably blended into the water phase of oil-in-water emulsions. This parameter change maintains the easy washability of oil-in-water emulsions while achieving stable protectant blending.

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 solution allows for stable blending of ultraviolet protectants across a wide wavelength range, providing a uniquely soft texture and dewy feeling, while maintaining emulsion stability and preventing stickiness.

Implementation Method 1

an oil-in-water emulsion cosmetic that provides a dewy feeling in use while having a uniquely soft texture in use, while also allowing an ultraviolet protectant to be stably blended therein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

introducing an α-gel structure, it is possible to obtain a cosmetic that provides excellent sunscreen effects, in which an ultraviolet protectant is stably blended, while having a uniquely soft texture in use

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGel structure: Gel

Data Source

PatentUS11696886B2Cosmetic
Publication Date: 2023.07.11 SHISEIDO CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a cosmetic having a unique soft and springy feeling in use, capable of stably formulating therein a UV protector, and providing a light feeling in use such that the cosmetic is separated into pieces when applied to the skin. The present invention relates to a cosmetic characterized by comprising (A) a (meth)acrylic acid/an alkyl (meth)acrylate/a (meth)acrylic acid-POE monoalkyl ether ester copolymer, (B) a UV protector, (C) a nonionic surfactant, and (D) a higher alcohol.