Compositions

The present invention relates to personal care compositions and animal care compositions. In particular personal care and animal care compositions providing improved shine, gloss or lustre.

Personal care compositions providing improved shine, gloss or lustre are known in the art. For example US6174983 teaches silicone terpolymers modified with phenyl or substituted phenyl groups and polyalkyleneoxides. These polymers are said to improve slip and gloss of the substrates to which they are applied and are said to be useful in hair care as well as coatings applications.

Personal care compositions comprising alkyl benzoate esters are well known in the art. US4322545, US4323694, US4278655, US4275222 and US4293544 teach benzoic acid ester compositions suitable for use as a vehicle and a carrier in toiletry and cosmetic compositions. The compositions are said to be particularly useful in toiletry and cosmetic products, e.g., hair creams, hand cleaners, bath oils, sunscreen compositions, hair brilliantines, antiperspirants, perfumes, colognes, sunscreen butters, cold creams, electric preshaves, eye and throat oils, skin gels, fingernail polishes, pharmaceutical ointments, lipsticks, stick rouges, deodorants, lotions, moisturizers, facial cleansers, and after bath splashes and lotions. Particular uses are as antiperspirant compositions and in sunscreen compositions. In each of these patents, the preferred alkyl benzoate ester is the benzoate ester of a mixture of alcohols provided under the trade name Neodol 25. As disclosed in US4322545, Neodol 25 typically comprises 29.4% of esters of C ₁₂ alcohols, 36.7% of esters of C ₁₃ alcohols, 18.3 % of esters of C ₁₄ alcohols and 15.5 % of esters of C ₁₅ alcohols.

WO2013079259 teaches shine producing hair treatment agents for cosmetically treating keratin fibers, in particular human hair, containing in a cosmetically acceptable carrier, (i) at least one ester of formula (I) R ² C0 ₂ R ¹ , and (ii) at least one oil selected from silicones and paraffin oil. Although the ester of formula (I) may include many compounds, a preferred ester of formula (I) is an ester of benzoic acid with a (C ₁₀ to C ₁₈ )-alkanol, in particular an ester of benzoic acid with a (C ₁₂ to C ₁₅ )-alkanol. Such esters are said to be obtainable from the company Finetex (now Innospec) under the trade name Finsolv® TN (INCI name: C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate).

US5932197 teaches cosmetic compositions and their use in obtaining a glossy film, in particular a lipstick composition or a composition to be applied to the lips comprising at least one aromatic ester and at least one polymer comprising a -[C(CH ₃ ) ₂ -CH ₂ ]- unit. US5932197 teaches several aromatic esters which may be used in the composition. Preferred compounds are alkyi benzoates in which the alkyi group contains from 12 to 15 carbon atoms, isostearyl or octyldodecyl benzoates or alternatively benzyl laurate. The only exemplified esters are Ci ₂ - Ci5 alkyi benzoates (Finsolv TN from Finetex (now Innospec)) and tridecyl trimellitate (DUB TMTD from Stearinerie Dubois).

Thus C ₁₂ - C ₁₅ alkyi benzoates first disclosed in the 1970s by Finetex and sold under the trade mark Finsolv® TN have been used for many years in a number of applications including those where high gloss, shine or lustre is desirable. Nevertheless, there exists a continuing need to provide more effective compositions, for example by providing compositions with higher gloss and/or by providing compositions with equivalent gloss but with lower levels of shine additives.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that a particular blend of benzoate esters in combination with one or more shine additives provides a significant and entirely unexpected improvement in shine performance compared with compositions known in the prior art.

The compositions of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in personal care, for example for application to human hair, skin, lips, nails etc. However, the compositions may also be used on other living animals. For example, the compositions may be used to enhance the shine of the coat, fur or mane of horses, dogs, cats etc.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition comprising:

(a) a shine additive; and

(b) a mixture of Ci ₂ -Ci ₅ benzoate esters including at least 1 wt% of one or more esters of alcohols having an odd number of carbon atoms and at least 50 wt% of one or more esters of alcohols having an even number of carbon atoms.

Component (a) comprises a shine additive. It may comprise a mixture of two or more shine additives. References herein to a shine additive may relate to mixtures of such additives, when present.

Suitably the one or more shine additives are components of an agent which is applied to the hair, skin or nails and improves shine/gloss/brightness/lustre. These compounds typically have a high refractive index and will be known to the person skilled in the art. Any suitable shine additives known in the art may be included.

In one preferred embodiment, the shine additive may be an organic or silicone compound having a refractive index of greater than 1 .4. Suitable shine additives include polar esters, naturally-occurring and synthetic triglycerides, silicone compounds, acrylic polymers and vegetable oil-derived copolymers. The skilled person will appreciate that polymeric materials of this type usually exist as complex mixtures of compounds.

Suitable polar ester shine additives include polypropylene glycol benzyl ether myristate, tri- isostearyl citrate, coconut oil, sunflower oil and esters of polyhydric alcohols. Examples include propylene glycol dibenzoate and dicocoyl pentaerythrityl distearyl citrate. Suitable acrylic polymer shine agents include acrylate polymers, acrylate copolymers, methacrylate polymers, methacrylate copolymers, styrene/acrylate copolymers, polyacrylamidopropyltrimonium chloride and vinyl acetate/butyl maleate/isobornyl acrylate copolymers. Suitable vegetable oil-derived copolymers include copolymers of castor oil and sebacic acid, copolymers of castor oil, isostearic acid and succinic acid, and capryloyl glycerin/sebacic acid copolymer optionally in combination with diheptyl succinate.

Preferred shine additives are silicone compounds, preferably silicone compounds having a refractive index of greater than 1 .4. Especially preferred are arylated silicone compounds.

Suitable arylated silicone shine additives include diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone, phenyl trimethicone, trimethylsiloxyphenyl dimethicone, phenyl propyl dimethyl siloxysilicate, diphenyl dimethicone and bisphenylpropydimethicone.

Preferably the shine additive is selected from diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone, phenyl trimethicone and diphenyl dimethicone. Diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone and phenyl trimethicone are especially preferred. Component (b) comprises a mixture of Ci ₂ -Ci ₅ benzoate esters. By this we mean to refer to a mixture of esters of benzoic acid and alcohols having 12, 13, 14 or 15 carbon atoms. Component (b) consists essentially of Ci ₂ -Ci ₅ benzoate esters. Other components may be present in the composition of the present invention, including for example, further benzoate esters. However all benzoate esters of C ₁₂ to C ₁₅ alcohols fall within component (b) as defined herein and all other components fall outside component (b).

Component (b) may be formed by methods known in the art, for example, reacting a mixture of alcohols with benzoic acid or a derivative thereof, or by mixing the pre-formed esters. The esters are suitably formed by standard esterification techniques which will be known to the person skilled in the art.

It will be appreciated that benzoate esters may comprise small amounts of unreacted materials such as benzoic acid or alcohols. Preferably unreacted raw materials are at low levels, preferably less than 5 wt%, suitably less than 1 wt%.

Component (b) comprises a mixture of benzoate esters. These compounds may be esters of one or more alcohols and one or more benzoic acid compounds. In some embodiments, the benzoic acid compounds may be substituted, for example with one or more groups selected from halo (especially chloro and fluoro), hydroxy, alkoxy, keto, acyl, alkyl, cyano, mercapto, alkylmercapto, dialkylamino, nitro, nitroso, and sulphoxy. In preferred embodiments the benzoic acid is not substituted. The benzoate esters are preferably compounds of formula PhCOOR wherein R is an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 12 to 15 carbon atoms and Ph is phenyl.

Preferably R is an unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl group. Preferably R is an unsubstituted alkyl group.

R may be linear or branched.

As well as mixtures of different homologues, the benzoate esters may comprise mixtures of different isomers. For example when R is an alkenyl group the double bond may be at a different position. When R is a branched alkyl or alkenyl group, the branching may be at different positions. In this specification any reference to a particular class of compound includes all possible isomers within this class and mixtures thereof.

Component (b) comprises an ester of at least one alcohol having an odd number of carbon atoms. Thus it suitably comprises an ester of a Ci ₃ alcohol and/or an ester of a Ci ₅ alcohol.

Component (b) comprises an ester of at least one alcohol having an even number of carbon atoms. Thus it suitably comprises an ester of a Ci ₂ alcohol and/or an ester of a d ₄ alcohol. Component (b) comprises at least 1 wt% of one or more esters of alcohols having an odd number of carbon atoms, suitably esters of C ₁₃ and/or C ₁₅ alcohols; preferably at least 2 wt%, more preferably at least 3 wt%, preferably at least 4 wt%, suitably at least 5 wt%, preferably at least 6 wt%, more preferably at least 7 wt%, for example at least 8 wt% or at least 9 wt%. Component (b) may comprise up to 50 wt% of esters of alcohols having an odd number of carbon atoms, suitably up to 40 wt%, more preferably up to 35 wt%, preferably up to 30 wt%, more preferably up to 25 wt%, preferably up to 20 wt%, more preferably up to 18 wt%, suitably up to 16 wt%, for example preferably up to 15 wt%, more preferably up to 14 wt%, for example up to 13 wt%, up to 12 wt% or up to 1 1 wt%.

Component (b) may suitably comprise from 1 to 50 wt% of esters having an odd number of carbon atoms; suitably from 2 to 40 wt%, preferably from 3 to 30 wt%, more preferably from 5 to 25 wt%, preferably from 6 to 20 wt%, more preferably from 7 to 18 wt%, for example from 7 to 15 wt% or from 7 to 13 wt%.

Component (b) comprises at least 50 wt% of esters of alcohols having an even number of carbon atoms, suitably esters of C ₁₂ and/or C ₁₄ alcohols; preferably at least 60 wt%, more preferably at least 65 wt%, suitably at least 70 wt%, preferably at least 75 wt%, preferably at least 80 wt%, more preferably at least 82 wt%, preferably at least 84 wt%, more preferably at least 85 wt%, suitably at least 86 wt%, for example at least 87 wt% or at least 88 wt%.

Component (b) comprises up to 99 wt% of esters of alcohols having an even number of carbon atoms, suitably up to 98 wt%, preferably up to 97 wt%, preferably up to 96 wt%, suitably up to 95 wt%, more preferably up to 94 wt%, for example up to 93 wt%, up to 92 wt% or up to 91 wt%.

Component (b) may suitably comprise from 50 to 99 wt% of esters having an even number of carbon atoms, preferably from 60 to 98 wt%, preferably from 70 to 97 wt%, more preferably from 75 to 95 wt%, preferably from 80 to 94 wt%, more preferably from 82 to 93 wt%, for example from 85 to 93 wt% or from 87 to 93 wt%.

Component (b) preferably comprises a mixture of esters of C ₁₂ alcohols and esters of C ₁₄ alcohols.

Component (b) preferably comprises at least 10 wt% of esters of Ci ₂ alcohols, preferably at least 20 wt%, more preferably at least 30 wt%, preferably at least 40 wt%, suitably at least 50 wt%, preferably at least 55 wt%, for example at least 60 wt%. Component (b) preferably comprises up to 99 wt% of esters of C ₁₂ alcohols, preferably up to 95 wt%, more preferably up to 90 wt%, preferably up to 80 wt%, suitably up to 75 wt%, preferably up to 70 wt%, for example up to 66 wt%. Component (b) preferably comprises at least 5 wt% of esters of d ₄ alcohols, preferably at least 10 wt%, suitably at least 15 wt%, preferably at least 18 wt%, more preferably at least 20 wt%, for example at least 22 wt% or at least 24 wt%. Component (b) suitably comprises up to 99 wt% of esters of C ₁₄ alcohols, preferably up to 90 wt%, preferably up to 80 wt%, more preferably up to 70 wt%, suitably up to 60 wt%, preferably up to 50 wt%, more preferably up to 40 wt%, for example up to 30 wt%.

Component (b) preferably comprises a mixture of esters of Ci ₃ alcohols and esters of Ci ₅ alcohols.

Component (b) suitably comprises at least 0.5 wt% of esters of C ₁₃ alcohols, preferably at least 1 wt%, more preferably at least 3 wt%, suitably at least 5 wt%, preferably at least 6 wt%, for example at least 7 wt%.

Component (b) suitably comprises up to 40 wt% of esters of Ci ₃ alcohols, preferably up to 30 wt%, suitably up to 25 wt%, preferably up to 20 wt%, more preferably up to 15 wt%, for example up to 12 wt% or up to 10 wt%. Component (b) suitably comprises at least 0.25 wt% of esters of C ₁₅ alcohols, preferably at least 0.5 wt%, suitably at least 1 wt%, preferably at least 1 .25 wt%, more preferably at least 1 .75 wt% or at least 1 .9 wt%.

Component (b) suitably comprises up to 40 wt% of esters of Ci ₅ alcohols, preferably up to 30 wt%, more preferably up to 20 wt%, preferably up to 10 wt%, suitably up to 5 wt%, preferably up to 4 wt%, for example up to 3 wt%, up to 2.5 wt% or up to 2.3 wt%.

Component (b) suitably comprises a mixture of esters of linear alcohols and esters of branched alcohols.

When branched alcohols are present they are preferably alkyl-substituted at the 2-position. Thus component (b) may comprise esters of alcohols of formula CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) _n CH(CH ₂ 0H)(CH ₂ ) _m CH ₃ wherein n is from 0 to 1 1 , m is from 0 to 1 1 and n+m is from 8 to 1 1 .

Suitably at least 10 wt% of the esters present in component (b) are of linear alcohols, preferably at least 20 wt%, more preferably at least 30 wt%, preferably at least 40 wt%, suitably at least 50 wt%, preferably at least 60 wt%, more preferably at least 70 wt%, for example at least 75 wt%. Suitably up to 99 wt% of the esters present in component (b) are linear alcohols, preferably up to 95 wt%, suitably up to 90 wt%, preferably up to 85 wt%.

Suitably the weight ratio of esters of linear alcohols to esters of branched alcohols present in component (b) is from 1 :1 to 10:1 , preferably from 2:1 to 8:1 , more preferably from 3:1 to 5:1 .

Component (b) preferably comprises at least 1 wt% of esters of branched alcohols, preferably at least 3 wt%, suitably at least 5 wt%, preferably at least 7 wt%, for example at least 10 wt% or at least 15 wt%.

Component (b) suitably comprises up to 90 wt% of esters of branched alcohols, suitably up to 80 wt%, preferably up to 70 wt%, more preferably up to 60 wt%, preferably up to 40 wt%, for example up to 30 wt% or up to 25 wt%. The esters present in component (b) comprise a mixture of esters of alcohols having an odd number of carbon atoms ("odd esters") and esters of alcohols having an even number of carbon atoms ("even esters"). Suitably the weight ratio of "even esters" to "odd esters" is at least 3:1 , more preferably at least 4:1 , preferably at least 5:1 , more preferably at least 6:1 , for example at least 7:1 or at least 8:1 .

Preferably component (b) comprises from 50 to 95 wt%, preferably from 55 to 92 wt%, suitably from 57 to 90 wt%, preferably from 60 to 90 wt%, more preferably from 62 to 86 wt%, more preferably from 65 to 84 wt%, more preferably from 70 to 80 wt% of benzoate esters of Ci ₂ and/or d ₄ linear alcohols.

Preferably component (b) comprises from 1 to 30 wt%, preferably from 5 to 20 wt%, more preferably from 10 to 15 wt% of benzoate esters of alcohols which are branched and have an even number of carbon atoms. Preferably component (b) comprises from 0.1 to 10 wt%, preferably from 1 to 5 wt%, more preferably from 2.5 to 3.5 wt% of benzoate esters of alcohols which are linear and have an odd number of carbon atoms.

Preferably component (b) comprises from 1 to 20 wt%, preferably from 2.5 to 15 wt%, more preferably from 5 to 10 wt% of benzoate esters of alcohols which are branched and have an odd number of carbon atoms.

Component (b) includes all esters of Ci ₂ to Ci ₅ alcohols present in the personal care composition of the present invention. The composition of the present invention may comprise one or more benzoate esters which are not esters of Ci ₂ to Ci ₅ alcohols. Preferably such components are present in low levels.

The composition of the present invention preferably comprises less than 10 wt% of esters of alcohols having less than 12 carbon atoms, preferably less than 5 wt%, more preferably less than 1 wt%, most preferably less than 0.1 wt%, for example less than 0.01 wt%, or less than 0.001 wt%.

The composition of the present invention preferably comprises less than 10 wt% of esters of alcohols having more than 15 carbon atoms, preferably less than 5 wt%, more preferably less than 1 wt%, most preferably less than 0.1 wt%, for example less than 0.01 wt%, or less than 0.001 wt%.

Preferably component (b) comprises a benzoate ester of a C ₁₂ alcohol, a benzoate ester of a Ci3 alcohol, a benzoate ester of a d ₄ alcohol and a benzoate ester of Ci ₅ alcohol.

Suitably component (b) comprises a benzoate ester of a Ci ₂ alcohol, a benzoate ester of a C½ alcohol, a benzoate ester of a Ci ₄ alcohol and a benzoate ester of Ci ₅ alcohol wherein the esters of the C ₁₂ and C ₁₄ alcohols together comprise at least 50 wt% of the mixture and the esters of the C ₁₃ and C ₁₅ alcohols together comprise at least 1 wt% of the mixture.

In one embodiment component (b) comprises:

- from 50 to 80 wt% of a benzoate ester of a C12 alcohol;

- from 1 to 20 wt% of a benzoate ester of a Ci ₃ alcohol ;

- from 10 to 40 wt% of a benzoate ester of a C alcohol;

- from 0.1 to 10 wt% of a benzoate ester of a Ci ₅ alcohol.

In one embodiment component (b) comprises:

- from 57 to 70 wt% of a benzoate ester of a C ₁₂ alcohol;

- from 5 to 12 wt% of a benzoate ester of a Ci ₃ alcohol ;

- from 20 to 32 wt% of a benzoate ester of a C alcohol; and

- from 0.1 to 5 wt% of a benzoate ester of a Ci ₅ alcohol.

In one embodiment component (b) comprises:

- from 70 to 80 wt% of benzoate esters of C ₁₂ or C ₁₄ linear alcohols;

from 10 to 17 wt% of benzoate esters of C ₁₂ or C ₁₄ branched alcohols;

from 1 to 6 wt% of benzoate esters of C ₁₃ or C ₁₅ linear alcohols; and

from 5 to 10 wt% of benzoate esters of Ci ₃ or C15 branched alcohols. In one embodiment component (b) comprises:

- from 50 to 60 wt% of a benzoate ester of a Ci ₂ linear alcohol;

- from 5 to 10 wt% of a benzoate ester of a C ₁₂ branched alcohol;

- from 0.5 to 3.5 wt% of a benzoate ester of a C ₁₃ linear alcohol;

- from 4 to 8 wt% of a benzoate ester of a C ₁₃ branched alcohol;

- from 16 to 25 wt% of a benzoate ester of a C ₁₄ linear alcohol;

- from 2 to 8 wt% of a benzoate ester of a d ₄ branched alcohol;

- from 0.1 to 2 wt% of a benzoate ester of a Ci ₅ linear alcohol; and

- from 0.1 to 2 wt% of a benzoate ester of a Ci ₅ branched alcohol.

The esters of branched alcohols when present may suitably comprise a mixture of isomers. However preferred compounds are those having a single alkyl branch at the 2-position. The composition of the present invention preferably comprises at least 0.01 wt% of component

(a) , preferably at least 0.1 wt%, more preferably at least 0.5 wt%, suitably at least 1 wt%.

The composition of the present invention preferably comprises up to 99 wt% of component (a), preferably up to 95 wt%, suitably up to 90 wt%, preferably up to 80 wt%, more preferably up to 70 wt%, suitably up to 60 wt%, preferably up to 50 wt%, preferably up to 30 wt%, more preferably up to 10 wt%, suitably up to 5 wt%.

The composition of the present invention preferably comprises at least 0.01 wt% of component

(b) , preferably at least 0.1 wt%, more preferably at least 0.5 wt%, suitably at least 1 wt%.

The composition of the present invention preferably comprises up to 99 wt% of component (b), preferably up to 95 wt%, suitably up to 90 wt%, preferably up to 80 wt%, more preferably up to 70 wt%, suitably up to 60 wt%, preferably up to 50 wt%, preferably up to 30 wt%, more preferably up to 10 wt%, suitably up to 5 wt%.

Preferably components (a) and (b) together comprise in total from 0.1 to 100 wt%, preferably from 0.5 to 100 wt%, suitably from 1 to 1 00 wt%, preferably from 2 to 100 wt%, preferably from 3 to 100 wt%, more preferably from 5 to 100 wt% of the composition of the present invention.

In some preferred embodiments, components (a) and (b) together comprise the major part of the composition of the present invention. In such embodiments components (a) and (b) together suitably comprise from 50 to 100 wt% of the composition, preferably from 60 to 100 wt%, more preferably from 70 to 100 wt%, for example from 80 to 100 wt%. In other preferred embodiments, components (a) and (b) together comprise a minor part of the composition of the present invention. Suitably in such embodiments components (a) and (b) together comprise up to 49 wt% of the composition of the present invention, preferably up to 40 wt%, preferably up to 30 wt%, preferably up to 20 wt%, more preferably up 10 wt%, for example up to 5 wt%.

In such embodiments components (a) and (b) together comprise at least 0.1 wt% of the composition of the present invention, preferably at least 0.5 wt%, more preferably at least 1 wt%.

Suitably in such embodiments, components (a) and (b) together comprise from 0.1 to 49 wt%, preferably from 0.5 to 49 wt% of the composition of the present invention, preferably from 1 to 49 wt%, more preferably from 1 to 40 wt%, suitably from 1 to 30 wt%, preferably from 1 to 20 wt%.

Suitably the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is from 99:1 to 1 :99, suitably from 50:1 to 1 :50, preferably from 20:1 to 1 :20, more preferably from 10:1 to 1 :10, preferably from 8:1 to 1 :8, more preferably from 5:1 to 1 :5, suitably from 3:1 to 1 :3, for example from 2:1 to 1 :2. In some preferred embodiments the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is from 20:1 to 1 :1 0, more preferably from 20:1 to 1 :5, suitably from 20:1 to 1 :3, for example from 20:1 to 1 :2.

In some preferred embodiments the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is from 99:1 to 1 :99, preferably from 20:1 to 1 :1 0, more preferably from 10:1 to 1 :10.

The composition of the first aspect of the present invention may be a personal care composition or an animal care composition. In some embodiments the composition of the first aspect of the present invention is a personal care composition.

In some embodiments the composition of the first aspect of the present invention is an animal care composition.

The composition of the present invention may comprise one or more further ingredients typically used in personal care or animal care compositions. Suitably the composition may include one or more ingredients commonly used in compositions which are applied to the skin, hair, lips or nails. Such ingredients will be known to the person skilled in the art and include ingredients which are approved for cosmetic use on humans or animals. Suitably the composition does not include any ingredients which may be harmful when contacted with the skin, hair, lips or nails of a human or other animal. The composition of the present invention may be a personal care composition. It may be a skin care composition, a hair care composition, a lip care composition or a nail care composition. For example the composition may be a lip gloss composition, a nail varnish composition, a body shine/shimmer lotion or spray, an eye shadow composition or a nail buffing composition. The composition of the first aspect may be a hair conditioning and/or shine enhancing composition. Such compositions may be suitable for use on humans or animals.

The composition of the first aspect may further comprise one or more ingredients typically used in hair products which are well-known to those skilled in the art.

For example shampoo compositions of the present invention may comprise one or more ingredients selected from anionic surfactants (eg, sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate), amphoteric surfactants (eg, cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium cocoamhodiacetate), fatty alkyl alcohols (eg, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol) nonionic surfactants (eg, alkylpolyglucosides and alkyl ether ethoxylates), cationic polymers (eg, guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride, polyquaternium-10), silicones (eg, polydimethylsiloxanes such as dimethicone and dimethiconol), rheology modifiers (eg, carbomer, PEG-150 distearate and xanthan gum), anti-dandruff agents (eg, piroctone olamine, zinc pyrithione and salicylic acid), styling agents (eg, polyisobutylene and polyvinyl pyrollidone/vinyl acetate copolymer), moisturising agents (eg, panthenol and glycerol), non- polymeric conditioning agents (eg, quaternary ammonium compounds such as behentrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride), opacifying/pearlising agents (eg, styrene/acrylates copolymer and ethylene glycol distearate), scalp benefit agents, fragrance, colouring agents, hair dyes, sunscreens, UV filters and preservatives.

Conditioning compositions of the present invention, including rinse-off and leave-on conditioners and hair shine enhancing products, may comprise one or more further ingredients selected from: quaternary ammonium compounds (eg, cetrimonium chloride, steartrimonium chloride and behentrimonium chloride), fatty alkyl alcohols (eg, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol), nonionic surfactants (eg, alkylpolyglucosides and alkyl ether ethoxylates), cationic polymers (eg, guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride, polyquaternium- 10), silicones (eg, polydimethylsiloxanes such as dimethicone and dimethiconol), rheology modifiers (eg, hydroxyethyl cellulose and polyquaternium-37), moisturising agents (eg, panthenol and glycerol), non-polymeric conditioning agents (eg, quaternary ammonium compounds such as behentrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride), scalp benefit agents, fragrance, colouring agents, hair dyes, sunscreens, UV filters and preservatives.

Hair styling compositions of the present invention (including gels, mousses with and without propellant, hair sprays with and without propellant, hair pomades, hair waxes) may comprise one or more further ingredients selected from: hair styling polymers (eg, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers, octylacrylamide/acrylates/butylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymers and polyethylene waxes), rheology modifiers (eg, carbomers, acrylates copolymers, hydroxethylcellulose, xanthan gum and polyquaternium-37), aminomethyl propanol, fatty alkyl alcohols (eg, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol), ethanol, propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, petrolatum, mineral oil, ozokerite, beeswax, carnauba wax, silicones (eg, polydimethylsiloxanes such as dimethicone and dimethiconol), polyethylene glycols, anionic surfactants (eg, sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauroyi methyl isethionate), amphoteric surfactants (eg, cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium cocoamphodiacetate), nonionic surfactants (eg, alkylpolyglucosides and alkyl ether ethoxylates), cationic polymers (eg, guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride, Polyquaternium-10), silicones (eg, polydimethylsiloxanes such as dimethicone and dimethiconol), moisturising agents (eg, panthenol and glycerol), non- polymeric conditioning agents (eg, quaternary ammonium compounds such as behentrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride), scalp benefit agents, fragrance, colouring agents, hair dyes, sunscreens, UV filters and preservatives.

Hair colouring compositions of the present invention may include one or more further ingredients selected from: oxidative hair dyes (eg, p-phenylenediamine, p-toluenediamine, resorcinol and m-aminophenol), direct hair dyes (eg, basic red 76, basic, acid yellow 23, acid red 92 and N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine), ammonia, monoethanolamine, anionic surfactants (eg. sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauroyi methyl isethionate), amphoteric surfactants (eg, cocamidopropyl betaine and Disodium cocoamhodiacetate), quaternary ammonium compounds (eg, cetrimonium chloride, steartrimonium chloride and behentrimonium chloride), fatty alkyl alcohols (eg, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol), nonionic surfactants (eg, alkylpolyglucosides and alkyl ether ethoxylates), cationic polymers (eg, guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride, polyquaternium-10), silicones (eg, polydimethylsiloxanes such as dimethicone and dimethiconol), rheology modifiers (eg, hydroxyethyl cellulose and polyquaternium-37), moisturising agents (eg, panthenol and glycerol), non-polymeric conditioning agents (eg, quaternary ammonium compounds such as behentrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride), fragrance, colouring agents, sunscreens, UV filters and preservatives. Hair permanent waving, relaxing and permanent straightening compositions may include one or more further ingredients selected from : thioglycolic acid, ammonium thioglycolate, thiolactic acid, cysteamine, cysteine, ammonia, monoethanolamine, glycerol monothioglycolate, sodium sulphite/bisulfite, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, guanidine carbonate, formaldehyde, glycoxylic acid, glutaraldehyde, glyoxyloyl carbocysteine, hydrogen peroxide, sodium bromate, anionic surfactants (eg. sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate), amphoteric surfactants (eg, cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium cocoamhodiacetate), quaternary ammonium compounds (eg, cetrimonium chloride, steartrimonium chloride and behentrimonium chloride), fatty alkyl alcohols (eg, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol), nonionic surfactants (eg, alkylpolyglucosides and alkyl ether ethoxylates), cationic polymers (eg, guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride, polyquaternium-10), silicones (eg, polydimethylsiloxanes such as dimethicone and dimethiconol), opacifying agents (eg, styrene acrylates copolymer), rheology modifiers (eg, hydroxyethyl cellulose and xanthan gum), moisturising agents (eg, panthenol and glycerol), non-polymeric conditioning agents (eg, quaternary ammonium compounds such as behentrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride), fragrance, sunscreens, UV filters and colouring agents.

Skin care compositions of the present invention may include one or more further ingredients selected from: isopropyl palmitate, octyldodecanol, isopropyl myristate, isododecane, olea europaea oil, sesamum indicum oil, persea gratissima oil, prunus amygdalus dulcis oil, prunus armeniaca kernel oil, butyrospermum parkii butter, tocopheryl acetate, benzyl salicylate, limonene, citrus aurantium dulcis oil, benzyl alcohol, linalool, citronellol, isoeugenol, hydroxycitronellal, geraniol, parfum, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydrogenated polyisobutene, beeswax (cera alba), butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), hydrogenated castor oil, ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer, Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, tocopheryl acetate, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, retinyl palmitate, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), zingiber officinale (ginger) root oil, citrus grandis (grapefruit California), citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) oil, pelargonium graveolens (geranium) flower oil, phytantriol, butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, ethylhexyl salicylate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, BHT, phenoxyethanol, limonene, citronellol, geraniol, linalool, citral, anise alcohol, red 6 (CI 1 5850), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), fragrance, colouring agents, sunscreens, UV filters and preservatives.

Lip care compositions of the present invention may include one or more ingredients selected from C _{1 0} -3o cholesterol/lanosterol croda, pentaerythrityltetraisostearate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, castor seed, seed oil, polyisobutene, mineral oil, silica dimethyl silylate, disteardimonium hectorite, propylene carbonate, iron oxides, isopropyl isostearate, ethylhexyl hydroxystearate, acetylated lanolin, ozokerite, candelilla wax, paraffin, carnauba wax, cetyl alcohol, cetyl lactate, sunscreens, UV filters titanium dioxide, red 27 lake, red 6 lake, yellow 5 aluminum lake, carmine, acetylated lanolin, polybutene, mineral oil, bis diglyceryl polyacyladipate 2, kaolin, ozokerite, dipropylene glycol and silica.

Nail care compositions of the present invention may include one or more ingredients selected from solvents such as esters, glycol ethers, alcohols, ketones and hydrocarbons for example ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, propyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, butylene glycol, acetone, toluene, propylene glycol butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether; lacquers, polymers and resins such as nitrocellulose, tosylamide/epoxy resin, tosylamide/formaldehyde resin, adipic acid/neopentyl glycol/trimellitic anhydride copolymer, oxidized polyethylene, phthalic anhydride/glycerin/glycidyl decanoate copolymers, poly-(hydroxyphenyl propylene); sunscreens and UV filters; pigments and colouring agents such as tin oxide, aluminium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, mica, yellow 5 lake, ferric ferrocyanide, barium sulfate, red 34 lake, red 7 lake, bismuth oxychloride, aluminium powder, copper powder, red 28 lake, chromium oxide , carmine; and other ingredients such as dibutyl phthalate, dipropylene glycol di benzoate, tributyl citrate, stearalkonium hectorite, camphor, citric acid, acetyl tributyl citrate, synthetic fluorphlogopite, silica and calcium aluminium borosilicate.

Preferred sunscreen additives include, but are not limited to, inorganic sunscreens such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and/or organic sunscreens such as aminobenzoic acid (PABA), avobenzone, benzophenone-3, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, homosalate, menthyl anthranilate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate, oxybenzone, padimate O, phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, sulisobenzone and trolamine salicylate.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that hair care compositions of the invention provide a significant increase in shine compared with compositions of the prior art.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an additive composition for a personal care or animal care composition comprising:

(a) a shine additive; and

(b) a mixture of C ₁₂ -C ₁₅ benzoate esters including at least 1 wt% of one or more esters of alcohols having an odd number of carbon atoms and at least 50 wt% of one or more esters of alcohols having an even number of carbon atoms.

Preferred features of the second aspect are as defined in relation to the first aspect. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of improving shine or gloss of the hair, skin, lips or nails, the method comprising contacting the hair, skin, lips or nails with a composition comprising: (a) a shine additive; and

(b) a mixture of C ₁₂ -C ₁₅ benzoate esters including at least 1 wt% of one or more esters of alcohols having an odd number of carbon atoms and at least 50 wt% of one or more esters of alcohols having an even number of carbon atoms.

Preferred features of the third aspect are as defined in relation to the first and second aspects.

The method of the third aspect may be carried out on a human or animal. Suitably the method of the third aspect comprises contacting the hair, skin, lips or nails with a composition of the first aspect.

In some embodiments, the method of the third aspect may comprise applying the composition to the hair, lips, skin or nails. Such compositions may be termed 'leave-on' compositions. In other preferred embodiments, the method of the third aspect may comprise applying the composition to the hair, lips, skin or nails, optionally leaving for a period of time and then rinsing. Such compositions may be termed 'rinse-off compositions.

The method of the present invention suitably provides an increase in gloss value greater than what would be expected by calculating a weighted average of the gloss values obtained when using component (a) or component (b) alone.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of a mixture of C ₁₂ -C ₁₅ benzoate esters including at least 1 wt% of one or more esters of alcohols having an odd number of carbon atoms and at least 50 wt% of one or more esters of alcohols having an even number of carbon atoms to increase the shine or gloss effect of a personal care or animal care composition comprising a shine agent.

Preferred features of the fourth aspect are as defined in relation to the first, second and third aspects.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying non-limiting examples. Example 1

In this study, bleached hair tresses, 6 inches in length weighing approximately 2 grams each, were used to demonstrate gloss improvement.

Tresses were pre-washed with 10 % SLES-2, blow dried and combed.

Approximately 150 microliters (0.15 mL) of each of the blends was applied to individual hair tresses and evenly distributed by hand.

Digital images were taken of untreated and treated tresses using a Kodak Z740 having a 5 megapixel sensor and 10x optical zoom.

Untreated and treated tresses were placed side by side on a plain white background. An image was obtained of both tresses under identical lighting conditions and distance from the camera. Image files were imported into Image Pro Plus 7.0 for analysis of gloss.

All color photos were converted to grey scale and total area of bright pixels (within a 20mm x 60mm rectangle) representing gloss on a dark background, was calculated.

Results were reported as % gloss improvement.

Sample Description % Gloss

Shine Agent Benzoate Ester Improvement

Shine additive A - 143%

Shine additive A - 166%

Shine additive B - 76%

Shine additive B - 45%

- Ester Mix C 56%

- Ester Mix C 56%

- Ester Mix A 24%

- Ester Mix A 47%

Shine additive A Ester Mix C 386%

Shine additive A Ester Mix C 326%

Shine additive A Ester Mix A 69%

Shine additive A Ester Mix A 31 %

Shine additive B Ester Mix C 442%

Shine additive B Ester Mix C 326%

Shine additive B Ester Mix A 73%

Shine additive B Ester Mix A 127% Shine additive A is a shine agent comprising diphenylsiloxy diphenyl dimethicone.

Shine additive B is a shine agent comprising diphenyl dimethicone. Ester mix A is a mixture of benzoate esters falling outside the scope of the present invention and is available commercially under the trade mark Finsolv TN.

Ester mix C is a mixture of benzoate esters falling within the scope of the present invention. Details of the composition of ester mix A and ester mix C are given in example 2.

Example 2 Hair samples were treated with a composition comprising a 50:50 mixture (by weight) of a diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone shine agent and a mixture of benzoate esters and the gloss of the hair was measured. The results are shown in table 2 and the components of the compositions tested are detailed in table 3. This study followed the same procedure as Example 1 except a different camera (Pentax Q7 having a 12 megapixel sensor and 15 x optical zoom) and different physical set up and lighting conditions were used. In this case, % gloss improvement was not measured. Instead, the gloss measurement in mm2 of bright pixels was reported.

Table 2

Composition Average hair gloss

diphenylsiloxyphenyl trimethicone + ester mix A 7.0

diphenylsiloxyphenyl trimethicone + ester mix B 6.0

diphenylsiloxyphenyl trimethicone + ester mix C 23.0

Table 3

Example 3

In this example, the procedure of example 2 was followed. The compositions tested and results are given in Table 4. Table 4

Shine additive C is a shine agent comprising phenyl trimethicone. Example 4

In this example, the procedure of example 2 was followed using different shine additives and different ratios of shine additive to ester mix. The compositions tested and results are given in Table 5.

Table 5

Shine Additive D is a shine agent, diphenylsiloxy phenyl trimethicone as used in example 2.

Shine Additive E is a shine agent comprising 50 wt% cyclopentasiloxane; 35 wt%

cyclotetrasiloxane; 15 wt% dimethiconol.

Gloss ¹ Average value of three tests using method of example 2, normalized so

Composition 1 = 100%