Sulfur Adjuvant Stabilizes Sunless Tanning Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sunless tanning products are often unstable, turning yellow or orange upon exposure to UV light and fail to quickly impart a noticeable brown color, which affects their performance and consumer satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A composition combining a sunless tanning agent, such as dihydroxyacetone, with an adjuvant comprising a +6 oxidation state sulfur moiety, which is stable and rapidly produces a brownish/tan skin coloration when applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional self-tanning products are used, then they can impart skin coloration, but they turn yellow or orange after application especially when exposed to UV light and do not quickly impart a noticeable brown color
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (adjuvant comprising a +6 oxidation state sulfur moiety such as sulfone, sulfate, or sulfonate group) that mediates between the sunless tanning agent and the skin. This intermediary accelerates the color development process while maintaining product stability, resolving the contradiction between fast action and stability by providing a catalytic pathway that does not compromise the chemical integrity of the tanning agent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the composition by incorporating compounds with specific oxidation states (+6 sulfur moieties) and functional groups (sulfone, sulfate, sulfonate). These parameter changes in the molecular structure and oxidation state enable the system to achieve both rapid brown coloration and stability by modifying the reaction kinetics without affecting the thermodynamic stability of the product.
2Productivity
If sunless tanning agents are formulated into traditional self-tanning lotions, then they can achieve skin coloration equivalent to sun exposure, but the products are not stable and turn yellow or orange after application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining the sunless tanning agent with adjuvants containing +6 oxidation state sulfur moieties. This composite formulation achieves both high efficacy in producing brown coloration and improved color stability by preventing the yellow/orange discoloration through the stabilizing influence of the sulfur-containing compounds on the Maillard reaction pathway.
3Loss of time
If sunless tanning products are designed to quickly impart brown color, then they can satisfy consumer expectations, but they often lack stability and turn yellow or orange
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating the adjuvant containing the +6 oxidation state sulfur moiety into the formulation before application. This pre-positioned adjuvant is ready to immediately accelerate the color development process upon contact with skin, reducing the time to achieve tan while its presence in the stable formulation prevents yellow/orange discoloration during storage and application.
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 achieves a consumer-acceptable tan within 3 to 6 hours and maintains stability for at least 20 days, providing a stable and effective sunless tanning solution.
Implementation Method 1
DHA, after application, is believed to exert its effect through interactions between its carbonyl group and the amino groups of amino acids and peptides naturally occurring in the hydrolipid pellicle and first layers of the stratum corneum of the skin. These so-called Maillard reactions are believed to lead to formation of brown pigments in the skin
Implementation Method 2
The composition employs an adjuvant comprising a +6 oxidation state sulfur moiety
Data Source
AI summary
Sunless tanning compositions with adjuvants comprising sulfur comprising moieties are described. The compositions comprise an adjuvant with a +6 oxidation state sulfur moiety and results in excellent artificial tanning results within a consumer acceptable time.