Nano-Emulsion Composition for Stable Transparent Skin Care Fluids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emulsions are thermodynamically unstable, have a short shelf life, and suffer from phase inversion, creaming, and cracking due to improper formulation and emulsifying agent selection, particularly in oil-in-water emulsions.

Innovation Solution

A nano-emulsion composition with a specific formulation including >4% oil, 0.1-15% hydrophilic compounds, 0.5-5% water soluble phytoactives, 0.01-5% oil soluble phytoactives, and a combination of polyglycerol fatty acid esters as emulsifiers, providing a stable, low viscous, and transparent oil-in-water emulsion with high storage stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional emulsion formulation is used, then the emulsion can be easily manufactured, but it exhibits thermodynamic instability and short shelf life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the emulsion system by reducing droplet size to nanoscale (10-200 nm), optimizing oil concentration (>4%), and selecting specific emulsifiers (polyglycerol fatty acid esters). These parameter changes transform the conventional emulsion into a nano-emulsion with improved thermodynamic stability and extended shelf life while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized formulation protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material strategies by combining multiple emulsifiers (polyglycerol fatty acid esters with specific HLB values), oils (>4% concentration), and hydrophilic compounds in optimized ratios. This composite formulation creates a synergistic effect that enhances storage stability while preserving manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If conventional emulsifying agents are used, then the formulation process is simple, but phase inversion, creaming and cracking occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformulation complexityVSAvoidemulsion stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes critical parameters including emulsifier concentration (1-10%), oil content (>4%), and droplet size (10-200 nm). By precisely controlling these parameters and selecting polyglycerol fatty acid esters with appropriate HLB values, the formulation achieves resistance to phase inversion, creaming, and cracking while keeping the formulation process relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses polyglycerol fatty acid esters as intermediary substances that mediate between the oil and water phases. These emulsifiers with specific HLB values act as intermediaries that stabilize the nano-emulsion interface, preventing phase separation and maintaining composition stability without requiring complex formulation procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If high oil concentration is used, then the moisturizing effect is enhanced, but the emulsion becomes greasy and less mixable with water

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil concentrationVSAvoidmixability with water
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the oil phase into nanoscale droplets (10-200 nm) dispersed throughout the aqueous phase. This segmentation allows high oil concentration (>4%) to be achieved while maintaining excellent water mixability, as the tiny droplets are easily suspended and distributed in water without forming a greasy layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of oil from macroscopic continuous phase to nanoscale dispersed droplets. By controlling droplet size, oil concentration, and emulsifier selection, the formulation achieves both high moisturizing effect from increased oil content and excellent water mixability from the nano-emulsion structure

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 nano-emulsion composition achieves high transparency, effective active transport to skin layers, and maintains stability over a wide temperature range, offering a stable and homogeneous aqueous fluid for skincare applications.

Implementation Method 1

The nano-emulsion composition includes a combination of polyglycerol fatty acid esters as emulsifiers. The combination of polyglycerol fatty acid esters comprise a first polyglycerol fatty acid ester and a second polyglycerol fatty acid ester in a ratio ranging from 70:30 to 40:60.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsification: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

In every emulsion there is a continuous phase that suspends the droplets of the other element which is called the dispersed phase.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuspension: Suspension

Data Source

PatentEP3981379B1A nano-emulsion composition for skin care application
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 ALMORA BOTANICA UK LTD

AI summary

A nano-emulsion composition for skin care application is provided. The nano-emulsion composition being oil-in-water composition. The nano-emulsion composition includes at least one oil, at least one hydrophilic compound to create an aqueous phase, at least one water soluble phytoactive compound, and at least one oil soluble phytoactive compound. The nano-emulsion composition also includes a combination of polyglycerol fatty acid esters as emulsifiers. The combination of polyglycerol fatty acid esters comprises a first polyglycerol fatty acid ester and a second polyglycerol fatty acid ester in a ratio of 1:1. Further the nano-emulsion composition includes at least one preservative. The nano-emulsion composition being a low viscous fluidic vehicle to be used as serum, micellar water, facial cleanser etc. The nano-emulsion composition being capable of retaining high storage stability over a wider temperature range. The invention also provides a skin care composition and a cosmetic comprising the nano-emulsion composition.