Nonionic Surfactant Composition for No-Rub Oily Soil Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing makeup removers and cleansing agents require physical force to effectively remove oily stains, particularly in hard-to-reach areas like facial pores, leading to inefficiency and user dissatisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a nonionic surfactant with specific HLB and log P values, combined with a low-viscosity oil phase, is applied to oily stains without mixing, allowing for removal through contact and rinsing with water.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical force is applied through manual blending to remove makeup, then makeup removal effectiveness is improved, but skin friction and potential skin damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemakeup removal effectivenessVSAvoidskin friction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical blending action with a chemical mechanism. The surfactant composition automatically emulsifies and detaches makeup upon contact without requiring manual rubbing or physical force. The surfactants chemically interact with the makeup oils and pigments, allowing removal through rinsing alone, thereby eliminating skin friction while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The makeup remover composition performs the removal function autonomously without requiring user action for blending. Once applied to the skin, the surfactant mixture self-emulsifies the makeup and self-detaches it from the skin surface through chemical action, eliminating the need for manual rubbing or massaging movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If physical force is applied to reach hard-to-access areas like facial pores, then makeup removal completeness is improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemakeup removal completenessVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical blending actions with chemical surfactant action that can penetrate and act in hard-to-reach areas automatically. The surfactant molecules chemically interact with makeup in pores and recesses without requiring physical penetration through rubbing, thereby achieving complete removal while simplifying the operation to merely application and rinsing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional cleansing agents are used without physical force, then skin friction is reduced, but makeup removal effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin frictionVSAvoidmakeup removal effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleansing agent by using a specific mixture of surfactants with different HLB values (including both water-soluble and oil-soluble types) and controlling the oil phase viscosity to 15 mPa·s or less. This parameter optimization enables the composition to effectively remove makeup through chemical action alone, achieving both low skin friction and high removal effectiveness simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite surfactant system combining multiple types of surfactants (water-soluble surfactants and oil-soluble surfactants) in specific proportions. This composite formulation creates a synergistic effect where the different surfactant types work together to emulsify and remove both water-soluble and oil-soluble makeup components, achieving effective removal without physical force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 method enables thorough removal of oily stains without physical force, improving detergency and reducing skin friction, especially in areas difficult to reach with manual blending.

Implementation Method 1

a nonionic surfactant which penetrates into target oily stains on a solid surface with an oil phase, and makes the solid surface hydrophilic

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

makes the solid surface hydrophilic

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophilization: Wetting

Implementation Method 3

an oil phase having a viscosity of 15 mPa·s or less at 25°C

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity reduction:

Implementation Method 4

wherein the solid surface is rinsed with water or hot water, thereby the oily stains are detached and removed from the solid surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRinsing:

Data Source

PatentEP4613338A1Method for removing oily soil from subject surface

Publication Date: 2025.09.10 KAO CORP

Figure 1~2

AI summary

A method for removing oily stains from a subject surface, including bringing a composition containing the following components (A) and (B): (A) from 5 to 50 mass% of a nonionic surfactant having an HLB value of from 7 to 14 and/or a log P value of from 2.5 to 10.8 and (B) from 50 to 95 mass% of an oil phase having a viscosity of 15 mPa·s at 25°C, into contact with the oily stains on the subject surface, and performing rinsing with water or hot water without mixing together the composition and the oily stains on the subject surface.