Hybrid Sunscreen Spray Emulsion Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sprayable sunscreen compositions face challenges such as tackiness, opacity, poor spreadability, and reliance on high cyclosiloxanes or thickeners, which can lead to agglomeration and greasiness, while also requiring special safety measures due to alcohol content, making alcohol-free, aesthetically pleasing, and effective UV protection formulations difficult to achieve.
Innovation Solution
A metastable oil-in-water emulsion sunscreen composition is developed, incorporating a UV filter system with both mineral and organic filters, an emulsification system with specific surfactants, and a solvent system including emollients and silicones, optimized for spray application with a balanced phase ratio and SPF booster to provide effective UV protection without tackiness or opacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If alcohol-based water-in-oil compositions are used for sprayable sunscreen, then fluidity and sprayability are improved, but safety concerns and flammability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes alcohol from the formulation entirely, extracting the harmful component while maintaining sprayability through alternative means - specifically using water-in-oil emulsion technology with appropriate surfactants and propellants that do not compromise safety
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental composition parameters by switching from alcohol-based to water-based formulations, and from oil-in-water to water-in-oil emulsion structure, thereby altering the physical and safety properties while preserving functional performance
2Object-affected harmful factors
If oil-in-water emulsions are used to avoid alcohol, then safety and tolerance are improved, but aesthetic appeal and UV filter compatibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional emulsion structure from oil-in-water to water-in-oil, which counterintuitively solves the problem by providing better aesthetic appeal, improved UV filter compatibility, and enhanced formulation stability while maintaining the alcohol-free safety benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite emulsion system combining water, oil, surfactants, and UV filters in a water-in-oil configuration, creating a multi-phase formulation that achieves properties not possible with single-phase systems
3Ease of operation
If high loads of cyclosiloxanes and silicones are used to achieve fluidity, then sprayability is improved, but greasiness and skin feel deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the ratio and type of silicones used, employing specific dimethicones and cyclomethicones in controlled amounts (0.1-5% and 0.1-10% respectively) rather than high loads, thereby achieving adequate fluidity while minimizing greasiness through optimized concentration parameters
4Stability of the object's composition
If thickeners are used to stabilize the emulsion, then emulsion stability is improved, but agglomeration and whitening on skin increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the emulsion stability through careful selection of surfactant HLB values and ratios rather than adding thickeners, maintaining a balanced emulsion system that remains stable without requiring high-concentration stabilizing agents that would cause whitening
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different functional components in specific zones of the formulation - using surfactants primarily at the oil-water interface for stabilization, and UV filters in the continuous phase, thereby achieving stability without uniform distribution of thickening agents that would cause whitening
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 offers a light, pleasant-to-apply sunscreen with good spreadability and high SPF (30-50), effectively protecting against UV radiation while avoiding the drawbacks of traditional formulations, such as greasiness and safety concerns associated with alcohol-based products.
Implementation Method 1
a UV filter system that includes at least one of each of mineral UV filters and organic UV filters
Implementation Method 2
The present disclosure provides a light sprayable sunscreen composition that is pleasant to the touch with good spreadability. The composition includes separate oil and water phases that provide a meta-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion upon agitation at the time of application.
Data Source
AI summary
A sunscreen composition is provided as a metastable oil-in-water emulsion that includes aqueous and oil phases, including a UV filter system that includes at least one of each of mineral UV filters and organic UV filters; an emulsification system that includes at least one ionic surfactant, at least one surfactant having a high HLB, and at least one surfactant having a low HLB, and at least one anionic emulsifier; and a solvent system that includes one or a combination of emollients and silicones.