Multi-Phase Retinoid Composition With Volatile Silicone Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-phase personal care compositions containing retinoids experience instability due to oxidation, leading to malodour, discoloration, and skin sensitization within 24 hours.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating volatile silicone into the oil phase of a multi-phase personal care composition, along with a fatty acid amide, reduces skin sensitization by stabilizing the retinoid and maintaining a visually distinct aqueous and oil phase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If retinoid is included in the multi-phase personal care composition, then skin repair and renewal effects are improved, but oxidation instability occurs leading to malodour and discoloration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin repair effectivenessVSAvoidretinoid oxidation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The composition is divided into distinct phases: an aqueous phase and an oil phase containing the retinoid. This segmentation isolates the retinoid in the oil phase, reducing its exposure to water and potential oxidation catalysts, thereby maintaining stability while preserving skin repair benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite multi-phase system combining aqueous and oil phases with specific surfactants and stabilizers. This composite structure creates a protective environment for the retinoid, preventing oxidation while maintaining its biological activity for skin repair

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If multi-phase composition is used to reduce oxidation, then retinoid stability is improved, but skin sensitization occurs within 24 hours

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretinoid oxidation stabilityVSAvoidskin sensitization
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Volatile silicone acts as an intermediary substance between the retinoid and the skin. It modifies the interface properties, reducing direct contact between potentially sensitizing oxidized retinoid compounds and the skin, while still allowing the retinoid to exert its stabilizing effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the oil phase by incorporating volatile silicone, which alters the surface tension, viscosity, and interfacial properties. These parameter changes reduce skin sensitization while maintaining retinoid stability in the multi-phase system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If retinoid is placed in oil phase to reduce oxidation, then composition stability is improved, but phase separation and visual distinctness issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidation resistanceVSAvoidphase distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses surfactants that create a stable interface between phases, effectively copying or mimicking the natural skin barrier properties. This allows the oil and aqueous phases to maintain visual distinctness while remaining stably emulsified and uniformly distributed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The composition employs local quality differentiation where specific surfactants and stabilizers are concentrated at the phase interface, while the bulk phases maintain their distinct properties. This ensures both visual distinctness and stable phase distribution without compromising oxidation resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12485071B2Personal care composition with visually distinct aqueous and oil phase
Publication Date: 2025.12.02 CONOPCO INC

AI summary

Disclosed is a multi-phase personal care composition comprising an aqueous phase, and an oil phase comprising volatile silicone, fatty acid amide and retinoid, wherein the aqueous phase is visually distinct from and in physical contact with the oil phase.