Polyol-Polymer Cooling Composition for Skin Sensitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cooling personal care compositions often rely on ethanol, menthol, or ionic compounds, which provide short-lived cooling but can be drying or cause skin sensitization, highlighting a need for an alternative that maintains skin health while providing a cooling effect.
Innovation Solution
A personal care composition combining polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer, a block copolymer solubilizer, or their mixture with polyol and a sensory modifier in water, which imparts a cooling sensation without the use of traditional cooling agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional cooling agents (ethanol, menthol, ionic compounds) are used, then cooling effect is achieved, but skin sensitization or drying occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional cooling agents (ethanol, menthol, ionic compounds) from the formulation and replaces them with a polyol-polymer system. This extraction eliminates the harmful effects of traditional agents while maintaining the desired cooling effect through an alternative mechanism involving polyol crystallization and polymer-solvent interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the cooling system by using polyols with specific melting points and polymers with particular HLB values. The cooling effect is achieved through controlled crystallization of polyol and phase transitions in the polymer-solvent system, rather than through evaporation or direct skin interaction with traditional cooling agents.
2Temperature
If traditional cooling agents are used, then cooling effect is achieved, but duration of cooling is short
Solution Approach 1:
The polyol is pre-positioned in a crystalline or semi-crystalline state within the formulation before application. Upon contact with the skin, this pre-positioned crystalline structure melts endothermically, providing a sustained cooling effect that lasts longer than the rapid evaporation of traditional volatile cooling agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a continuous cooling mechanism through the gradual melting of polyol crystals and the ongoing phase transitions in the polymer system. This continuous action replaces the brief, one-time cooling effect of evaporating alcohols with a prolonged cooling experience that maintains skin temperature reduction over an extended period.
3Temperature
If ethanol is used for cooling, then rapid evaporation provides cooling, but skin becomes dry
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using volatile ethanol that evaporates quickly and removes skin moisture, the patent employs a non-volatile polyol-polymer system that provides cooling through crystallization and phase transitions. This replacement eliminates the drying effect while maintaining the cooling function, as the polyol and polymer remain on the skin rather than evaporating.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite system combining polyol (providing cooling through crystallization) with polymer (providing structure and skin benefits). This composite material works synergistically to deliver sustained cooling while the polymer component helps maintain skin moisture and barrier function, preventing the drying effect associated with ethanol-based formulations.
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 cools the skin for an extended period without skin drying or sensitization, achieving a significant drop in skin temperature comparable to or exceeding that of compositions containing menthol, while maintaining skin health.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling personal care composition comprising polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer, a block copolymer solubilizer or a mixture thereof in combination with polyol, a sensory modifier and water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a personal care composition with an effective way to impart a cooling effect on the skin upon topical application of a composition made according to the present invention. The invention thus relates to a composition comprising a synergistic combination of polyol, a sensor), modifier and water with polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer.