Solid Cosmetic Composition with Hard and Soft Vegetable Butter Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Massage bars with high solid fat content melt slowly on skin contact, causing an unpleasant experience for users, and formulations with low melting points are difficult to produce without packaging, which is undesirable for environmental and cost reasons.

Innovation Solution

A solid cosmetic composition with an outer layer comprising 10-45% hard vegetable butter and 55-80% soft vegetable butter, and an inner core of soft vegetable butter, fondant, or liquid cosmetic, allowing the product to maintain its solid form until applied to the skin, where it melts smoothly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a massage bar is formulated with high solid fat content to maintain solid form without packaging, then the product can be sold without packaging (reducing cost and environmental impact), but the product melts slowly on skin contact causing an unpleasant user experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolid form stabilityVSAvoidmelting speed on skin
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the fat composition by specifying precise ranges: solid fats (30-70% by weight) combined with liquid oils (20-50% by weight), and controlling water content (5-20% by weight). This parameter optimization allows the product to maintain solid form at room temperature while achieving appropriate melting characteristics on skin contact, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system combining three distinct components: solid fats (for structural stability), liquid oils (for plasticity and melting characteristics), and water (for texture modification). This composite approach allows each component to contribute its beneficial properties, enabling the product to be both stable in solid form and pleasant during application without requiring packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If a massage bar is formulated with soft fats having low melting points to melt easily on skin, then the user experience is improved with immediate softness, but packaging becomes necessary to maintain product form

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelting speed on skinVSAvoidsolid form stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the melting point parameter by balancing soft fats (low melting point) with solid fats (high melting point). The specific parameter ranges ensure the product melts appropriately on skin while maintaining solid form otherwise, eliminating the need for packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite material system combines soft fats, solid fats, and water in specific proportions. The soft fats provide easy melting on skin, the solid fats provide structural stability, and the water modifies texture. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and stability without requiring packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If high proportion of soft butters are used to ensure easy application, then the product is soft and pleasant on skin, but the product becomes difficult to deliver without packaging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication softnessVSAvoidpackaging requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the composition parameters to include water (5-20% by weight) in addition to adjusting the ratios of soft and solid fats. This parameter modification allows the product to achieve soft application characteristics while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to be packaged-free, thereby reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite material system incorporating soft butters, hard butters, and water creates a balanced formulation. The soft butters provide application softness, the hard butters provide structural support, and the water enhances texture. This composite structure eliminates the need for packaging while maintaining ease of application.

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 composition remains solid at room temperature, eliminating the need for packaging, providing a smooth application experience without the hardness of unmelted fat, and allowing for various usage methods, including massage, skincare, and other cosmetic applications.

Implementation Method 1

these fats which are firm and solid at room temperature will melt on contact with skin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

melt on contact with skin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2914348B1Composition
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 COSMETIC WARRIORS

AI summary

The present invention provides a solid cosmetic composition comprising (i) an outer layer comprising (a) a hard vegetable butter in an amount of 10 to 45 wt.% based on the outer layer, and (b) a soft vegetable butter in an amount of 55 to 80 wt.% based on the outer layer; and (ii) inner core which is (a) a soft vegetable butter composition; (b) a fondant; or (c) a liquid cosmetic.