Sunscreen Composite Particles for Soft Focus and High SPF

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cosmetic sunscreen compositions face challenges in maintaining a high degree of photoprotective properties while achieving a soft focus effect, as silicone elastomers interact adversely with organic sunscreens, leading to a deterioration of soft focus properties.

Innovation Solution

A cosmetic composition incorporating hydrophilic composite particles formed of an organic sunscreen agent and a binder, along with crosslinked silicone elastomers, which retain the soft focus effect and provide high sunscreen protective factor (SPF) through a cosmetically acceptable carrier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If silicone elastomers are used to achieve soft focus effect, then soft focus properties are improved, but photoprotective properties deteriorate due to adverse interaction with organic sunscreens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoft focus effectVSAvoidphotoprotective properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a silicone fluid carrier as an intermediary substance to suspend the crosslinked silicone elastomer particles. This carrier mediates between the elastomer particles and organic sunscreen agents, preventing direct adverse interactions while maintaining the soft focus effect. The silicone fluid acts as a buffer that allows both components to coexist without shriveling or deactivation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite system combining crosslinked silicone elastomer particles with organic sunscreen agents in a silicone fluid carrier. This composite formulation allows the elastomer to provide soft focus optical effects while the sunscreen agents maintain photoprotective properties, achieving both functions simultaneously without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If organic sunscreens are used to provide photoprotection, then SPF is improved, but soft focus properties deteriorate due to extractable silicone fluid carriers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotoprotective propertiesVSAvoidsoft focus effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The crosslinked silicone elastomer particles act as an intermediary structure that is suspended in the silicone fluid carrier. This crosslinked structure prevents the elastomer from being extracted by organic sunscreens, maintaining the soft focus effect even in the presence of high concentrations of organic sunscreen agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the silicone elastomer by crosslinking it, which fundamentally alters its interaction with organic sunscreens. The crosslinked network structure prevents extraction and shriveling, allowing the elastomer to maintain its optical properties while coexisting with photoprotective agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If silicone fluid carriers are used to suspend elastomer particles, then ease of manufacture is improved, but elastomer particles shrivel due to extraction into organic sunscreens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuspension of elastomer particlesVSAvoidelastomer particle integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies crosslinking to the silicone elastomer particles, which fundamentally changes their chemical structure and stability parameters. The crosslinked network prevents the elastomer from being extracted by organic sunscreens, maintaining particle integrity and preventing shriveling while still allowing suspension in silicone fluid carriers for ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 maintains the soft focus effect while ensuring high photoprotection, as the hydrophilic composite particles and crosslinked silicone elastomers work together to enhance both optical effects and SPF, outperforming formulations without crosslinked silicone elastomers.

Implementation Method 1

Soft focus is a technique which can hide imperfect skin. Incoming light is distorted by scattering (lensing). Particulate components of the cosmetic operate as lenses to bend and twist light into a variety of directions.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

hydrophilic composite particles formed of an organic sunscreen agent and a binder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS7776350B2Sunscreen composite particles in cosmetic compositions
Publication Date: 2010.08.17 CONOPCO INC

AI summary

A cosmetic composition is provided which includes hydrophilic composite particles of an organic sunscreen agent, particles of a crosslinked silicone elastomer, and a cosmetically acceptable carrier. The hydrophilic composite particles are formed as a composite of sunscreen agent and binder in a relative weight ratio of about 5:1 to about 1:10. The composition exhibits relatively high SPF photoprotection while maintaining excellent soft focus properties that hide skin imperfections.