COMPOSITION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a solid cosmetic composition, a process for producing said solid cosmetic composition, a product prepared by the process, and a cosmetic method for using the solid cosmetic composition. The present invention also relates to a use of sodium stearate.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to solid cosmetic compositions, particularly those for use in contact with the human or animal body.

For millennia soaps have been used for the purposes of washing the skin and clothes. The first known use of soap as a cleansing agent was in the ancient Babylonian period, approximately 2800BC, where soap formed from water, cinnamon oil and dissolved ashes was used to wash clothes and prepare wool for weaving. Egyptians also substantiated the use of soap derivatives, for the purposes of personal hygiene, medicinal applications and the effective washing of garments. However it was not until AD77 that Gaius Plinius Secundus (also known as Pliny the Elder) published his encyclopaedic work, Historia Naturalis, whereby the first references to sapo (Latin for soap) were made. References were made to the manufacture of sapo, from tallow and ashes, whilst also describing its potential application as a pomade for hair.

The appeal of soap as a cleansing and personal hygiene agent grew. Although it was not until the 15th and 16th centuries, when soap production became semi-industrialised and the role it played in personal hygiene was understood, that soap became a universally accepted cleansing product in industrialised nations. However it was the First World War that prompted a shift in this trend, which resulted in the development of the first synthetic detergents, in response to a shortage of animal and vegetable fats used for making soap.

It is well known in the art that soap is effectively the salt of a fatty acid, resulting from the saponification of an animal or vegetable triglyceride using a strong base. Whilst soap is known to be an effective cleansing agent, soap can cause dryness and irritation to dry and sensitive skin. This is due to the basicity of soap and its cleansing action adversely affecting the cutaneous bacterial flora, enzyme activity in the upper epidermis and naturally occurring oils found on the skin and hair. Therefore, soap is not generally considered to be suitable for washing the hair of a user as it may leave the hair feeling dry and waxy. Furthermore, particularly when used with hard water, soap may form a soap scum which is not desirable for a user. In particular, soap scum may stick in the user's hair and be difficult to wash out. In addition, it is generally known that a soap bar does not smoothly glide on skin when being applied; rather a soap bar may "drag" on skin, leading to an undesirable sensation for the user.

Synthetic detergents on the other hand can be synthesised in order to exhibit a wide variety of different properties that are particularly beneficial for their particular application. The desired properties of synthetic detergents used as skin or hair cleansers vary hugely from mild, conditioning surfactants to cleansers with high foaming abilities. These synthetic detergents are commonly referred to as surfactant products; for example, shower gels and shampoos. However, these surfactant-containing products are typically provided in the form of liquid or pastes. They are sold in containers to the end user and may be dispensed by the end user. However, the required use of packaging is a disadvantage. From an environmental perspective, waste packaging is a significant problem, despite the availability of recycling.

The present invention seeks to provide a solid cosmetic product, which is a surfactant- containing product that may be used for washing both the skin and hair of a user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a solid cosmetic composition comprising: (i) sodium stearate; (ii) a polyol; (iii) water in an amount of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition; and (iv) a surfactant in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for the production of a solid cosmetic composition as defined herein, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) combining:

(i) sodium stearate; (ii) water;

(iii) a polyol; and

(iv) a surfactant; and

(b) solidifying the resultant combination.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a solid cosmetic product obtained or obtainable from the process comprising the steps of:

(a) combining:

(i) sodium stearate;

(ii) water;

(iii) a polyol; and

(iv) a surfactant; and

(b) solidifying the resultant combination. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a cosmetic method comprising contacting the skin or hair of a user with the solid cosmetic composition as defined herein.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of sodium stearate for solidifying a liquid shower gel or liquid shampoo to provide a solid shower gel or solid shampoo.

The present inventors surprisingly found that, by including sodium stearate in combination with the polyol, water and surfactant as claimed, it is possible to prepare a surfactant- containing cosmetic composition that may be used as both a hair and body wash (i.e. a shower gel and/or a shampoo), which is in a solid form. In this regard, it was surprisingly found that a solid composition could be prepared comprising sodium stearate in which the remainder of the ingredients are in liquid form. As such, it was found to be possible to prepare a solid cosmetic composition comprising sodium stearate and liquid components, wherein the liquid components are present in relatively high amounts such as in an amount of up to about 95% by weight of the composition, such as up to about 85% by weight of the composition. A solid cosmetic composition could thus be prepared comprising a liquid portion in an amount of up to about 95% by weight of the composition. For ease of reference, these and further aspects of the present invention are now discussed under appropriate section headings. However, the teachings under each section are not necessarily limited to each particular section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Composition

As described herein, in one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid cosmetic composition comprising: (i) sodium stearate; (ii) a polyol; (iii) water in an amount of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition; and (iv) a surfactant in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the nature of a cosmetic product means that the product is not edible. Thus, the present invention provides a non-edible solid cosmetic composition as defined herein.

Solid cosmetic products of the present invention are compositions which can substantially sustain their physical shape when unsupported by external means, e.g. packaging etc. Thus, they are considered to be solid, solid-like, in solid form or in solid-like form at room temperature. For the avoidance of doubt, the solid product is one which remains substantially solid at a temperature of up to 30°C. By solid-like, it is understood that some materials are considered on a day to day basis to be solid, yet over an extremely long period of time, may alter in shape, e.g. amorphous materials such as glass etc. However, they are considered to be solid-like as, for the purpose they fulfil, they are solid.

As mentioned above, due to the solid form of the compositions of the present invention, external packaging is not required to maintain the shape of the composition.

Sodium stearate

As described herein, the solid cosmetic composition comprises sodium stearate. Sodium stearate is the sodium salt of stearic acid, and is typically regarded as a soap. It was found by the present inventors that the inclusion of sodium stearate in combination with the other components as claimed results in the production of a cosmetic composition that may be used as a hair and body wash (i.e. as a shower gel and/or shampoo product), which is in solid form.

The sodium stearate may be present in the solid cosmetic composition in any suitable amount. In particular, the sodium stearate may be present in the composition in any amount sufficient to provide the cosmetic composition in solid form. In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises the sodium stearate in an amount of at least 1 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of at least 2% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of at least 3% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of at least 4% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of at least 5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of at least 8% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of at least 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises sodium stearate in an amount of no greater than 25% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of no greater than 20% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of no greater than 15% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises sodium stearate in an amount of from about 1 % to about 25% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises sodium stearate in an amount of from about 5% to about 20% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises sodium stearate in an amount of from about 8% to about 15% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises sodium stearate in an amount of from about 9% to about 12% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises sodium stearate in an amount of approximately 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

Preferably, the sodium stearate is present in an amount of from about 8% to about 15% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. It was found that, when the sodium stearate is included in an amount of less than about 8% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, the composition may be relatively soft and it may therefore not be possible to include as much water in the compositions as when a higher amount of sodium stearate is included. As the skilled person will appreciate, it is desirable to include a relatively high amount of water in the compositions as this may improve the feel of the product on the user's skin and may also reduce the cost of manufacture of the products. Conversely, it was found that the inclusion of sodium stearate in an amount of greater than about 15% by weight of the composition may result in a product that is very firm or hard. Too firm or hard a product may diminish the user's experience as it may decrease the comfort or sensation of the product on the user's skin. In addition, the inclusion of a sodium stearate in an amount of greater than about 15% by weight may reduce the suitability of the composition for washing the hair of the user, and may also lead to the formation of a soap scum when the product is applied using water due to relatively high amounts of soap being included in the product.

The present inventors also found that the sodium stearate may be included in the composition without the inclusion of any other soaps, whilst still providing a solid cosmetic composition. Preferably, the solid cosmetic composition does not comprise any other soaps except for sodium stearate, since the inclusion of other soaps may lead to the formation of a soap scum during use of the product, and may also result in a less desirable feeling when applied to the skin of the user due to the sensation of the product "dragging" on the skin. In this regard, the present inventors found that the inclusion of a high amount of soap may result in a product that drags across the skin when used rather than gliding across the skin, and which leaves the user with skin that feels sticky and/or tacky after the product has been applied to the skin of a user. Furthermore, the inclusion of other soaps is not desirable since this may result in a product that is not suitable for washing the hair of the user. In contrast, the composition of the present invention that comprises a relatively high amount of surfactant may be used for washing, not only the skin of the user, but also the hair of the user, and has been found to smoothly glide across the skin of the user when applied in combination with water.

Therefore, in some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition is substantially free of any soap that is not sodium stearate. As used herein, "substantially free of any soap that is not sodium stearate" means that the solid cosmetic composition comprises a soap that is not sodium stearate in an amount of less than about 1 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of less than about 0.1 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of less than about 0.01 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of less than about 0.001 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. Preferably, the solid cosmetic composition is entirely free of any soap that is not sodium stearate. Polyol

As described herein, the solid cosmetic composition comprises a polyol. As the skilled person understands, a polyol is an alcohol containing multiple (i.e. at least two) hydroxyl groups. The polyol may be selected from any suitable polyol. In some embodiments, the polyol includes no greater than 5 hydroxyl groups, preferably no greater than 4 hydroxyl groups, preferably no greater than 3 hydroxyl groups, preferably no greater than 2 hydroxyl groups.

In some preferred embodiments, the polyol is a diol. The polyol may be a diol that is selected from ethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, monopropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the polyol is monopropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the polyol is monopropylene glycol.

In some preferred embodiments, the polyol is not glycerol. Preferably, the solid cosmetic composition is substantially free of glycerol. Although glycerol may solubilise sodium stearate, the high viscosity of glycerol may reduce the effectiveness of the heat transfer required in this stage. Furthermore, glycerol is generally regarded as being a particularly strong humectant (more so than glycols), so the inclusion of such a strong humectant may increase the sweating of the product as discussed herein. As used herein, the term "substantially free of glycerol" means that the solid cosmetic composition comprises glycerol in an amount of no greater than about 5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of no greater than about 1 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of no greater than about 0.5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of no greater than about 0.1 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of no greater than about 0.01 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

In some embodiments, the polyol (such as monopropylene glycol and/or dipropylene glycol) is present in an amount of from about 10% to about 35% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the polyol (such as monopropylene glycol and/or dipropylene glycol) is present in an amount of from about 15% to about 30% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the polyol (such as monopropylene glycol and/or dipropylene glycol) is present in an amount of from about 15% to about 25% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the polyol (such as monopropylene glycol and/or dipropylene glycol) is present in an amount of from about 17% to about 25% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the polyol (such as monopropylene glycol and/or dipropylene glycol) is present in an amount of from about 18% to about 22% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the polyol (such as monopropylene glycol and/or dipropylene glycol) is present in an amount of approximately 20% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. It is well known in the art that polyols are hygroscopic and therefore act as humectants. This is particularly useful in cosmetic compositions where they act to attract and retain moisture. It was found by the present inventors that, when the polyol is included in the composition in an amount of greater than 35% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, the composition may appear to "sweat" when stored at room temperature. By sweating it is meant that the product forms moisture on the product surface, which may be due to the polyol drawing in a high amount of water from the surrounding environment. This may give an unsatisfactory visual appearance and also an unpleasant stickiness on the product surface. Furthermore, it was found by the present inventors that, when the polyol is included in the composition in an amount of less than 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, the sodium stearate may not be sufficiently solubilised. Therefore, it is preferable for the polyol to be included in an amount of from about 10% to about 35% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

Water

As described herein, the solid cosmetic composition comprises water in an amount of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

In some embodiments, the water may be present in an amount of from about 20% to about 60% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the water may be present in an amount of from about 25% to about 55% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the water may be present in an amount of from about 25% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the water may be present in an amount of from about 30% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the water may be present in an amount of from about 35% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the water may be present in an amount of from about 40% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

The water may be provided by any suitable liquid or aqueous source. The water may be provided by distilled water, tap water, rain water, sea water, plant infusions, decoctions (such as tea and/or coffee), alcohol solutions (such as beer, wine and/or spirits), vinegar, fruit juice, vegetable juice or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the water is provided by distilled water, tap water, rain water, sea water, plant infusions, decoctions, fruit juice, vegetable juice or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the water is provided by distilled water, tap water, fruit juice or mixtures thereof. The water may also be provided as a dilution agent in the commercially available surfactant products that may be utilised for the present invention.

In some embodiments, the water includes a fruit juice, a vegetable juice or mixtures thereof. The fruit juice may be selected from apple juice, orange juice, tomato juice, papaya juice, mango juice, melon juice, pineapple juice, raspberry juice, strawberry juice, blueberry juice, lime juice, lemon juice, blackcurrant juice, grape juice, cucumber juice and mixtures thereof. The vegetable juice may be selected from carrot juice, turnip juice, fennel juice, parsnip juice, red pepper juice, kale juice, chard juice, aubergine juice, broccoli juice, spinach juice, celery juice, and mixtures thereof. In such embodiments, the water comprises a fruit juice, vegetable juice or mixture thereof in an amount of from about 0.01 % to about 10% by weight of the total composition, such as from about 0.1 % to about 5% by weight of the total composition, such as from about 0.5% to about 1 % by weight of the total composition. In some preferred embodiments, the water includes a fruit juice selected from apple juice, orange juice, papaya juice, mango juice, pineapple juice, grape juice and mixtures thereof.

It was found by the present inventors that, when the composition comprises water in an amount of greater than 60% by weight of the composition, the composition may be too soft and may therefore not fulfil the requirements of being solid within the meaning of the present invention. In addition, when the water is present in an amount of greater than 60%, the cosmetic composition was found to be susceptible to shrinking during storage as a result of water loss from the product. Furthermore, when the water is present in an amount of less than 15% by weight of the composition, it was found that the sodium stearate could not be sufficiently solubilised. Including such low amounts of water may also result in a less desirable feel of the product on the user's skin. Surfactant

As described herein, the solid cosmetic composition comprises a surfactant in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. As the skilled person will appreciate, surfactants are typically sold as commercial products in which the pure surfactant (i.e. the active surfactant) is diluted in water. As used herein, the amounts of the surfactant do not relate to the commercially available diluted products, but rather to the amount of pure surfactant. For the avoidance of any doubt, the amount of water included in the solid cosmetic compositions according to the present invention takes into account the amounts of water used for the dilution in the commercially available surfactant products. For example, a commercially available product that contains lauryl betaine is Surfac LB3, which is a 30% aqueous solution of lauryl betaine. Therefore, in an embodiment wherein the present composition comprises 10% Surfac LB3, according to the definitions used herein, the Surfac LB3 provides the composition with 3% lauryl betaine and 7% water.

In some embodiments, the surfactant (i.e. active surfactant) is present in an amount of from about 15% to about 40% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of from about 15% to about 35% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of from about 20% to about 30% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of from about 20% to about 25% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

In some embodiments, the surfactant is selected from an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant and mixtures thereof. In some preferred embodiments, the surfactant comprises a mixture of an anionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant.

Preferably, the surfactant comprises at least one amphoteric surfactant. As the skilled person understands, an amphoteric surfactant (otherwise known as a zwitterionic surfactant) has both cationic and anionic centres attached to the same molecule. The at least one amphoteric surfactant may be selected from lauryl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, trimethyl glycine betaine, sodium cocoamphoacetate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, sodium lauroamphoacetate, disodium lauroamphodiacetate, cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the surfactant comprises at least one amphoteric surfactant in an amount of from about 1 % to about 40% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 5% to about 30% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 5% to about 20% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 5% to about 15% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 5% to about 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. Preferably, the at least one amphoteric surfactant comprises at least lauryl betaine. In some embodiments, the amphoteric surfactant is lauryl betaine. In some embodiments, the amphoteric surfactant is a mixture of lauryl betaine together with at least one other amphoteric surfactant selected from cocamidopropyl betaine, trimethyl glycine betaine, sodium cocoamphoacetate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, sodium lauroamphoacetate, disodium lauroamphodiacetate, cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine. In some embodiments, the amphoteric surfactant is a mixture of lauryl betaine and sodium cocoamphoacetate. In such embodiments wherein the surfactant comprises at least lauryl betaine, the lauryl betaine may be present in an amount of from about 0.1 % to about 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. Preferably, the lauryl betaine is present in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 7.5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. Preferably, the lauryl betaine is present in an amount of from about 1 % to about 5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. Preferably, the lauryl betaine is present in an amount of from about 1 % to about 2.5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the at least one amphoteric surfactant comprises at least sodium cocoamphoacetate. In such embodiments, the sodium cocoamphoacetate may be present in an amount of from about 0.1 % to about 15% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 1 % to about 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 5% to about 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

In some embodiments, the at least one amphoteric surfactant comprises a mixture of at least lauryl betaine and sodium cocoamphoacetate. In some embodiments, the at least one amphoteric surfactant is a mixture of lauryl betaine and sodium cocoamphoacetate. In some embodiments, the at least one amphoteric surfactant is a mixture of lauryl betaine and sodium cocoamphoacetate, wherein the lauryl betaine and sodium amphoacetate are present in a weight ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1 :5, such as from about 4: 1 to about 1 :4, such as from about 2: 1 to about 1 :4, such as from about 1 : 1 to about 1 :4, such as from about 1 : 1 to about 1 :3, such as from about 1 :2 to about 1 :3. The inclusion of amphoteric surfactants, such as those listed herein, is advantageous as such surfactants have a mild character whilst still exhibiting good detergency and foam boosting properties. By "mild" it is meant that the surfactant is less harsh (less drying) on the skin of the user and thus reduces any irritation that may possibly be caused by, for example, anionic surfactants to skin and eyes.

It was found by the present inventors that the inclusion of an amphoteric surfactant, and in particular lauryl betaine, may help to solidify the product due to their viscosity building characteristics and thus enable lower amounts of sodium stearate to be utilised whilst still providing a solid product. This is desirable as described hereinabove since sodium stearate is a soap that may result in the formation of soap scum and reduce the suitability of the product for use in washing hair if used in too high an amount. Amphoteric surfactants, such as those listed herein, also display good hard water compatibility due to their partial cationic charge that interacts less with hard water cations when compared with anionic surfactants.

It was also found that the inclusion of an amphoteric surfactant, and in particular lauryl betaine, may help counteract the sweating of the product that may be caused by the inclusion of the polyol. The partial cationic charge of the amphoteric surfactant interacts more favourably with water and polyols when compared with purely anionic surfactants. This reduces the polyol's ability to absorb water from the environment as it is preferentially absorbing water bound by the amphoteric surfactant rather than from the surrounding environment.

Furthermore, the inclusion of an amphoteric surfactant may improve the slip of the product, thus reducing the feeling of drag on the skin during use. This may enhance the smooth gliding sensation when the product is applied to the skin of the user. The partial cationic charge of the amphoteric surfactant molecule may also be attracted to the electronegative surface of the hair strand, which provides a conditioning effect and allows for the production of a product that is suitable for contact with hair. It was found that including the amphoteric surfactant in an amount of from about 1 % to about 40% by weight of the composition may provide these advantageous effects. In particular, the inclusion of lauryl betaine in an amount of from about 1 % to about 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition was found to be particularly advantageous. In addition, it was found that the inclusion of lauryl betaine in particular may help to solubilise the sodium stearate in the product, thus allowing for lower amounts of water and/or polyol to be included.

In some embodiments, the surfactant comprises at least one anionic surfactant. In such embodiments, the anionic surfactant may be selected from sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, sodium myreth sulfate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the anionic surfactant is selected from sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the surfactant comprises at least one anionic surfactant (such as sodium lauryl sulfate and/or sodium laureth sulfate) in an amount of from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 10% to about 40% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 10% to about 15% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. Preferably, the surfactant is a mixture of two or more surfactants. In some preferred embodiments, the surfactant is a mixture of at least one amphoteric surfactant (such as lauryl betaine and/or sodium cocoamphoacetate) and at least one anionic surfactant (such as sodium lauryl sulfate and/or sodium laureth sulfate). In some embodiments, the at least one amphoteric surfactant (such as lauryl betaine and/or sodium cocoamphoacetate) and at least one anionic surfactant (such as sodium lauryl sulfate and/or sodium laureth sulfate) may be present in a weight ratio of from about 5: 1 to about 1 :5, such as from about 1 : 1 to about 1 :5, such as from about 1 : 1 to about 1 :2.

Total Composition & Further Components

In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises:

(i) sodium stearate in an amount of from about 8% to about 15% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition;

(ii) a polyol in an amount of from about 10% to about 35% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition; (iii) water in an amount of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition; and

(iv) a surfactant in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises:

(i) sodium stearate;

(ii) a polyol selected from monopropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures thereof;

(iii) water in an amount of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition; and

(iv) a surfactant in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one amphoteric surfactant.

In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises:

(i) sodium stearate in an amount of from about 8% to about 15% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition;

(ii) a polyol in an amount of from about 10% to about 35% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, wherein the polyol is selected from monopropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures thereof;

(iii) water in an amount of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition; and

(iv) a surfactant in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one amphoteric surfactant in an amount of from about 5% to about 20% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition.

In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises:

(i) sodium stearate;

(ii) a polyol selected from monopropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures thereof;

(iii) water in an amount of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition; and

(iv) a surfactant in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, wherein the surfactant comprises at least lauryl betaine. In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises:

(i) sodium stearate in an amount of from about 8% to about 15% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition;

(ii) a polyol in an amount of from about 10% to about 35% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, wherein the polyol is selected from monopropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures thereof;

(iii) water in an amount of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition; and

(iv) a surfactant in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, wherein the surfactant comprises at least lauryl betaine in an amount of from about 1 % about 5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In addition to the above, the composition may further comprise an additional gelling agent. As used herein, the term "additional gelling agent" refers to any gelling agent that is not sodium stearate. In some preferred embodiments, the additional gelling agent may be a polysaccharide gelling agent. In some embodiments, the polysaccharide gelling agent may be selected from carrageenan, xanthan gum, guar gum, agar, sodium alginate, potassium alginate and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the polysaccharide gelling agent may be selected from carrageenan, xanthan gum, guar gum and mixtures thereof. The carrageenan may be iota-carrageenan or kappa-carrageenan, and preferably iota- carrageenan. Preferably, the polysaccharide gelling agent is carrageenan (preferably, iota- carrageenan). Preferably, the polysaccharide gelling agent is xanthan gum. Preferably, the polysaccharide gelling agent is guar gum. Preferably the polysaccharide gelling agent is a mixture of xanthan gum and guar gum.

When present, the additional gelling agent (such as a polysaccharide gelling agent) may be present in an amount of from about 0.1 % to about 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition further comprises an additional gelling agent (such as a polysaccharide gelling agent) in an amount of from about 0.1 % to about 10% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 0.75% to about 2.5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of from about 1 % to about 2% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. It was surprisingly found by the present inventors that the inclusion of an additional gelling agent, such as a polysaccharide gelling agent, may reduce the amount of water that is lost from the product during storage of the product at room temperature. Without wishing to be bound, it is thought that the additional gelling agent may have the effect of absorbing a proportion of the free water in the product such that less water leaches out of the product during storage. This may have the effect of reducing shrinkage of the products over a period of time. In addition to the above, the cosmetic composition may further comprise one or more cosmetically acceptable additives. The person skilled in the art is aware of a range of cosmetically acceptable additives which are suitable for incorporation into such compositions. In some embodiments, the one or more cosmetically acceptable additives are selected from a starch, binder, filler, opacifier, UV absorbing material, UV reflecting material, exfoliating material, essential oil, vitamin, perfume, fragrance, colouring, vegetable butter, vegetable oil, honey, fruit juice, fruit and/or herb extract, decorative item and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more cosmetically acceptable additives are selected from a binder, filler, opacifier, exfoliating material, essential oil, vitamin, perfume, fragrance, colouring, honey, fruit juice, fruit and/or herb extract, decorative item and mixtures thereof.

Fragrance may be added to the product to make the experience of using the present composition more pleasant. Combining essential oils such as lavender, chamomile or rose absolute into fragrances for the invention ensures the user has a pleasant experience.

In some embodiments, the cosmetic composition thus further comprises a perfume or a fragrance. The amount of fragrance is preferably from about 0.1 % to about 10% by weight of the total composition, such as from about 0.1 % to about 5% by weight of the total composition, such as from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the total composition, such as from about 1 % to about 5% by weight of the total composition.

The essential oils may be selected based on the fragrance desired, skin type to be treated and other effects desired based on the well-known properties of essential oils. The addition of essential oils, when taken into the nose, is known to alter mood. For example, essential oils are known to create effects of drowsiness or stimulating the senses. Many well documented effects can be achieved by the use of essential oils. In one embodiment, the one or more essential oils present in the product are selected from Tarragon, Lemon myrtle, Jasmin, Ylang ylang, Labdanum, Lemongrass, Rose otto, Grapefruit, Patchouli, Rosemary, Armois, Lemon, Neroli, Sweet violet, Lavender, Orange 50 fold, Vanilla, Peppermint, Benzoin, Hydrangia, Litsea Cubeba, Cardamon, Tonka, and Chamomile blue. In one embodiment, the one or more essential oils present in the product are selected from Tarragon, Lemon myrtle, Labdunum, and Lemon.

Vitamins, particularly B, C and E are very beneficial for the skin. Vitamin rich ingredients such as Wheatgerm oil can also be used to deliver vitamins on to the skin. In a one embodiment, the vitamins are selected from vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E and mixtures thereof. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the vitamin may be provided from any suitable source. For example the vitamin(s) may be provided from a synthetic source or from incorporation into the product of a material, such as a natural material, that has a high vitamin content.

In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition further comprises a colouring. The colouring may be any suitable pigment and/or dye. In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition may comprise a colouring in an amount of from about 0.001 % to about 5% by weight of the total composition.

In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition is substantially free of a salt of carbonic acid. In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition is substantially free of sodium bicarbonate. As used herein, "substantially free of a salt of carbonic acid" means that the solid cosmetic composition comprises a salt of carbonic acid (such as sodium bicarbonate) in an amount of less than about 2% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of less than about 1 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of less than about 0.5% by weight of the solid cosmetic composition, such as in an amount of less than about 0.1 % by weight of the solid cosmetic composition. It was surprisingly found by the present inventors that, when the composition is substantially free of sodium bicarbonate, the amount of soap scum produced when using the product is reduced.

Preferably, the solid cosmetic composition is suitable for use in washing the hair and/or body of the user. Preferably, the solid cosmetic composition is suitable for use in washing both the hair and body of the user. In some preferred embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition is a solid shower gel. In some preferred embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition is a solid shampoo.

The above ranges provide preferred amounts of each of the components. Each of these ranges may be taken alone or combined with one or more other component ranges to provide a preferred aspect of the invention.

Process As described herein, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for the production of a solid cosmetic composition as defined herein, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) combining:

(i) sodium stearate;

(ii) a polyol

(iii) water; and

(iv) a surfactant; and

(b) solidifying the resultant combination. The water may first be heated prior to combining the (i) sodium stearate, (ii) polyol and (iv) surfactant with the water. Therefore, in some embodiments, the process further comprises a step of heating water before the components are combined in step (a). In some embodiments, the water is heated before the components are combined in step (a) to a temperature of from about 50°C to about 70°C, such as from about 55°C to about 65°C, such as approximately 60°C.

In some embodiments, step (a) of the above process comprises the following steps of:

(i) combining the water and polyol;

(ii) heating the combination of water and polyol; and

(iii) adding sodium stearate to the heated combination;

wherein the surfactant is added during step (i), during step (iii) and/or after step (iii).

In some embodiments, the combination of water and polyol is heated during step (ii) above to a temperature of from about 70°C to about 100°C, such as from about 75°C to about 90°C, such as from about 80°C to about 85°C. The sodium stearate may be added in step (iii) after heating the combination of the water and polyol so that the sodium stearate is solubilised in the water/polyol combination. Preferably, the sodium stearate is mixed (such as by whisking or the like) in step (iii) in order to facilitate the solubilisation of the sodium stearate. As identified above, the surfactant may be added during step (i). The surfactant may be added in step (i), for example, if the surfactant is provided in solid or semi-solid form and therefore requires solubilising in the heated water/polyol combination. Alternatively or in addition, the surfactant may be added during step (iii) and/or after step (iii).

In some embodiments, the solid cosmetic composition comprises a mixture of two or more surfactants, and the surfactants may be added during step (i), during step (iii) and/or after step (iii) either in combination or separately. For example, one surfactant may be added during step (i) whilst another surfactant may be added during and/or after step (iii).

In some embodiments, the step (b) comprises cooling the resultant combination prepared in step (a) to provide the solid cosmetic composition. Therefore, in some embodiments, the process comprises the steps of:

(a) (i) combining the water and polyol;

(ii) heating the combination of water and polyol; and

(iii) adding sodium stearate to the heated combination,

wherein the surfactant is added during step (i), during step (iii) and/or after step (iii); and

(b) cooling the resultant combination to provide the solid cosmetic composition.

As described herein, according to a third aspect of the invention, there is also provided a solid cosmetic product obtained or obtainable from the process as described herein.

Method

As described herein, according to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a cosmetic method comprising contacting the skin or hair of a user with the solid cosmetic composition as defined herein. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, in view of the solid properties of the present invention, the user may contact the skin or hair directly with the solid cosmetic composition. There may be no need to dispense the product from within some external packaging prior to application to the skin, as is the case for conventional liquid shower gel products. Use

As described herein, according to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of sodium stearate for solidifying a liquid shower gel or liquid shampoo to provide a solid shower gel or solid shampoo. In some embodiments, the liquid shower gel or liquid shampoo comprises a surfactant in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the composition.

In some embodiments, the solid shower gel or solid shampoo provided is a solid cosmetic composition as defined hereinabove.

EXAMPLES

The invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting examples.

Comparative Example 1

A product having the following composition was prepared:

LC70 is a 70% active solution of sodium laureth sulfate. Therefore, the total amount of active surfactant is 14% by weight of the composition, and the total amount of water is 33.75% by weight of the composition. The product was prepared using the following method:

1. The water was combined with the sodium bicarbonate.

2. The LC70 was stirred together with the monopropylene glycol to solubilise the surfactant, and the resultant mixture was added to the water. The temperature was then increased to about 75°C.

3. The sodium stearate was added one third at a time, and whisked in to dissolve.

4. The resulting mixture was removed from the heat and left to cool to approximately 40°C.

5. The remaining ingredients were blended together and then added and mixed thoroughly to ensure an effective dispersal.

6. The resulting combination was then poured into moulds and left to set. A solid product was then turned out of the moulds.

The product was found to be in the form of a solid that could sustain its physical shape without support from any external means, although the product was relatively soft to the touch.

However, the product was found to drag on the hair when applied by the user to the hair, which provided an undesirable sensation for the user. This was likely due to the low amount of surfactant in the product. It was also found that the product formed small amounts of soap scum when contacted with water. In addition, the product was found to slightly sweat upon leaving the product at room temperature for a period of time.

Comparative Example 2 A product having the following composition was prepared: Batch Size (g): 100.00

Formula

Component

(% by weight)

Tap Water 25.75 25.75

Sodium Bicarbonate 2 2.00

LC70 20 20.00

Monopropylene Glycol 38 38.00

Sodium Stearate 10 10.00

Lactic Acid 2 2.00

Fragrance 2 2.00

Colouring 0.25 0.25

LC70 is a 70% active solution of sodium laureth sulfate. Therefore, the total amount of active surfactant is 14% by weight of the composition, and the total amount of water is 31.75% by weight of the composition.

The product was prepared using the following method:

7. The water was combined with the sodium bicarbonate, and heated slightly.

8. The LC70 was stirred together with the monopropylene glycol to solubilise the surfactant, and the resultant mixture was added to the water. The temperature was then increased to about 80°C.

9. The sodium stearate was added one third at a time, and whisked in to dissolve.

10. The resulting mixture was removed from the heat and left to cool to approximately 40°C.

1 1. The remaining ingredients were blended together and then added and mixed thoroughly to ensure an effective dispersal.

12. The resulting combination was then poured into moulds and left to set. A solid product was then turned out of the moulds. The product was found to be in the form of a solid that could sustain its physical shape without support from any external means, and which had a good hardness. This may have been as a result of increasing the amount of sodium stearate from 6% to 10%. However, the product was found to drag on the hair when applied by the user to the hair, which provided an undesirable sensation for the user. Deposits were also left on the hair after use that were difficult to wash off. This was likely due to the low amount of surfactant in the product. It was also found that the product formed small amounts of soap scum when contacted with water. In addition, the product was found to slightly sweat upon leaving the product at room temperature for a period of time.

Example 1

A product having the following composition was prepared:

LC70 is a 70% active solution of sodium laureth sulfate. Euroglyc AMS is a -32% active solution of sodium cocoamphoacetate. Therefore, the total amount of active surfactant is about 18.8% by weight of the composition, and the total amount of water is about 38.95% by weight of the composition. The product was prepared using the following method:

1. The water was heated to about 50°C, together with the sodium bicarbonate.

2. The LC70 was stirred together with the monopropylene glycol and sodium cocoamphoacetate to solubilise the sodium laureth sulfate, and the resultant mixture was added to the heated water. The temperature was then increased to about 85°C.

3. The sodium stearate was added one third at a time, and whisked in to dissolve.

4. The resulting mixture was removed from the heat and left to cool to approximately 40°C.

5. The remaining ingredients were blended together and then added and mixed thoroughly to ensure an effective dispersal.

6. The resulting combination was then poured into moulds and left to set. A solid product was then turned out of the moulds.

The product was found to be in the form of a solid that could sustain its physical shape without support from any external means, and which had a good hardness. By virtue of increasing the amount of surfactant, the user could apply the product directly to the skin or the hair by rubbing the product on the skin to create a lather. The product of Example 1 was also found to be suitable for washing the hair of the user, in contrast to soap products that contain high amounts of soap.

The product formed small amounts of soap scum when contacted with water. The product effervesced on contact with water.

Example 2

A product having the following composition was prepared:

Batch Size (g): 100.00

Formula

Component

(% by weight)

Tap Water 23.75 23.75

Sodium Bicarbonate 2 2.00

LC70 20 20.00 Batch Size (g): 100.00

Formula

Component

(% by weight)

Monopropylene Glycol 20 20.00

Euroglyc AMS 20 20.00

Sodium Stearate 10 10.00

Lactic Acid 2 2.00

Fragrance 2 2.00

Colouring 0.25 0.25

LC70 is a 70% active solution of sodium laureth sulfate. Euroglyc AMS is a -32% active solution of sodium cocoamphoacetate. Therefore, the total amount of active surfactant is about 20.4% by weight of the composition, and the total amount of water is about 43.35% by weight of the composition.

The product was prepared using the following method:

7. The water was heated to about 50°C, together with the sodium bicarbonate.

8. The LC70 was stirred together with the monopropylene glycol and sodium cocoamphoacetate to solubilise the sodium laureth sulfate, and the resultant mixture was added to the heated water. The temperature was then increased to about 85°C.

9. The sodium stearate was added one third at a time, and whisked in to dissolve.

10. The resulting mixture was removed from the heat and left to cool to approximately 40°C.

1 1. The remaining ingredients were blended together and then added and mixed thoroughly to ensure an effective dispersal.

12. The resulting combination was then poured into moulds and left to set. A solid product was then turned out of the moulds.

The product was found to be in the form of a solid that could sustain its physical shape without support from any external means, and which had a good hardness. The user could apply the product directly to the skin or the hair by rubbing the product on the skin to create a lather. The product of Example 2 was also found to be suitable for washing the hair of the user, in contrast to soap products that contain high amounts of soap. Indeed, it was found that this product had an improved feel on the hair relative to the product of Example 1 due to the slightly increased amount of surfactant. The relatively low amounts of monopropylene glycol also resulted in a product that did not sweat as much as the products of Example 1.

The high amount of sodium cocoamphoacetate resulted in a product that was slightly difficult to pour. The product formed small amounts of soap scum when contacted with water. The product effervesced slightly on contact with water. Example 3

A product having the following composition was prepared:

LC70 is a 70% active solution of sodium laureth sulfate. Euroglyc AMS is a -32% active solution of sodium cocoamphoacetate. Therefore, the total amount of active surfactant is about 22% by weight of the composition, and the total amount of water is about 43.75% by weight of the composition. The product was prepared using the following method: 1. The water was heated to about 50°C, together with the sodium bicarbonate.

2. The LC70 was stirred together with the monopropylene glycol and sodium cocoamphoacetate to solubilise the sodium laureth sulfate, and the resultant mixture was added to the heated water. The temperature was then increased to about 85°C.

3. The sodium stearate was added one third at a time, and whisked in to dissolve.

4. The resulting mixture was removed from the heat and left to cool to approximately 40°C.

5. The remaining ingredients were blended together and then added and mixed thoroughly to ensure an effective dispersal.

6. The resulting combination was then poured into moulds and left to set. A solid product was then turned out of the moulds.

The product was found to be in the form of a solid that could sustain its physical shape without support from any external means. The user could apply the product directly to the skin or the hair by rubbing the product on the skin to create a lather. The product of Example 2 was also found to be suitable for washing the hair of the user, in contrast to soap products that contain high amounts of soap. The relatively low amounts of monopropylene glycol also resulted in a product that did not sweat as much as the products of Example 1.

The relatively low amounts of propylene glycol and water meant that it was more difficult to solubilise the sodium stearate in the composition, and the resulting composition was therefore softer than the compositions of Examples 1 and 2. Furthermore, it was found that the product formed small amounts of soap scum when contacted with water. The product effervesced slightly on contact with water.

Example 4 A product having the following composition was prepared:

Batch Size (g): 100.00

Formula

Component

(% by weight)

Tap Water 20.75 20.75 Batch Size (g): 100.00

Formula

Component

(% by weight)

Sodium Bicarbonate 2 2.00

LC70 20 20.00

Monopropylene Glycol 20 20.00

Euroglyc AMS 16 16.00

Sodium Stearate 10 10.00

LB3 7 7.00

Lactic Acid 2 2.00

Fragrance 2 2.00

Colouring 0.25 0.25

LC70 is a 70% active solution of sodium laureth sulfate. LB3 is a 30% active solution of lauryl betaine. Euroglyc AMS is a -32% active solution of sodium cocoamphoacetate. Therefore, the total amount of active surfactant is about 21.22% by weight of the composition, and the total amount of water is about 42.53% by weight of the composition.

The product was prepared using the following method:

1. The water was heated to about 50°C, together with the sodium bicarbonate.

2. The LC70 was stirred together with the monopropylene glycol and sodium cocoamphoacetate to solubilise the sodium laureth sulfate, and the resultant mixture was added to the heated water. The temperature was then increased to about 85°C.

3. The sodium stearate was added one third at a time, and whisked in to dissolve.

4. The resulting mixture was removed from the heat and left to cool to approximately 40°C.

5. The remaining ingredients were blended together and then added and mixed thoroughly to ensure an effective dispersal.

6. The resulting combination was then poured into moulds and left to set. A solid product was then turned out of the moulds. The product was found to be in the form of a solid that could sustain its physical shape without support from any external means, and which had a good hardness. The user could apply the product directly to the skin or the hair by rubbing the product on the skin to create a lather. The product of Example 4 was also found to be suitable for washing the hair of the user, in contrast to soap products that contain high amounts of soap. Indeed, it was found that this product had an improved feel on the hair relative to the products of Examples 1 to 3 due to the inclusion of the lauryl betaine.

Furthermore, it was surprisingly found that this product was easier to make than the products of Examples 1 to 3 due to the improved solubilisation of the sodium stearate. It was concluded that the inclusion of the lauryl betaine assisted in solubilising the sodium stearate, whilst allowing for the amount of monopropylene glycol to be kept at a relatively low level in order to reduce the sweating of the product. The product was also found to secrete less sweat than any of the products of Examples 1 to 4 by virtue of the combination of the relatively low amounts of monopropylene glycol and the inclusion of the lauryl betaine which was concluded to help reduce the amount of sweat secreted.

It was found that the product formed small amounts of soap scum when contacted with water. The product slightly on contact with water.

Example 5

A product having the following composition was prepared:

Batch Size (g): 100.00

Formula

Component

(% by weight)

Tap Water 25.5 25.50

LC70 18 18.00

Monopropylene 19 19.00

Glycol

Sodium 1 1 1 1.00

Stearate Batch Size (g): 100.00

Formula

Component

(% by weight)

Euroglyc AMS 15 15.00

LB3 9 9.00

Fragrance 2 2.00

Colouring 0.5 0.50

LC70 is a 70% active solution of sodium laureth sulfate. LB3 is a 30% active solution of lauryl betaine. Euroglyc AMS is a -32% active solution of sodium cocoamphoacetate. Therefore, the total amount of active surfactant is about 20.1 % by weight of the composition, and the total amount of water is 47.4% by weight of the composition.

The product was prepared using the following method:

7. The water was heated to about 60°C.

8. The LC70 was stirred together with the monopropylene glycol to solubilise the surfactant, and the resultant mixture was added to the heated water. The temperature was then increased to about 80°C.

9. The sodium stearate was added one third at a time, and whisked in to dissolve.

10. Sodium cocoamphoacetate was then added and stirred in thoroughly.

1 1. The resulting mixture was removed from the heat and left to cool to approximately 55°C.

12. The remaining ingredients were then added and mixed thoroughly to ensure an effective dispersal.

13. The resulting combination was then cooled to about 40°C, and then poured into moulds and left to set. A solid product was then turned out of the moulds.

The product was found to be in the form of a solid that could sustain its physical shape without support from any external means, which has good hardness. The user could apply the product directly to the skin or the hair by rubbing the product on the skin to create a lather. It was found that the product did not produce a soap scum and had a pleasant and smooth sensation on the skin without any dragging sensation. This is in contrast to any soap product that has high amounts of soap, which products tend to cause drag and large amounts of soap scum. The product of Example 5 was also found to be suitable for washing the hair of the user, in contrast to soap products that contain high amounts of soap.

In addition, the relatively low amount of monopropylene glycol and the inclusion of lauryl betaine meant that the sweating of the product was reduced, and the inclusion of lauryl betaine enabled the product to be easily manufactured due to the improved solubilisation of the sodium stearate.

Furthermore, it was found that the product did not produce a soap scum and had a pleasant and smooth sensation on the skin without any dragging sensation. The decrease in soap scum may be as a result of the removal of the sodium bicarbonate from the composition.

These effects of the product were found to be in contrast to any soap product that has high amounts of soap, which products tend to cause drag and large amounts of soap scum.

Upon storing the product over a period of days at room temperature, it was found that the products were losing a small proportion of their weight, presumably due to slight water loss from the products.

Example 6

A number of products were prepared as in Example 5, in which a small amount of the water was replaced with an additional gelling agent. The following gelling agents were tested for their effects on the amount of water lost from the products during storage:

• lota-carrageenan: 2.15%

• lota-carrageenan: 1.075%

• Sodium alginate: 0.5%; calcium lactate: 0.5%

· Agar: 1 %

• Xanthan gum: 1 %

• Guar gum: 1 %

The following results were obtained: Table 1 - table showing weight loss of products comprising additional gelling agents

loss (g)

NT = not tested

These results therefore demonstrate that the inclusion of an additional gelling agent, such as a polysaccharide gelling agent, may reduce the amount of water lost (and therefore weight lost) from the product during storage.

Various modifications and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in chemistry, biology or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the claims.