The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising at least one type of organic particles, of natural origin, which are inso luble in water and have a density of less than or equal to 0.4, and at least one absorbent. It also relates to the use thereof for cleansing and/or conditioning keratin materials such as the hair, scalp and skin.

Many cosmetic care products are known in the field of hair and body hygiene. For examp le, the purpose of the corresponding compositions is to impart good cosmetic properties to the hair.

Conventional care products for keratin materials and in particular for the hair and scalp, for example conditioners or masks, are usually in the form o f more or less viscous creams . Similarly, cleansing products for keratin materials are usually in the form of more or less viscous liquids.

But these products are difficult to measure out, in particular because they have a tendency to escape between the fingers or to escape from their packaging, which may be very annoying when they come into contact with clothing, for example when travelling.

Furthermore, solid formulations themselves have the drawback o f being difficult to divide up .

There is therefore a need to provide care compositions for keratin materials that do not run, that are more compact and mouldable, and that are more natural and economical. The compositions sought must be easy to apply to keratin materials, very light and very so ft.

The applicant has surprisingly discovered that a cosmetic composition comprising the combination of organic particles o f natural origin, which are insoluble in water and have a density o f less than or equal to 0.4 , with an absorbent, made it possible to solve the problems mentioned above.

In particular, the compositions according to the invention have a texture and usage qualities that are improved relative to the compositions from the prior art comprising, for example, expanded polymer microspheres. They form so lids that are more flexible and more mouldable, less friable, and which are easier to manufacture with conventional processes.

The compositions according to the invention are less likely to break and to escape from the hands .

From a sensory viewpoint, the compositions according to the invention are also better: they provide, in particular, a fresh effect in the hands when they are taken up and in the end give a more natural cosmetic result and cleaner and finer hair.

One subj ect of the invention is thus a cosmetic composition comprising :

• one or more types of organic particles of natural origin, which are inso luble in water and have a density o f less than or equal to 0.4, and · one or more absorbents .

The composition according to the invention has a quite unusual texture.

The composition preferably has a low density at 25 °C, namely o f less than 1 , preferably ranging from 0.3 to 0.9, better still from 0.5 to 0.9, and is very so ft to the touch. It then behaves as a deformable or mouldable solid that is non-tacky and more or less firm.

The composition also has a fresh feel during application.

The expression " fresh feel" is understood for the purposes of the present invention to mean a feeling o f freshness when the formula is held in wet hands .

The so lid behaviour of the composition according to the invention allows easy handling of the product and ease of transport. In particular, there is no risk of it escaping from its packaging, in particular when it is transported. Since the texture is highly mouldable, the composition can be gripped easily and does not flow between the fingers. It can be measured out and applied very easily. The composition may be easily divided by hand in order to take up only the necessary amount of product. In particular, this composition may be packaged in the single- unit form and may for example be in the form o f small cubes or cartons .

The composition according to the invention is also very comfortable to apply. In particular, no running of the composition is observed, unlike conventional compositions, which carries with it the risk of irritating particularly the face and the eyes. The absence of runs is greatly appreciated in the case o f permanent waves and dyeing, and also for shampoos intended for children.

In addition, the composition disintegrates rapidly and easily in contact with a liquid, preferably an aqueous liquid.

The term " disintegration" is understood for the purposes of the present invention to mean disintegration with the aid of a liquid and not disintegration upon touch as is the case for certain makeup compositions of eyeshadow type which can be taken up with a finger or using a brush. This disintegration with the aid o f a liquid in fact corresponds to a destructuring of the solid, with so lubilization or dispersion of the particles in the liquid.

Another subj ect of the invention is the use of the cosmetic composition according to the invention for cleansing and/or conditioning keratin materials, such as the hair and scalp, and the skin.

Other subj ects, characteristics, aspects and advantages of the invention will become even more clearly apparent on reading the description and examples that fo llow.

In that which fo llows and unless otherwise indicated, the limits of a range of values are included within this range, in particular in the expressions "between" and "ranging from ... to

Moreover, the expression "at least one" used in the present description is equivalent to the expression "one or more" .

According to the invention, the cosmetic composition comprises : · one or more types of organic particles of natural origin, which are inso luble in water and have a density o f less than or equal to 0.4, and • one or more absorbents .

The organic particles of natural origin, which are insoluble in water and have a density o f less than or equal to 0.4, act as a structuring agent.

These organic particles o f natural origin are more economical than synthetic organic particles . Furthermore, they usually exhibit a good level of harmlessness and a good profile with respect to ecotoxicity.

With a view to obtaining a solid composition having a pleasant and so ft feel, it is preferable to use particles having a mean particle size of from 1 to 250 μιη, preferably from 5 to 200 μιη, and more preferably still from 10 to 150 μιη, and better still from 50 to 150 μιη.

This particle size is relative to the largest dimension of the particles.

In order to give the composition o f the invention an aerated and light appearance, particles are used that have a density o f less than or equal to 0.4, preferably less than 0.2.

The expression "inso luble in water" is understood to mean particles that have a solubility in water at 25 °C o f less than or equal to 0.5 % by weight, better still of less than or equal to 0. 1 % by weight.

They may have any shape possible and in particular the shape o f beads, fibres, plates or needles, or even a slightly rounded cellular shape.

These particles may be made from various inert materials that do not react chemically with the medium. In particular, these particles do not react with oils, surfactants, water and the various other constituents of the composition such as the active agents.

The particles are advantageously chosen from cork oak bark and from wood originating from the trunk or branches of trees, and more particularly of Quercus suber or of balsa Bombax.

The organic particle(s) of natural origin may represent from 5 % to 40%) by weight, preferably from 5 % to 20%> by weight, better still from 6% to 15 % by weight, relative to the total weight of the cosmetic composition.

As indicated above, the cosmetic composition according to the invention comprises one or more absorbents .

The expression "absorbent" is understood to mean any compound capable of rapidly trapping a large amount of water. The absorbent is therefore generally a hydrophilic or amphiphilic organic compound.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term " absorbent" is understood to mean any compound having a static water absorption capacity, at ambient temperature (25 ° C), greater than or equal to 3 times its weight.

Preferably, the absorbents are chosen from compounds having a static water absorption capacity greater than or equal to 5 times their weight, and preferably greater than or equal to 15 times their weight. The test for measuring said static water absorption capacity is the fo llowing : at ambient temperature, the compound to be tested, in an amount of x grams, is placed in a beaker; water is added in an amount o f 3x grams . It is left to rest, without stirring, for 1 minute.

If no free water (supernatant water) remains after said minute, the compound can be considered to be an absorbent within the meaning o f the invention.

The absorbent makes it possible to obtain a composition in the form o f a so lid, especially a deformable so lid, which readily disintegrates with the aid o f a diluent, which is generally hot or cold water but which may also be water with the addition o f one or more cosmetically acceptable po lar so lvents, such as alcoho ls having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms (isopropanol and ethano l in particular), propylene glyco l, or else water with the addition o f one or more surfactants. It is also possible to use more complex aqueous media.

Preferably, the absorbent(s) is (are) chosen from modified or unmodified starches, and wood flours .

The starch(es) that can be used in the present invention is (are) more particularly macromo lecules in the form of polymers formed from elemental units that are anhydroglucose units. The number of these units and their assembly make it possible to distinguish amylo se (linear polymer) and amylopectin (branched polymer) . The relative proportions of amylo se and o f amylopectin, and their degree of polymerization, vary as a function of the plant origin of the starches .

The starch mo lecules used in the present invention may originate from a plant source such as cereals, tubers, roots, legumes and fruits . Thus, the starch(es) may originate from a plant source chosen from corn, pea, potato, sweet potato, banana, barley, wheat, rice, oat, sago, tapioca and sorghum. The starch is preferably derived from potato .

It is also possible to use the hydrolysates of the starches mentioned above.

Starches are generally in the form of a white powder, which is inso luble in co ld water, the elemental particle size of which ranges from 3 to 100 microns .

The starches used in the composition of the invention may be chemically modified via one or more of the fo llowing reactions : pregelatinization, oxidation, crosslinking, esterification, heat treatments. More particularly, these reactions may be performed in the following manner:

- pregelatinization by splitting the starch granules (for example drying and cooking in a drying drum);

- oxidation with strong oxidizing agents, leading to the introduction of carboxyl groups into the starch molecule and to depolymerization of the starch molecule (for example by treating an aqueous starch solution with sodium hypochlorite);

- crosslinking with functional agents capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups of the starch molecules, which will thus bond together

(for example with glyceryl and/or phosphate groups);

- esterification in alkaline medium for the grafting of functional groups, especially Ci-C ₆ acyl (acetyl), Ci-C ₆ hydroxyalkyl (hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl), carboxymethyl or octenylsuccinic groups.

Monostarch phosphates (of the type St-0-PO-(OX) ₂ ), distarch phosphates (of the type St-O-PO-(OX)-O-St) or even tristarch phosphates (of the type St-0-PO-(0-St) ₂ ) or mixtures thereof may especially be obtained by crosslinking with phosphorus compounds.

X especially denotes alkali metals (for example sodium or potassium), alkaline-earth metals (for example calcium or magnesium), ammonium salts, amine salts, for instance those of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, 3-amino- 1 ,2-propanediol, or ammonium salts derived from basic amino acids such as lysine, arginine, sarcosine, ornithine or citrulline.

The phosphorus compounds may be, for example, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium orthophosphate, phosphorus oxychloride or sodium trimetaphosphate.

Distarch phosphates or compounds rich in distarch phosphate will especially be used, for instance the products sold under the references Prejel VA-70-T AGGL (gelatinized hydroxypropyl cassava distarch phosphate), Prejel TK1 (gelatinized cassava distarch phosphate) and Prejel 200 (gelatinized acetyl cassava distarch phosphate) by the company Avebe, or Structure Zea from National Starch (gelatinized hydroxypropyl corn distarch phosphate).

According to the invention, it is also possible to use amphoteric starches, these amphoteric starches containing one or more anionic groups and one or more cationic groups. The anionic and cationic groups may be linked to the same reactive site of the starch molecule or to different reactive sites; they are preferably linked to the same reactive site. The anionic groups may be of carboxylic, phosphate or sulfate type, preferably carboxylic. The cationic groups may be of primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary amine type.

The amphoteric starches are especially chosen from the compounds having the following formulae:

R' R

CH— CH-COOM

St-0-(CH ₂ )-N

CH- -CH-COOM

R' R I

(I)

COOM R

CH CH-COOM

St-0-(CH ₂ )-N

\

R"

( )

R' R"

s /

N

St-O— CH ₂ CH-COOM

(I")

R' R"

s /

N

St - O— CH— CH— COOM

(!'")

in which formulae:

St-0 represents a starch molecule,

R, which may be identical or different, represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,

R', which may be identical or different, represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a -COOH group,

n is an integer equal to 2 or 3, M, which may be identical or different, denotes a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal such as Na, K, Li or NH ₄ , a quaternary ammonium or an organic amine,

R" represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 1 8 carbon atoms .

These compounds are especially described in patents US 5 455 340 and US 4 017 460.

As amphoteric starches, use is made particularly of the starches of formula (I) or (Γ ) . Use is made more particularly o f starches modified with 2-chloroethylaminodipropionic acid, i. e. starches of formula (I) or (Γ ) in which R, R', R" and M represent a hydrogen atom and n is equal to 2. Mention may be made in particular of the potato starch mo dified with 2-chloroethylaminodipropionic acid neutralized with sodium hydroxide, so ld under the reference Structure Solanace by the company National Starch.

The expression "O-carboxymethyl starch" denotes a starch which has been mo dified by substitution, in free hydroxyl groups, o f a hydrogen by a -CH ₂ COOH carboxymethyl group . It may be present as is, or in the form o f a salt, for example an alkali metal salt.

O-carboxylmethyl starches may be prepared, for example, by reacting a starch with monochloroacetic acid, or an alkali metal salt of monochloroacetic acid (for example the sodium salt) .

Preferably, use is made of an O-carboxylmethyl starch that is in the form o f an alkali metal salt, and more preferably in the form o f a sodium salt.

Preferably, the O-carboxylmethyl starch is prepared from starch derived from potato .

The O-carboxylmethyl starch may also be completely or partly crosslinked. Preferably, it is partially crosslinked. The crosslinking of the starch may be carried out, for example, by heating the starch, or by reacting it with crosslinking agents such as phosphates or glycerol.

More preferably still, the O-carboxylmethyl starch is a sodium salt o f partially crosslinked O-carboxylmethyl starch, in particular potato starch. Such a product is so ld, for example, under the name Primojel by the company Avebe . The wood flours that can be used as an absorbent in the composition according to the invention may especially be spruce flour or beech flour, preferably spruce flour.

Preferably, the mean particle size of the wood flours is less than 250 μπι.

Such products are especially sold by the Societe Parisienne des Sciures under the name T140 (spruce flour) or H160/0 (beech flour).

Preferably, the absorbent(s) present in the composition according to the invention is or are chosen from modified or unmodified starches, more particularly modified starches, and better still from modified starches, in particular of potato, such as O-carboxylmethyl starches, in particular of potato.

The absorbent(s) is (are) generally present in an amount ranging from 2% to 20% by weight, preferably from 2% to 10% by weight and better still from 2% to 6% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

In one preferred embodiment, the weight ratio of the type(s) of organic particles, of natural origin, which are insoluble in water and have a density of less than or equal to 0.4, to the absorbent(s) varies from 0.1 to 20, preferably from 0.5 to 15, better still from 1 to 10.

The composition according to the invention preferably comprises water, or a mixture of water and one or more organic solvents, for instance ethanol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, isopropanol, glycol ethers such as the (Ci-C4)alkyl ethers of mono-, di- or tripropylene glycol, or of mono-, di- or triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

In one preferred embodiment, the composition comprises water and does not contain organic solvents.

The composition according to the invention may also comprise one or more surfactants. The surfactant(s) may be chosen from anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric or zwiterrionic surfactants. Preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises at least one anionic or cationic surfactant or a mixture thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises one or more anionic surfactants.

The term "anionic surfactant" means a surfactant comprising, as ionic or ionizable groups, only anionic groups. These anionic groups are preferably chosen from the following groups : -C0 ₂ H, -C0 ₂ ^~ , - S O ₃ H , - S O3 ^" , -O S O3H, -O S O3 -, -H ₂ P0 ₃ , -HPO3 ^" , -PO3 ^{2 "} , -H ₂ P0 ₂ , -HPO2 ^" , -P0 ₂ ² -, -POH, -PO .

As examp les o f anionic surfactants that may be used in the composition according to the invention, mention may be made o f alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkylamido ether sulfates, alkylaryl polyether sulfates, monoglyceride sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkylamide sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, a-o lefin sulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkylether sulfo succinates, alkylamide sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfoacetates, acyl sarcosinates, acyl glutamates, alkyl sulfosuccinamates, acyl isethionates and N-acyl taurates, salts of alkyl monoesters of polyglycoside-polycarboxylic acids, acyl lactylates, D-galactoside uronic acid salts, alkyl ether carboxylic acid salts, alkylaryl ether carboxylic acid salts, alkylamido ether carboxylic acid salts ; and the corresponding non-salified forms o f all these compounds; the alkyl and acyl groups of all these compounds comprising from 6 to 24 carbon atoms and the aryl group denoting a phenyl group .

These compounds can be oxyethylenated and then preferably comprise from 1 to 50 ethylene oxide units.

The salts of C ₆ -C ₂ 4 alkyl monoesters o f po lyglycoside- polycarboxylic acids can be chosen from C ₆ -C ₂ 4 alkyl polyglycoside- citrates, C ₆ -C ₂ 4 alkyl polyglycoside-tartrates and C ₆ -C ₂ 4 alkyl poly glycoside-sulfo succinates .

When the anionic surfactant(s) is (are) in the salt form, it (they) can be chosen from the alkali metal salts, such as the sodium or potassium salt and preferably the sodium salt, the ammonium salts, the amine salts and in particular the amino alcoho l salts, or the alkaline- earth metal salts, such as the magnesium salt.

Mention may in particular be made, as examples of amino alcoho l salts, of mono-, di- and triethano lamine salts, mono-, di- or triisopropanolamine salts, 2-amino-2-methyl- 1 -propanol salts, 2-amino- 2-methyl- 1 ,3 -propanedio l salts and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salts.

Use is preferably made o f alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, in particular sodium or magnesium salts .

The anionic surfactants that are optionally present may be mild anionic surfactants, i. e. anionic surfactants without a sulfate function. As regards the mild anionic surfactants, mention may be made in particular of the following compounds and salts thereof, and also mixtures thereof:

polyoxyalkylenated alkyl ether carboxylic acids,

polyoxyalkylenated alkylaryl ether carboxylic acids,

polyoxyalkylenated alkylamido ether carboxylic acids, in particular those comprising from 2 to 50 ethylene oxide groups,

alkyl-D-galactoside uronic acids,

acyl sarcosinates, acyl glutamates, and

alkyl polyglycoside carboxylic esters .

Use may very particularly be made of polyoxyalkylenated alkyl ether carboxylic acids, such as, for example, lauryl ether carboxylic acid (4.5 EO), for example so ld under the name Akypo RLM 45 CA from Kao .

The particularly preferred anionic surfactants are chosen from sulfate and sulfonate anionic surfactants and mixtures thereof, better still from (C ₆ -24 alkyl) sulfate salts and (C ₆ -24 alkyl) ether sulfate salts, and mixtures thereof.

When an anionic surfactant or anionic surfactants is or are present in the composition according to the invention, the amount thereof preferably ranges from 1 % to 40% by weight, better still from 4% to 30% by weight and more preferably still from 8% to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

In another embodiment, the composition comprises one or more cationic surfactants .

The cationic surfactant(s) that can be used in the composition according to the invention comprise, for examp le, salts o f optionally polyoxyalkylenated primary, secondary or tertiary fatty amines, quaternary ammonium salts, and mixtures thereo f.

Examples o f quaternary ammonium salts that may in particular be mentioned include :

- those corresponding to the general formula (II) below :

^R 8\ / ^R 10

X

(II) in which the groups Rs to Rn , which may be identical or different, represent a linear or branched aliphatic group comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms or an aromatic group such as an aryl or alkylaryl group , at least one of the groups Rs to Rn comprising from 8 to 30 carbon atoms and preferably from 12 to 24 carbon atoms . The aliphatic groups may comprise heteroatoms especially such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and halogens .

The aliphatic groups are chosen, for example, from C 1- C30 alkyl, C 1- C30 alkoxy, polyoxy(C2-Ce)alkylene, C 1- C30 alkylamide, (C ₁₂ - C22)alkylamido(C2- C6)alkyl and C 1- C30 hydroxyalkyl groups, X- is an anion chosen from the group of halides, phosphates, acetates, lactates, (C i- C4)alkyl sulfates, and (C i- C4)alkyl or (C i- C4)alkylaryl sulfonates .

Among the quaternary ammonium salts of formula (II), preference is firstly given to tetraalkylammonium chlorides, for instance dialkyldimethylammonium or alkyltrimethylammonium chlorides in which the alkyl group comprises approximately from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, in particular behenyltrimethylammonium, distearyldimethyl- ammonium, cetyltrimethylammonium, dicetyldimethylammonium and benzyldimethylstearylammonium chlorides, or else, secondly, to palmitylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride or stearamidopropyl- dimethyl(myristyl acetate)ammonium chloride, which is sold under the name Ceraphyl® 70 by the company Van Dyk.

- quaternary ammonium salts o f imidazo line, for instance those o f formula (III) below:

(III) in which R12 represents an alkenyl or alkyl group containing from 8 to 30 carbon atoms, for example tallow fatty acid derivatives, R13 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1- C4 alkyl group or an alkenyl or alkyl group containing from 8 to 30 carbon atoms, Rn represents a C 1- C4 alkyl group, Ri5 represents a hydrogen atom or a C 1- C4 alkyl group, and X ^" is an anion chosen from the group of halides, phosphates, acetates, lactates, (C i- C ₄ )alkyl sulfates, and (C i-C ₄ )alkyl or (C i-C ₄ )alkylaryl sulfonates. R12 and Ri3 preferably denote a mixture of alkenyl or alkyl groups containing from 12 to 2 1 carbon atoms, for examp le tallow fatty acid derivatives, Ri ₄ denotes a methyl group , and R15 denotes a hydrogen atom. Such a product is sold, for example, under the name Varisoft W 575 PG N by the company Evonik Go ldschmidt;

- quaternary diammonium or triammonium salts, particularly o f formula (IV) below:

(IV) in which Ri ₆ denotes an alkyl group containing approximately from 16 to 30 carbon atoms, which is optionally hydroxylated and/or interrupted with one or more oxygen atoms; R17 is chosen from hydrogen, an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a group -(CH ₂ ) ₃ - N ⁺ (Ri6a) (Ri7a)(Ri8a) ; Ri6a, Ri7a, Ri8a, Ri8, Ri , R20 and R ₂ i, which may be identical or different, are chosen from hydrogen and an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and X- is an anion chosen from the group of halides, acetates, phosphates, nitrates, (C i-C ₄ )alkyl sulfates, and (C i-C ₄ )alkyl or (C i-C ₄ )alkylaryl sulfonates, in particular methyl sulfate and ethyl sulfate. Such compounds are, for example, Finquat CT- P, sold by the company Innospec Active Chemicals (Quaternium 89), and Condicare CT sold by the company Innospec Active Chemicals (Quaternium 75);

- quaternary ammonium salts containing one or more ester functions, such as those of formula (V) below:

(V) in which:

R22 is chosen from Ci-C ₆ alkyl groups and Ci-C ₆ hydroxyalkyl or

Ci-C ₆ dihydroxyalkyl groups;

R23 is chosen from:

- the group

O

^R 26 C

- linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C1-C22 hydrocarbon groups R27,

- a hydrogen atom,

R25 is chosen from:

- the group

O

¾ ^c

- linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated Ci-C ₆ hydrocarbon groups R29,

- a hydrogen atom,

R24, R26 and R28, which may be identical or different, are chosen from linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C7-C21 hydrocarbon groups;

r, s and t, which may be identical or different, are integers ranging from 2 to 6;

rl and tl, which may be identical or different, are equal to 0 or 1, r2+rl=2r and tl+t2=2t,

y is an integer ranging from 1 to 10;

x and z, which may be identical or different, are integers ranging from 0 to 10;

X ^" is a simple or complex, organic or inorganic anion;

with the proviso that the sum x + y + z is from 1 to 15, that when x is 0 then R23 denotes R27, and that when z is 0 then R ₂₅ denotes R29.

The alkyl groups R22 may be linear or branched, and more particularly linear.

Preferably, R22 denotes a methyl, ethyl, hydroxyethyl or dihydroxypropyl group, and more particularly a methyl or ethyl group.

Advantageously, the sum x + y + z is from 1 to 10. When R23 is an R27 hydrocarbon group , it may be long and may have from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, or may be short and may have from 1 to 3 carbon atoms .

When R ₂ 5 is an R ₂ hydrocarbon group, it preferably has 1 to 3 carbon atoms .

Advantageously, R ₂₄ , R26 and R ₂ 8, which are identical or different, are chosen from linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C n-C ₂₁ hydrocarbon groups, and more particularly from linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C n-C ₂₁ alkyl and alkenyl groups .

Preferably, x and z, which may be identical or different, are equal to 0 or 1 .

Advantageously, y is equal to 1 .

Preferably, r, s and t, which may be identical or different, are equal to 2 or 3 , and more particularly still are equal to 2.

The anion X ^" is preferably a halide, preferably chloride, bromide or iodide, a (C i -C ₄ )alkyl sulfate, (C i -C ₄ )alkyl sulfonate or (C i - C ₄ )alkylaryl sulfonate . However, it is possible to use methanesulfonate, phosphate, nitrate, tosylate, an anion derived from an organic acid, such as acetate or lactate, or any other anion that is compatible with the ammonium comprising an ester function.

The anion X ^" is more particularly still chloride, methyl sulfate or ethyl sulfate.

Use is made more particularly in the composition according to the invention o f the ammonium salts of formula (V) in which:

- R ₂₂ denotes a methyl or ethyl group,

- x and y are equal to 1 ;

- z is equal to 0 or 1 ;

- r, s and t are equal to 2;

- R23 is chosen from:

- the group

O

^R 26 C

- methyl, ethyl or C i ₄ -C ₂₂ hydrocarbon groups,

- a hydrogen atom;

- R25 is chosen from:

- the group

- a hydrogen atom;

- R ₂ 4, R-26 and R ₂ 8, which may be identical or different, are chosen from linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C 13- C 17 hydrocarbon groups, and preferably from linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C 13- C 17 alkyl and alkenyl groups .

The hydrocarbon groups are advantageously linear.

Among the compounds o f formula (V), examples that may be mentioned include salts, especially the chloride or methyl sulfate of diacyloxyethyldimethyl ammonium, diacyloxyethylhydroxyethylmethyl- ammonium, monoacyloxyethyldihydroxyethylmethylammonium, triacyloxyethylmethylammonium or monoacyloxyethylhydroxyethyl- dimethylammonium, and mixtures thereof. The acyl groups preferably contain from 14 to 1 8 carbon atoms and originate more particularly from a plant oil, such as palm oil or sunflower oil. When the compound contains several acyl groups, these groups may be identical or different.

Mention may be made more particularly o f distearoylethylhydroxyethylmethylammonium met ho sulfate, dipalmitoylethylhydroxyethylammonium methosulfate or distearoylethyl- hydroxyethylammonium methosulfate.

These products are obtained, for example, by direct esterification of triethano lamine, triisopropanolamine, an alkyldiethano lamine or an alkyldiisopropanolamine, which are optionally oxyalkylenated, with fatty acids or with mixtures of fatty acids of plant or animal origin, or by transesterification o f the methyl esters thereof. This esterification is fo llowed by a quaternization by means of an alkylating agent such as an alkyl halide, preferably a methyl or ethyl halide, a dialkyl sulfate, preferably a methyl or ethyl sulfate, methyl methanesulfonate, methyl para-toluenesulfonate, glycol chlorohydrin or glycero l chlorohydrin.

The composition according to the invention may contain, for example, a mixture of quaternary ammonium monoester, diester and triester salts with a weight majority o f diester salts .

It is also possible to use the ammonium salts containing at least one ester function that are described in patents US-A-4 874 554 and US- A-4 137 1 80. Use may be made o f behenoylhydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride, so ld by Kao under the name Quartamin BTC 13 1 .

Preferably, the ammonium salts containing at least one ester function contain two ester functions.

Among the cationic surfactants present in the composition according to the invention, it is more particularly preferred to choose cetyltrimethylammonium, behenyltrimethylammonium or dipalmitoylethylhydroxyethylmethylammonium salts, and mixtures thereo f, and more particularly behenyltrimethylammonium chloride, sold for example by the company Clariant under the trade name Genamin KDMP or Genamin BTLF or by the company Evonik Goldschmidt under the name Variso ft BT 85 , cetyltrimethylammonium chloride sold, for example, under the trade name Dehyquart A OR by the company Cognis or Quartamin 60 W25 by the company Kao or alternatively Genamin CTAC 25 by the company Clariant, dipalmitoylethylhydroxyethyl- methylammonium methosulfate, such as the commercial product Dehyquart F 30 sold by the company Cognis, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the cationic surfactants are chosen from the compounds o f formula (II) or (V) .

When a cationic surfactant or cationic surfactants is or are present in the composition according to the invention, the amount thereof preferably ranges from 0. 1 % to 20% by weight, better still from 0.2% to 10%) by weight and more preferably still from 0.2%> to 5 % by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.

The composition according to the invention may additionally comprise any additive capable of being used in the field o f application under consideration, such as for example fragrances, UV screening agents, preservatives, antioxidants, pH regulators, sequesterants, free- radical scavengers, moisturisers, reducing agents, conditioning agents other than cationic surfactants, such as esters, silicones and vitamins.

The composition according to the invention may be a shampoo, pre-shampoo, conditioner, hair shaping, permanent waving or hair straightening composition, a dyeing or bleaching composition, a hair conditioning composition or a foaming composition for the skin (body and/or face) .

The composition according to the invention is generally rinsed out. The composition according to the invention may be in the form o f a wand, pencil, stick, cake, paste or even cream.

Preferably, the compositions o f the invention are deformable so lids .

The compositions o f the invention may be prepared by conventional processes, in a vessel or by extrusion, preferably by extrusion.

Another subj ect of the invention is the use of the composition as defined previously for cleansing and/or conditioning keratin materials, such as the hair, the scalp and the skin.

The invention is illustrated by the fo llowing examples .

EXAMPLE S

Examples 1 -2

Compositions according to the invention are prepared from the ingredients indicated in Table 1 below. The amounts indicated are expressed as % by weight of raw material relative to the total weight of the composition.

Table 1

AM: active material The ingredients are mixed using an extruder and compositions are obtained in the form o f a slightly tacky mouldable paste.

Due to the nature of the starting ingredients, these two compositions have a reduced cost compared to the prior art compositions, prepared with synthetic organic water-inso luble particles (for example Expancel 55 1 from Akzo Nobel) .

They have a fresh feel during application and impart a feeling of freshness and cleanliness during the use thereof.

Moreover, they exhibit better disintegration during the application.

Applied to the scalp and hair, improved cleansing is observed, in particular by the mechanical effect provided by the natural organic particles, and more particularly with composition 2.

Comparative example 1

The fo llowing compositions are prepared from the ingredients indicated in Tables 2 and 3 below. The amounts indicated are expressed as % by weight of raw material relative to the total weight of the composition.

Table 2

Compositions A l and A2 are manufactured by extrusion.

It is observed that composition Al according to the invention is less friable than comparative composition A2.

Table 3

Compositions B l and B2 are manufactured conventionally, in a production vessel, with a powder mixer.

It is observed that comparative composition B2 is not homogenous at the end of manufacture and is friable. The composition B l according to the invention is so lid and mouldable.

Comparative Example 2

The fo llowing compositions are prepared from the ingredients indicated in Table 4 below. The amounts indicated are expressed as % by weight of active material with respect to the total weight of the composition. Table 4

A comparative composition C, similar to composition C I , is also prepared by replacing the 12.6% by weight of cork oak flour with 12.6% by weight o f Expancel. An inhomogeneous formula is obtained, in powder form, that is not compact and which is not possible to test.

The comparative composition C2 comprises the same vo lume o f structuring agent as composition C I o f the invention. It is observed that the comparative composition C2 is not mouldable whereas composition C I according to the invention is so lid and mouldable.

The hair is cleansed with these two compositions, by app lying each composition to half a head, like with a standard shampoo . After rinsing and drying, it is observed that the head treated with composition C I according to the invention is lighter, cleaner, finer, and appears more natural. The drying is also faster.