PERSONAL CARE COMPOSITIONS

The invention relates to a personal care compositions comprising biosurfactants as co-surfactants.

Biosurfactants offer a wide range of advantages as co-surfactants, not least their environmental advantages. However, large scale transfer from petrochemical surfactants to biosurfactants in composition remains a challenge. One problem arises from the effect of biosurfactants on certain key performance characteristics in so far as consumer interaction is concerned. As a result of these effects, biosurfactants remain under-utilised in mass consumer compositions and there is continued reliance of the industry on petrochemical surfactants for the major proportion of the surfactant in the final product. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved personal care compositions.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a personal care composition comprising :- a) a surfactant combination comprising (i) a synthetic anionic surfactant; and (ii) a biosurfactant comprising a glycolipid wherein the biosurfactant is present at a level of at least wt.50 % of the total surfactant in said surfactant combination

b) a fatty acyl isethionate product at a level of 4 -10 wt.% of the total

personal care composition. In a further aspect, the invention provides a personal care composition

comprising:

a) a surfactant combination comprising (i) a synthetic anionic surfactant; and (ii) a shear thinning biosurfactant wherein the shear thinning biosurfactant is present at a level of at least 50 wt.% of the total surfactant in said surfactant combination b) a fatty acyl isethionate product at a level of wt.4 -10% of the total personal care composition.

With the invention, biosurfactants can be incorporated at high levels whilst desired and advanced rheology profiles can be improved and even restored to the level attained with synthetic surfactants alone. The invention allows accurate control of rheology profiles for personal care compositions.

As used herein "wt %" means weight percent. All percentages given are by weight unless specified and are percentages of the total composition unless specified.

Compositions of the invention may be used in either a personal wash liquid cleansing base or in cosmetic composition base. The compositions of the invention comprise pourable liquids and preferably have a viscosity in the range 250 to 100,000 mPas (cP) measured at a shear rate 10s@-1 and 25 DEG C, in a Haake Rotoviscometer RV20. Shampoo

compositions are preferably in the range 5000-8000 cP. The composition according to the invention can take the form of a liquid, intended to be dispensed from a capped container such as a bottle, roll-on applicator or tube, or a pump-operated dispenser and may be a skin cleanser, shower product, bath additive or shampoo. Compositions of the invention may be formulated as products for washing the skin, for example, bath or shower gels, hand washing compositions or facial washing liquids; pre- and post-shaving products; rinse-off, wipe-off and leave-on skin care products; products for washing the hair and for dental use. Biosurfactants

The biosurfactant preferably comprises a microbially-derived biosurfactant.

Preferably it comprises a glycolipid biosurfactant moiety which may be a rhamnolipid or sophorolipid or trehalolipid or a mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL) or combinations thereof.

Alternatively or additionally the biosurfactant may comprise any shear thinning biosurfactant and in this respect, may extend to include any shear thinning glycolipid biosurfactant mentioned above or any shear thinning cellobiose , peptide based biosurfactant, lipoprotein, lipopeptide e.g. surfactin, fatty acids e.g. corynomucolic acids (preferably with hydrocarbon chain C12-C14), phospholipid (e.g. Phosphatidylethanolamine produced by Rhodococcus erythropolis grown on n-alkane resulted in the lowering of interfacial tension between water and hexadecane to less than 1 mN m ^"1 and CMC of 30 mg L ^"1 (Kretschner et ai, 1982)), spiculisporic acid, polymeric biosurfactants including emulsan, liposan, mannoprotein or polysaccharide-protein complexes or combinations thereof.

Preferably the biosurfactant moiety comprises a rhamnolipid.

The biosurfactant moiety may comprise one or more saccharide moieties such as sugar rings. In the case of rhamnolipids the rhamnolipid may comprise one or both components: mono-rhamnolipids having a single rhamnose sugar ring and di-rhamnolipids, having two rhamnose sugar rings.

In the case of rhamnolipids, throughout this patent specification, the prefixes mono- and di- are used to indicate respectively to indicate mono-rhamnolipids (having a single rhamnose sugar ring) and di-rhamnolipids (having two rhamnose sugar rings) respectively. If abbreviations are used R1 is mono-rhamnolipid and R2 is di-rhamnolipid. The biosurfactant can be used to replace at least 50 wt.% of the synthetic anionic surfactant but with the rheology profile tuned to match that of the original synthetic surfactant using the fatty isethionate as a rheology modifier. Preferably the biosurfactant is present at a level of 20-90 wt. % of the surfactant and more preferably the biosurfactant is present at 50 - 80wt. % of the surfactant and more preferably 50- 75% wt.% of the surfactant.

Fatty acyl isethionate product

The fatty acyl isethionate product is preferably present at a level of from 4 to 8 wt.%, more preferably from 4 to 5 wt.% (of the total composition).

The preferred fatty acyl isethionate product comprises fatty acyl isethionate t at a level of from 40 to 80 wt.% of the product, as well as free fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt at a level of from 15 to 50 wt.%.

Preferably, greater than 20 wt.% and less than 45 wt. %, more preferably greater than 25 wt.% and less than 45 wt. % of the fatty acyl isethionate are of chain length greater than or equal to Ci6; and greater than 50 wt.%, preferably greater than 60 wt.% of the free fatty acid/soap is of chain length Ci ₆ to C ₂ o-

The fatty acyl isethionate surfactant component is typically prepared by the reaction of an isethionates salt such as alkali metal isethionates and an aliphatic fatty acid having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and Iodine Value (measuring degree of unsaturation) of less than 20 g, for example:

RCOOH + HOR-1SO3M ► RCOOR-1SO3M where Ri is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 2 to 4 carbons; M is alkali metal cation or metal ion (e.g., sodium, magnesium, potassium, lithium), ammonium or substituted ammonium cation or other counterion; and, R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having 7 to 24, preferably 8 to 22 carbons. Depending on the processing conditions used, the resulting fatty acyl isethionate product can be a mixture of 40 to 80% by weight of fatty acyl isethionates (which formed from the reaction) and 50 to about 15 wt. %, typically 40 to 20 wt. % of free fatty acids. In addition, the product may contain isethionates salts which are present typically at levels less than 5 wt. %, and traces (less than 2 wt. %) of other impurities. Preferably, a mixture of aliphatic fatty acids is used for the preparation of commercial fatty acyl isethionates surfactants. The resulting fatty acyl isethionate surfactants (e.g., resulting from reaction of alkali metal isethionate and aliphatic fatty acid) preferably should have more than 20 wt. %, preferably more than 25 wt.%, but no more than 45 wt.%, preferably 35 wt. % (on basis of fatty acyl isethionates reaction product) of fatty acyl group with 16 or greater carbon atoms to provide both excellent lather and mildness of the resulting fatty acyl isethionate product. These longer chain fatty acyl isethionate surfactants and fatty acids, i.e. fatty acyl group and fatty acid with 16 or more carbons, can typically form insoluble surfactant/fatty acid crystals in water at ambient temperatures.

Examples of commercial fatty acyl isethionate products that are particularly useful in the subject invention are DEFI flakes and Dove ^® cleansing bar noodles produced by Unilever. DEFI (Direct Esterification of Fatty Isethionate) flakes typically contain about 68 to 80 wt. % of sodium fatty acyl isethionate and 15 to 30 wt. % free fatty acid. More than 25 wt. % and no more than 35 wt.% of fatty acyl group of the resulting fatty acyl isethionate have 16 to 18 carbon atoms. Dove ^® cleansing bar noodles are mixtures of DEFI flakes described above and long chain (mainly Ci6 and C-is) fatty acid and fatty soap which contain about 40 to 55 wt. % of fatty acyl isethionate and 30 to 40 wt. % of fatty acid and fatty soap. Further Surfactants

Total surfactant in personal wash compositions, for example, will generally comprise 5 to 60% by wt, preferably 10 to 40% by wt surfactant, preferably 2-16 % by wt while cosmetic compositions preferably comprise 1 % to 30% by wt., more preferably 1 to 15% by wt. surfactant.

The total amount of surfactant in shampoo compositions of the invention may generally range from 0.5 to 45 wt.%, preferably from 1 .5 to 35 wt.%, more preferably from 5 to 20 wt.%, calculated as a weight percentage total weight of the composition.

The surfactant combination of the invention may provide the total surfactant component of the composition, or further surfactants may be included, in addition to the surfactant combination .

The further surfactant which may include anionic surfactants as well as nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants depending on product form. Preferred personal wash compositions comprise mixtures of anionic and amphoteric surfactants.

The compositions according to the invention can optionally comprise, as a surfactant one or more soaps which are water-soluble or water-dispensable alkali metal salts of an organic acid, especially a sodium or a potassium salt, or the corresponding ammonium or substituted ammonium salt. Examples of suitable organic acids are natural or synthetic alkanoic acids having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, especially the fatty acids of triglyceride oils such as tallow and coconut oil. For solid products, such as powders, bars or tablets, the preferred soap is a soap of tallow fatty acids. Minor amounts of up to about 30% by weight, preferably 10 to 20% by weight of sodium soaps of nut oil fatty acids derived from nut oils, for example coconut oil and palm kernel oil, may be admixed with the sodium tallow soaps, to improve their lathering and solubility characteristics if desired. The preferred soap are predominantly C10-C14 fatty acids derived from nut oils, or alternatively, from synthetic alkanoic acids.

The soaps can be provided as a performed ingredient for the composition, or they can be formed in situ during the manufacture of the composition by reaction of suitable fatty acids and an alkali.

The amount of fatty acid soap which can be present in the composition according to the invention is up to 90% by weight, preferably from 2-80% by weight of the composition.

The composition according to the invention can also optionally comprise one or more non-soap anionic surfactants, examples of which include:

The alkali metal salts of organic sulfuric reaction products having an alkyl or acyl radical containing from 8-22 carbon atoms and a sulphonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. Specific examples of these synthetic anionic surfactants are the sodium, ammonium, potassium or triethanolammonium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulphating the higher alcohols (C8 -C18), sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulphates and sulphonates; sodium or potassium salts of sulfuric esters of the reaction product of one mole of a higher fatty alcohol (e.g., tallow or coconut oil alcohols) and 1 -12 moles of ethylene oxide; sodium or potassium salts of alkylphenol ethylene oxide ether sulphate with 1 -10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and in which the alkyl group contains from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphonates, the reaction product of fatty acids having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms esterified with isethionic acid and neutralized with sodium hydroxide; water soluble salts of condensation products of fatty acids with N-methyl taurine. Especially preferred non-soap anionic

surfactants include:

alkylaryl sulphonates, such as sodium alkyl benzene sulphonate (e.g., TEEPOL CM44, available from Shell), alkyl sulphates, such as sodium lauryl sulphate (e.g., EMPICOL CX, available from Albright & Wilson), and triethanolamine lauryl sulphate (e.g., EMPICOL TL40/T, available from Albright & Wilson);

alkyl ether sulphates, such as sodium lauryl ether sulphate (e.g., EMPICOL ESB70, available from Albright & Wilson);

alkyl sulphonates, such as sodium alkane (C13-18) sulphonate (e.g., HOSTAPUR SAS 30, available from Hoechst);

olefin sulphonates, such as sodium olefin sulphonate (C15-18) (e.g., HOSTAPUR OS, available from Hoechst); Sarcosinates, having the structure (3):

where

R3 is chosen from C6-14 alkyl, and M is a counterion chosen from alkali metals, ammonium, substituted ammonium, such as alkanolammonium.

An example of sarcosinates having the structure (3) sodium lauryl sarcosinate (e.g., HAMPOSYL L-95, available from Grace). Taurides, having the structure (4):

where

R ⁴ is chosen from C8-18 alkyl.

An example of taurides having the structure (4) is: coconut methyl taurine (e.g., FENOPON TC 42, available from GAF).

Isethionates, having the structure (5):

O

R ⁵ C O (CH ₂ ) ₂ S0 ₃ M where:

R ⁵ is chosen from C8-18 alkyl.

An example of isethionates having the structure (5) is: sodium acyl isethionate (e.g., JORDAPON CI, available from Jordan). Monoalkyl sulphosuccinates, having the structure (6):

where

R ⁶ is chosen from C10-20 alkyl.

Examples of monoalkyl sulphosuccinates having this structure (6) include: sodium lauryl sulphosuccinate (e.g., EMPICOL SLL, available from Albright & Wilson); magnesium alkyl sulphosuccinate (e.g., ELFANOL 616 Mg. available from AKZO), sodium lauryl ethoxysulphosuccinate (e.g., EMPICOL SDD, available from

Albright & Wilson), coconut monoethanolamide ethoxysulphosuccinate, (e.g., EMPICOL SGG); disodium lauryl polyglycol ether sulphosuccinate (e.g.,

SURTAGENE S30, available from CHEM-Y) polyethyleneglycol sulphosuccinate (e.g., REWOPOL SBFA 30, available from REWO). Dialkyi sulphosuccinates, having the structure (7):

where

R ⁷ and R ⁸ are the same or different, and are chosen from C6-14 alkyl. An example of dialkyi sulphosuccinate having the structure (7) is: sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate (e.g. EMCOL 4500 available from Witco). Acyl lactylates, having the structure (8):

where

R ⁹ is chosen from C6-16 alkyl.

An example of acyl lactylates having the structure (8) is: decanoyl lactylate (e.g. PATIONIC 122A, available from Patterson, C. J.). Acylated .alpha. -amino acids, such as sodium lauryoyl glutamate (e.g., ACYL GLUTAMATE LS-1 1 , available from Ajinomoto Co. Inc.).

Ethyl carboxylates, such as alkyl C12-14 O(EO)4 OCH--2 CO2 Na (e.g., AKYPO RLM 38, available from AKZO).

Zwitterionic surfactants are exemplified by those which can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and sulfonium compounds, in which the aliphatic radicals can be straight or branched chain, and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, or phosphonate. A general formula for these compounds is:

wherein R ² contains an alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxy alkyl radical of from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, from 0 to about 10 ethylene oxide moieties and from 0 to about 1 glyceryl moiety; Y is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur atoms; R ³ is an alkyl or monohydroxyalkyl group

containing about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; X is 1 when Y is a sulfur atom, and 2 when Y is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom; R4 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene of from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms and Z is a radical selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphonate, and phosphate groups.

Examples of such surfactants include:

4- [N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-octadecylammonio]-butane-1 -carboxylate;

5- [S-3-hydroxypropyl-S-hexadecylsulfonio]-3-hydroxypentane-1 -sulfate;

3-[P,P-diethyl-P-3,6,9-trioxatetradexocylphosphonio]-2-hy droxypropane-1 -pho sphate;

3-[N,N-dipropyl-N-3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropylammonio]-propane -1 -phosphonate; 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)propane-1 -sulfonate;

3- (N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1 -sulfonate;

4- [N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-(2-hydroxydodecyl)ammonio]-butane- 1 -carboxylate ; 3-[S-ethyl-S-(3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyl)sulfonio]-propane-1 -phosphate;

3-[P,P-dimethyl-P-dodecylphosphonio]-propane-1 -phosphonate; and

5- [N,N-di(3-hydroxypropyl)-N-hexadecylammonio]-2-hydroxy-penta ne-1 -sulfate.

Amphoteric detergents which may be used in this invention include at least one acid group. This may be a carboxylic or a sulphonic acid group. They include quaternary nitrogen and therefore are quaternary amido acids. They should generally include an alkyl or alkenyl group of 7 to 18 carbon atoms. They will usually comply with an overall structural formula: where

R ¹ is alkyl or alkenyl of 7 to 18 carbon atoms;

R ² and R ³ are each independently alkyl, hydroxyalkyi or carboxyalkyi of 1 to 3 carbon atoms;

n is 2 to 4;

m is 0 to 1 ;

X is alkylene of 1 to 3 carbon atoms optionally substituted with hydroxyl, and Y is -CO2- or -SO3-

Suitable amphoteric detergents within the above general formula include simple betaines of formula:

and amido betaines of formula:

where m is 2 or 3.

In both formulae R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are as defined previously. R ¹ may in particular be a mixture of C12 and C14 alkyl groups derived from coconut so that at least half, preferably at least three quarters of the groups R ¹ have 10 to 14 carbon atoms. R ² and R ³ are preferably methyl.

A further possibility is that the amphoteric detergent is a sulphobetaine of formula :

or

R^

R ¹ CO H(CH ₂ ) _m N ⁺ (CH ₂ ) ₃ S0 ₃ -

where m is 2 or 3, or variants of these in which -(CH ₂ )3SO ^" ₃ is replaced by:

OH CH ₂ CHCH ₂ S0 ₃ -

In these formulae R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are as discussed previously.

Amphoacetates and diamphoacetates are also intended to be covered in possible zwitterionic and/or amphoteric compounds which may be used. Amphoteric/zwitterionic, when used, generally comprises 0 to 25%, preferably 0.1 to 20% by wt. of the composition. The surfactant system may optionally comprise a nonionic surfactant.

The nonionic which may be used includes in particular the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene oxide. Specific nonionic detergent compounds are alkyl (C6 -C22) phenols-ethylene oxide condensates, the condensation products of aliphatic (C8 -C18) primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. Other so-called nonionic detergent compounds include long chain tertiary amine oxides, long chain tertiary phosphine oxides and dialkyl sulphoxides.

The nonionic may also be a sugar amide, such as a polysaccharide amide.

Specifically, the surfactant may be one of the lactobionamides described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,279 to Au et al. which is hereby incorporated by reference or it may be one of the sugar amides described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,814 to Kelkenberg, hereby incorporated into the subject application by reference.

Preferred alkyl polysaccharides are alkylpolyglycosides of the formula

R ² O(C _n H ₂ nO)t (glycosyl) _x

wherein R ² is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl,

hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which alkyl groups contain from about 10 to about 18, preferably from about 12 to about 14, carbon atoms; n is 0 to 3, preferably 2; t is from 0 to about 10, preferably 0; and x is from 1 .3 to about 10, preferably from 1 .3 to about 2.7. The glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose. To prepare these compounds, the alcohol or

alkylpolyethoxy alcohol is formed first and then reacted with glucose, or a source of glucose, to form the glucoside (attachment at the 1 -position). The additional glycosyl units can then be attached between their 1 -position and the preceding glycosyl units 2-, 3-, 4- and/or 6-position, preferably predominantly the 2-position.

Nonionic surfactant typically comprises 0 to 10% by wt. of the composition. If present in liquid personal wash composition, the surfactant system of the invention may comprise 5% to 60% by wt., preferably 10-40% by wt. of a surfactant system which preferably comprises:

(a) 1 % to 20% by wt. one or more anionics (surfactant mix) as described above;

(b) 0.1 to 20% by wt. amphoteric/zwitterionic;

(c) 0 to 10% by wt. nonionic surfactant.

Anionics, amphoteric/zwitterionic and nonionics are as described above. A preferred anionic-amphoteric surfactant combination is acyl isethionate and amphoteric is betaine such as cocoamidoalkylbetaine.

Personal wash compositions according to the invention may optionally also include structurant. Suitable structuring materials include swelling clays, for example laponite; fatty acid and derivatives thereof, in particular, fatty acid monoglyceride polyglycol ethers; cross-linked polyacrylates such as Carbopol (TM) (polymers available from Goodrich); acrylates and copolymers thereof; polyvinylpyrrolidone and copolymers thereof; polyethyleneimines; salts such as sodium chloride and ammonium sulphate; sucrose esters; gellants; and mixtures thereof. Of the clays, particularly preferred are synthetic hectorite (laponite) clay used in conjunction with an electrolyte salt capable of causing the clay to thicken. Suitable electrolytes include alkali and alkaline earth salts such as halides, ammonium salts and sulphates. The composition may also comprise internal lamellar phase-inducing structurants. Such structurants include C8-C24 unsaturated and/or branched liquid fatty acid or esters thereof; C8-C24 unsaturated and/or branched liquid alcohol or ether thereof; and/or C5 to C9 fatty acids wherein those structuring have MP below 25 DEG C.

When present, structurants may comprise 0.1 to 25% by weight, preferably 1 to 15% weight of composition.

The personal wash formulations may comprise a thickening (or thinning) agent, i.e., a material which assists the rheology of the composition, by increasing or decreasing the viscosity of this phase as the shear rate thereof is increased during use. Examples of such agents are include cross-linked polyacrylates such as Carbopol (TM) (polymers available from Goodrich); natural gums including alginates, guar, xanthan and polysaccharide derivatives including carboxy methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl guar; propylene glycols and propylene glycol oleates; salts such as sodium chloride and the ammonium sulphate; glycerol tallowates; and mixtures thereof.

These agents may comprise 1 % to 15% by wt. of the composition.

Other optional components of such compositions include opacifiers, preferably 0.2 to 2.0 wt. %; preservatives, preferably 0.2 to 2.0 wt. %; and perfumes, preferably 0.5 to 2.0 wt. %. Cationic polymers such as Jaguar.RTM. from Rhone Poulenc and Polymer JR.RTM. from Amerchol may also be included. The base compositions may further comprise additional oil/emollient particles (particularly when in lamellar phase) wherein the additional benefit agent (i.e., in addition to the .alpha. -hydroxy acid mixture benefit agent composition) may be as set forth below:

Vegetable oils: Arachis oil, cannola oil, castor oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, corn oil, cotton seed oil, olive oil, palm kernel oil, rapeseed oil, safflower seed oil, sesame seed oil and soybean oil. Esters: Butyl myristate, cetyl palmitate, decyloleate, glyceryl laurate, glyceryl ricinoleate, glyceryl stearate, glyceryl isostearate, hexyl laurate, isobutyl palmitate, isocetyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl linoleate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate, propylene glycol monolaurate, propylene glycol ricinoleate, propylene glycol stearate, and propylene glycol isostearate.

Animal Fats: Acytylatelte lanolin alcohols, lanolin, lard, mink oil and tallow.

Fatty acids and alcohols: Behenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, eicosanyl alcohol and isocetyl alcohol.

Other examples of oil/emollients include mineral oil, petrolatum, silicone oil such as dimethyl polysiloxane, lauryl and myristyl lactate. Additional emollient/oil generally will comprise, if present, 1 % to 20% by weight of the composition.

Other ingredients which may be found in such personal care compositions are as follows: Organic solvents, such as ethanol; auxiliary thickeners, such as carboxymethylcellulose, magnesium aluminum silicate, hydroxyethylcellulose, methylcellulose, carbopols, glucamides, or Antil.RTM. from Rhone Poulenc;

perfumes; sequestering agents, such as tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), EHDP or mixtures in an amount of 0.01 to 1 %, preferably 0.01 to 0.05%; and coloring agents, opacifiers and pearlizers such as zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, ΤΊΟ2, EGMS (ethylene glycol monostearate) or Lytron 621

(Styrene/Acrylate copolymer); all of which are useful in enhancing the appearance or cosmetic properties of the product.

The compositions may further comprise antimicrobials such as 2-hydroxy- 4,2'4'trichlorodiphenylether (DP300); preservatives such as

dimethyloldimethylhydantoin (Glydant XL1000), parabens, sorbic acid etc. The compositions may also comprise coconut acyl mono- or diethanol amides as suds boosters, and strongly ionizing salts such as sodium chloride and sodium sulfate may also be used to advantage.

Antioxidants such as, for example, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) may be used advantageously in amounts of about 0.01 % or higher if appropriate.

Cationic conditioners which may be used include Quatrisoft LM-200

Polyquaternium-24, Merquat Plus 3330-Polyquaternium 39; and Jaguar.RTM. type conditioners.

Polyethylene glycols which may be used include: Polyox WSR-205 PEG 14M, Polyox WSR-N-60K PEG 45M, or Polyox WSR-N-750 PEG 7M.

Other thickeners which may be used include Amerchol Polymer HM 1500

(Nonoxynyl Hydroethyl Cellulose); Glucam DOE 120 (PEG 120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate); Rewoderm.RTM. (PEG modified glyceryl cocoate, palmate or tallowate) from Rewo Chemicals; Antil.RTM. 141 (from Goldschmidt).

Another optional ingredient which may be added are the defloculating polymers such as are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,576 to Montague, hereby incorporated by reference.

Another ingredient which may be included are exfoliants such as polyoxyethylene beads, walnut sheets and apricot seeds. If present as a cosmetic "leave-on" composition, the compositions generally will contain less surfactant preferably 1 -15% by wt. but include more ingredients characteristic of cosmetic or commercially acceptable vehicle.

The cosmetic vehicle composition (comprising 1 % to 99% by weight of total cosmetic, preferably 1 -80% by weight of total cosmetic) may comprise an oil or oily material, together with an emulsifier, to provide either a water-in-oil emulsion or an oil-in-water emulsion, depending largely on the average hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of the emulsifier employed.

Various types of active ingredients may be present in cosmetic vehicle

compositions of the present invention. Actives are defined as skin or hair benefit agents other than emollients and other than ingredients that merely improve the physical characteristics of the composition. Although not limited to this category, general examples include sunscreens, tanning agents. Sunscreens include those materials commonly employed to block ultraviolet light. Illustrative compounds are the derivatives of PABA, cinnamate and salicylate. For example, octyl methoxycinnamate and 2-hydroxy-r-methoxy benzophenone (also known as oxybenzone) can be used. Octyl methoxycinnamate and 2-hydroxy-4- methoxy benzophenone are commercially available under the trademarks, Parsol MCX and Benzophenone-3, respectively. The exact amount of sunscreen employed in the emulsions can vary depending upon the degree of protection desired from the sun's UV radiation. Typically actives will comprise 1 % to 30% by weight of the total cosmetic composition.

Another preferred optional ingredient is selected from essential fatty acids (EFAs), i.e., those fatty acids which are essential for the plasma membrane formation of all cells, in keratinocytes EFA deficiency makes cells hyperproliferative.

Supplementation of EFA corrects this. EFAs also enhance lipid biosynthesis of epidermis and provide lipids for the barrier formation of the epidermis. The essential fatty acids are preferably chosen from linoleic acid, .gamma. -linolenic acid, homo-.gamma. -linolenic acid, columbine acid, eicosa-(n-6, 9, 13)-trienoic acid, arachidonic acid, .gamma. -linolenic acid, timnodonic acid, hexaenoic acid and mixtures thereof.

Emollients are often incorporated into cosmetic compositions of the present invention. Levels of such emollients may range from about 0.5% to about 50%, by weight preferably between about 5% and 30% by weight of the total cosmetic composition. Emollients may be classified under such general chemical categories as esters, fatty acids and alcohols, polyols and hydrocarbons.

Esters may be mono- or di-esters. Acceptable examples of fatty di-esters include dibutyl adipate, diethyl sebacate, diisopropyl dimerate, and dioctyl succinate.

Acceptable branched chain fatty esters include 2-ethyl-hexyl myristate, isopropyl stearate and isostearyl palmitate. Acceptable tribasic acid esters include triisopropyl trilinoleate and trilauryl citrate. Acceptable straight chain fatty esters include lauryl palmitate, myristyl lactate, oleyl eurcate and stearyl oleate.

Preferred esters include coco-caprylate/caprate(a blend of coco-caprylate and coco-caprate), propylene glycol myristyl ether acetate, diisopropyl adipate and cetyl octanoate.

Suitable fatty alcohols and acids include those compounds having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Especially preferred are such compounds such as cetyl, myristyl, palmitic and stearyl alcohols and acids.

Among the polyols which may serve as emollients are linear and branched chain alkyl polyhydroxyl compounds. For example, propylene glycol, sorbitol and glycerin are preferred. Also useful may be polymeric polyols such as

polypropylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. Butylene and propylene glycol are also especially preferred as penetration enhancers.

Exemplary hydrocarbons which may serve as emollients are those having hydrocarbon chains anywhere from 12 to 30 carbon atoms. Specific examples include mineral oil, petroleum jelly, squalene and isoparaffins.

Another category of functional ingredients within the cosmetic compositions of the present invention are thickeners. A thickener will usually be present in amounts anywhere from 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably from about 0.5% to 10% by weight of the total composition. Exemplary thickeners are cross-linked

polyacrylate materials available under the trademark Carbopol from the B. F. Goodrich Company. Nonionic cellulose materials such as methyl cellulose and hydroxy propyl methyl and cellulose may be used. Also cationic cellulose materials such as polymer JR400 and cationic gums such as Jaguar <135 may be used as thickeners.

Surfactants, which are also sometimes designated as emulsifiers, may be incorporated into the cosmetic compositions of the present invention. Surfactants can comprise anywhere from about 0.5 to about 30% by weight, preferably from about 1 to about 15% by weight of the total composition. Surfactants may be cationic, nonionic, anionic, or amphoteric in nature and combinations thereof may be employed and examples of various surfactants are described above. In this respect the surfactant combination of the invention may comprise surfactants having emulsifying benefits.

The composition according to the invention can also contain other optional adjuncts, that is ingredients other than the main ingredients already defined which are conventionally employed in compositions for topical application to human skin. These adjuncts, when present, will normally form the balance of the composition.

Examples of optional adjuncts include vehicles, the selection of which will depend on the required product form of the composition. Typically, the vehicle when present, will be chosen from diluents, dispersants or carriers for the ingredients so as to ensure an even distribution of it when applied to the skin.

The compositions may include water as a vehicle in combination with at least one other cosmetically-acceptable vehicle. Vehicles other than water that can be used in compositions according to the invention can include liquids or solids as emollients, solvents, humectants, thickeners and powders. Examples of each of these types of vehicles, which can be used singly or as mixtures of one or more vehicles, are as follows: Emollients, such as stearyl alcohol, glyceryl monolaurate, glyceryl

monoricinoleate, glyceryl monostearate, propane-1 ,2-diol, butane-1 ,3-diol, docosan-1 ,2-diol, mink oil, cetyl alcohol, isopropyl isostearate, stearic acid, isobutyl palmitate, isocetyl stearate, oleyl alcohol, isopropyl laurate, hexyl laurate, decyl oleate, octadecan-2-ol, isocetyl alcohol, eicosanyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate, silicone oils such as dimethylpolysiloxane, di-n-butyl sebacate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate, butyl stearate, polyethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, lanolin, cocoa butter, corn oil, cotton seed oil, tallow, lard, olive oil, palm kernel oil, rapeseed oil, safflower seed oil, soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, olive oil, sesame seed oil, coconut oil, arachis oil, castor oil, acetylated lanolin alcohols, petroleum, mineral oil, butyl myristate, isostearic acid, palmitic acid, isopropyl linoleate, lauryl lactate, myristyl lactate, decyl oleate, myristyl myristate;

Propellants, such as trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane,

dichlorotetrafluoroethane, monochlorodifluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, propane, butane, isobutane, dimethyl ether, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide;

Solvents, such as ethyl alcohol, methylene chloride, isopropanol, acetone, castor oil, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, dimethyl sulphoxide, dimethyl formamide, tetrahydrofuran;

Humectants, such as glycerin, sorbitol, sodium 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate, soluble collagen, dibutyl phthalate, gelatin; Powders, such as chalk, talc, fullers earth, kaolin, starch, gums, colloidal silicondioxide, sodium polyacrylate, tetra alkyl and/or trialkyl aryl ammonium smectites, chemically modified magnesium aluminum silicate, organically modified montmorillonite clay, hydrate aluminum silicate, fumed silica, carboxyvinyl polymer, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethylene glycol monostearate.

The cosmetically acceptable vehicle, when present, will usually form from 0.01 to 99.9% by weight, preferably from 50 to 98% by weight of the composition, and can, in the absence of other cosmetic adjuncts, form the balance of the

composition. A typical cosmetic composition will comprise:

(a) 0.05 to 30 wt.%, preferably 1 to 15 wt.% surfactant combination as described herein;

(b) 1 to 98 wt.% of a composition which composition comprises of

(i) 1 to 20wt.% total cosmetic composition of actives;

(ii) 1 to 15 wt.% total composition essential fatty acids;

(iii) 0.5 to 50 wt,% total composition emollient; and

(iv) 0.1 to 20wt.% total rheology modifier comprising a fatty acyl isethionate product as described herein.

A composition of the invention may contain other ingredients for enhancing performance and/or consumer acceptability. Such ingredients include fragrance, dyes and pigments, pH adjusting agents, pearlescers or opacifiers, viscosity modifiers, preservatives, and natural hair nutrients such as botanicals, fruit extracts, sugar derivatives and amino acids.

The Examples will now be illustrated with reference to the following non-limiting Examples. Inventions according to the invention are demonstrated by a number, comparative inventions are demonstrated by a letter.

Examples

1 The Fatty Acyl Isethionate product is Sodium CocoyI isethionate, Stearic Acid, Coconut Fatty Acid, Sodium Isethionate and Water produced in-house by Unilever

² Mixture of silicone emulsions from Wacker and Dow

³ The Viscosity of the formulations was measured using a Brookfield viscometer at 30°C and 20rpm using spindle N5; all were in the range of from 5000 to 8000 Cp

⁴ The biosurfactant is JBR425 (CAS no. 147858-26-2) ex. Jeneil Biosurfactant Co., LLC OR is SL18 ex Ecover Belgium N.V. - Industrieweg 3, B-2890 Malle, Belgium; as indicated in the results. ^* The results of varying the sophorolipid biosurfactant and the fatty acyl isethionate levels and biosurfactant levels are shown in figure 1 wherein:

Diamond point curve- is the rheology profile of a shampoo formulation according to Example 1 with 12% SLES 1 EO as a reference shampoo

Square point curve - 50% replacement of SLES 1 EO by SL 18 - viscosity is reduced by a factor 8

Triangle point curve - 50% replacement of SLES 1 EO by SL 18 + 2% fatty acyl isethionate product ¹ - increase of the viscosity compare to formulation without fatty acyl isethionate product ¹ but still not matching the reference viscosity Circle point curve - 50% replacement of SLES 1 EO by SL 18 + 4% fatty acyl isethionate product ¹ - viscosity in now matching the reference especially in term of pouring

^* The results of varying the rhamnolipd biosurfactant and the fatty acyl isethionate product ¹ levels and biosurfactant levels are shown in figure 2 wherein:

Diamond point curve- is the rheology profile of a shampoo formulation according to Example 1 with X% SLES 1 EO as a reference shampoo

Square point curve - 50% replacement of SLES 1 EO by JBR 425 - viscosity is reduce by a factor 2 Triangle point curve - 50% replacement of SLES 1 EO by JBR 425 + 2% fatty acyl isethionate product ¹ - No change in the trend compare to the JBR 425 alone Circle point curve - 50% replacement of SLES 1 EO by JBR 425 + 4% fatty acyl isethionate product ¹ - viscosity increased toward reference profile

The data clearly shows that the inclusion of a fatty acyl isethionate product as defined herein provides a shampoo having improved rheological properties.

Viscosity Measurement:

The Viscosity of these shampoo formulations was measured using a Brookfield viscometer at 30°C and 20rpm using spindle N5.