Cosmetic compositions containing atactic polypropylenes and related methods

A cosmetic composition comprising 0.1-20% of an atactic polypropylene having 50-100% atactic content, 0.1-15% crystallinity, and a molecular weight of 1,000-10,000.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The invention is in the field of cosmetic compositions containing atactic 
polypropylene. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Atactic polypropylenes are polyalphaolefin resins. Certain varieties of 
these resins are used in caulks, sealants, hot melt adhesives, and in 
rubber compounding. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,827 to Beerbower discloses lotions and ointments 
containing highly crystalline polypropylenes exhibiting 80-95 isotactic 
content. Beerbower teaches that isotactic polypropylenes are essential to 
providing creams and lotions which adhere well to skin, and that 
polypropylene polymers containing greater than 20% atacticity result in 
stringy, tacky, cosmetically unacceptable creams or ointments. 
It has been unexpectedly discovered that the incorporation of atactic 
polypropylenes of low crystallinity and isotactic content into cosmetic 
compositions enhances wear and adherence of the cosmetic composition to 
skin as well as providing smooth, rich, cosmetically acceptable 
compositions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is directed to a cosmetic composition comprising about 
0.1-20% of an atactic polypropylene having about 50-100% atactic content, 
0.1-15% crystallinity, and a molecular weight of about 1,000-10,000. 
The invention is also directed to method for improving adhesion of cosmetic 
compositions to skin comprising adding to said composition 0.1-20% of an 
atactic polypropylene having 50-100% atactic content, 0.1-15% 
crystallinity, and a molecular weight of 1,000-10,000.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The term "molecular weight" means average number molecular weight. 
The term "atactic content" means that the polypropylene polymeric structure 
is random or without orientation, as opposed to isotactic or syndiotactic 
polymers which exhibit specific orientation and structural regularity. 
Isotactic and syndiotactic polymers, due to their structural regularity, 
can easily cross link to form a crystalline network whereas the structural 
irregularity of atactic polymers precludes appreciable polymeric cross 
linking: 
##STR1## 
The term "crystallinity" refers to the degree of cross linking of the 
polypropylene polymer. Crystallinity is directly proportional to the 
degree of polymeric cross linking, and polymers which exhibit extensive 
cross linking are highly crystalline in nature. 
All percentages set forth refer to percentages by weight of the total 
composition. 
The term "cosmetic composition" means cosmetic compositions applied to hair 
or skin. The preferred cosmetic compositions are make up, eyeshadow, 
blush, sunscreen, and lipstick. 
"Improved adherence" or "adhesion" means that the ingredients found in the 
cosmetic compositions, such as pigments, powders, sunscreen chemicals, 
oils, or waxes, etc. adhere more readily to the skin thus resulting in a 
longer wearing cosmetic composition. 
Incorporation of 0.1-20%, preferably 0.5-5.0% of the specific atactic 
polypropylenes mentioned herein, into cosmetic compositions will provide 
compositions which adhere well to the skin, are longer lasting, and do not 
exhibit stringiness, tackiness, or granularity found in the prior art 
compositions. In fact, cosmetic compositions containing the atactic 
polypropylenes of the invention are very smooth, apply well, and are very 
cosmetically acceptable. The preferred cosmetic compositions of the 
invention include sunscreen, lipstick, eyeshadow, blush, and makeup. 
Preferably, the atactic polypropylenes used in the cosmetic compositions of 
the invention have a softening point of 15.degree.-160.degree. C. when 
measured by the ATSM E28 method well known to those skilled in the art. 
A suitable eyeshadow in accordance with the invention comprises about 
0.1-50% pigment, 1.1-40% wax, and 0.1-60% oil, and in addition may contain 
a variety of other ingredients such as preservatives, powders, and so 
forth. A suitable lipstick comprises, in addition to 0.1-20% atactic 
polpropylene, about 0.1-50% pigment, 0.1-80% wax, and 0.1-50% oil. A 
suitable blush comprises about 0.1-60% pigment, 0.1-50% wax, and about 
0.1-60% oil. A suitable makeup comprises about 0.1-40% pigment, 0.1-60% 
water, and 0.1-60% oil. 
Suitable pigments are the FD&C and D&C colors, as well as other organic and 
inorganic pigments generally used in cosmetic compositions such as iron 
oxides, titanium dioxide, boron nitride, mica, bismuth oxychloride, talc, 
titanated mica, carmine, and so on. 
Suitable oils include various silicone oils such as cyclomethicone, 
dimethicone, cetyl dimethicone copolyol, etc; in addition to oils such as 
octyl palmitate, tridecyl neopentanoate, polyisobutene, polyglyceryl 
3-diisostearate, isostearyl neopentanoate, isooctyl hexanoate, castor oil, 
and so on. 
Suitable waxes include beeswax, carnauba, ceresin, microcrystalline, 
lanolin, trilaurin, octacosanol, paraffin, ozokerite, candelilla, shellac, 
stearyl wax, capok wax, bayberry, etc. 
The cosmetic compositions of the invention may also contain preservatives, 
powders, humectants, emollients, moisturizers, film formers, and so on. 
Most preferred is a cosmetic composition containing an atactic 
polypropylene selected from the group consisting of an atactic 
polypropylene having a softening point of 20.degree. C. and a molecular 
weight of 2,000; an atactic polypropylene having a softening point of 
135.degree. C. and a molecular weight of 5,600; and an atactic 
polypropylene having a softening point of 150.degree. C. and a molecular 
weight of about 4,400. 
The invention is also directed to a method of improving adhesion of a 
cosmetic composition to skin or hair comprising adding to said composition 
0.1-20% of an atactic polypropylene having 50-100% atactic content, 
0.1-15% crystallinity, and a molecular weight of 1,000-10,000. 
Preferably about 0.5-5.0% of the atactic polypropylene is added to the 
cosmetic composition. The cosmetic composition is made in the usual 
manner, please specify. 
The invention will be described in connection with the following examples 
which are set forth for the purpose of illustration only. 
EXAMPLE 1 
An eyeshadow stick was made as follows: 
______________________________________ 
w/w % 
blue teal blue 
______________________________________ 
C.sub.9 -C.sub.11 isoparaffin 
5.00 5.00 9.00 
Cyclomethicone 16.80 16.80 15.00 
Cyclomethicone 16.80 16.80 15.00 
Octyl palmitate 6.00 6.00 5.00 
Polyisobutene 0.625 0.625 0.500 
Polyglyceryl 3 isostearate 
1.20 1.20 1.20 
M/P/E/B paraben phenoxyethanol 
1.00 1.00 1.00 
silica silylate 0.60 0.60 0.70 
Bentone 38 0.66 0.66 0.66 
Propylene carbonate 
0.22 0.22 0.22 
Titanium dioxide 2.00 2.00 4.00 
Silica 5.00 5.00 5.00 
Boron nitride 0.50 0.50 1.00 
Silica/mineral oil/TiTO.sub.2 
0.40 -- 0.60 
Iron oxide yellow -- 0.10 -- 
Iron oxide black 0.50 0.50 0.40 
Ultramarine blue 3.50 1.80 2.80 
Ultramarine violet 0.80 -- 0.70 
Iron oxide green -- 7.00 -- 
50/50 9484 -- 0.10 -- 
Talc 6.395 2.195 4.24 
Carmine 0.40 -- 0.08 
BiOCl 4.00 4.00 4.00 
TiO.sub.2 /mica -- -- 1.00 
Sericite 5.00 5.00 4.00 
Carnauba 0.30 0.30 0.30 
Ceresin 3.00 3.00 3.00 
Octacosanol 6.00 6.00 6.00 
Trilaurin 2.50 2.50 2.50 
Synthetic wax 2.20 2.20 2.20 
Lanolin alcohol 0.30 0.30 0.30 
Beeswax 0.60 0.60 0.60 
Atactic polypropylene 
1.00 1.00 1.00 
Ethylene vinyl acetate 
1.00 1.00 1.00 
Octyl palmitate 6.00 6.00 6.00 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE 2 
A lipstick formulation was made as follows: 
______________________________________ 
w/w % 
______________________________________ 
Candelilla wax 7.50 
Carnauba wax 2.20 
Ceresin 2.50 
Paraffin 1.00 
Cetyl acetate 90%/acetylated 
12.00 
lanolin alcohol 10% 
PVP hexadecene 2.00 
Castor oil 26.00 
Lanolin oil 10.20 
Octyl palmitate 5.50 
Glyceryl triacetyl ricinoleate 
9.50 
Quaternium 18 hectorite 
1.00 
Acrylates copolymer 0.50 
Polypropylene Polypol 19 
0.50 
silica 0.20 
botanical salts 1.00 
octyl methoxy cinnamate 
2.20 
mica/mimosa wax 0.20 
oleyl alcohol 4.00 
cetyl alcohol 4.00 
fragrance 0.50 
pigment/pearls/mica 11.00 
Methyl paraben 0.30 
Propyl paraben 0.10 
BHA 0.10 
______________________________________ 
The lipstick composition was made by melting the waxes and oils, adding the 
pigments and other ingredients. The lipstick was molded and cooled. 
EXAMPLE 3 
Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick (High Bean Copper) was compared with a 
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick formulation to which Polypol 19 (Crowley 
Chemical) and a Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick formulation to which 
Eastobond M5FS (Eastman Chemical Company) were added as set forth below: 
______________________________________ 
Control 1 2 3 
______________________________________ 
Revlon Super Lustrous 
Lipstick 100.0 99.0 96.0 99.0 
Polypol 19 -- 1.0 4.0 -- 
Eastobond M5FS -- -- -- 1.0 
______________________________________ 
Both Polypol 19 and Eastobond M5FS provide a creamier lipstick formulation. 
When the lipstick formulations were placed on skin and blotted with tissue 
paper, the formulations containing Polypol 19 and Eastobond M5FS did not 
transfer as readily to tissue paper. 
While the invention has been described in connection with the preferred 
embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the 
particular form set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover 
such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included 
within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.