In-Shower Emulsion Viscosity Transition for Skin Active Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skin conditioning compositions for use during showering or bathing often rinse off easily, leaving little benefit on the skin due to high initial viscosities that make them difficult to apply.
Innovation Solution
A water-in-oil high internal phase emulsion with a low initial viscosity (<6500 cps) that thickens during application and in the presence of water, ensuring active agents remain on the skin, while being easy to spread and apply, comprising at least 73% water and including steric and depletion stabilizers, emulsifiers, and skin benefit agents like dihydroxyacetone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the composition is formulated with high initial viscosity (≥ 10,000 cps) to prevent rinsing off, then the active agent remains on the skin, but the composition becomes difficult to apply
Solution Approach 1:
The composition exhibits dynamic viscosity changes based on environmental conditions. It maintains low viscosity at application temperature for easy spreading, then transitions to high viscosity at skin temperature to prevent rinsing off. This dynamic property allows the same composition to satisfy both ease of application and active agent retention requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes temperature-dependent viscosity parameter changes. The composition is applied as a cool liquid with low viscosity, then undergoes a phase transition upon contact with warmer skin, increasing viscosity significantly. This parameter change enables the composition to be easily applied yet remain effectively on the skin
2Ease of operation
If the composition is formulated with low initial viscosity to improve spreadability, then the composition is easy to apply, but the active agent rinses off easily
Solution Approach 1:
The composition dynamically adjusts its viscosity based on temperature. During application, the cool composition maintains low viscosity for excellent spreadability. After application, as the composition warms to skin temperature, it undergoes a viscosity transition to a thick, adherent state that prevents rinsing off, thus ensuring active agent retention
Solution Approach 2:
The composition undergoes a phase transition from a fluid state at application temperature to a semi-solid or gel-like state at skin temperature. This phase change is driven by the temperature difference between the applied composition and the skin, resulting in increased viscosity and improved active agent retention while maintaining ease of application
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 retains active agents on the skin during showering or bathing, providing a pleasant, silky feel and maintaining at least 18% of the active on the skin post-application, as confirmed by HPLC analysis, with improved spreadability and reduced rinsing.
Implementation Method 1
a water-in-oil and high internal phase emulsion that may be formulated with an active or skin benefit agent within the water phase. The composition can be used to deliver the active while showering or bathing, and unexpectedly, the composition thickens during application and in the presence of water
Implementation Method 2
comprising at least 73% water and including steric and depletion stabilizers, emulsifiers, and skin benefit agents
Implementation Method 3
comprising at least 73% water and including steric and depletion stabilizers, emulsifiers, and skin benefit agents
Data Source
AI summary
In-the-shower or in-the-bath compositions having a high internal phase emulsion are described. The high internal phase emulsion is a water-in-oil emulsion where active is present in the water phase. The compositions have an initial viscosity which is low and they are suitable to thicken when being applied in the presence of water.