Cosmetic composition for removing makeup from the eyes

A cosmetic composition for removing eye makeup includes a mono- or di-alkyl or a mono- or di-alkenyl carboxylate of an .alpha.-methyl polyethoxylated glucoside in aqueous solution.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new composition for eye 
makeup removal which is non-irritating and does not provoke ocular 
discomfort to the user. 
Numerous cosmetic compositions for effecting removal of eye makeup have 
already been proposed, but they not only irritate the ocular mucous, but 
also present certain noted inconvenience and discomfort, notably a 
stinging sensation or ocular discomfort to the user. 
In fact, during the operation of removing eye makeup, it is frequently 
through inadvertence that the composition serving as the makeup remover 
comes into contact with the ocular mucous and provokes irritation or 
stinging and tingling sensations, which in certain cases leads to greater 
complications. 
The development of eye makeup removal compositions, which do not provoke 
irritation or ocular discomfort, presents numerous difficulties because 
such compositions often contain diverse ingredients which in certain cases 
can react with each other or can in the long run suffer degradation 
subsequent to microbial contamination. 
After extensive research, a makeup removal lotion for removing eye makeup 
has been made which comprises a particular class of surface active agents 
which do not provoke irritation or tingling and stinging sensation of the 
eye and which are also stable for a lengthy period of time after the first 
use. 
The present invention has for an object a new industrial product, a 
cosmetic composition for eye makeup removal, which does not irritate or 
provoke ocular discomfort, which contains an aqueous solution of 
(i) at least one surface active agent selected from the group consisting of 
mono- and di-alkyl and mono- and di-alkenyl carboxylates of .alpha.-methyl 
polyethoxylated glucosides and mixtures thereof, said alkyl and alkenyl 
radicals, being linear or branched, and containing 11 to 21 carbon atoms, 
and 
(ii) at least one preservative agent, the pH of said composition being 
between 4.5 and 8.5, and preferably between 6.5 and 7.5. 
According to the invention, the composition for makeup removal from the 
eyes is preferably in the form of a lotion. The aqueous solution is of 
demineralized sterilized water, is a flower water (rose water, voilet 
water, camomile water, and the like) or mixtures thereof. 
The mono- and di-alkyl and mono- and di-alkenyl carboxylates of 
.alpha.-methyl polyethoxylated glucosides utilized in the composition of 
the invention corresponding to formulae A and B below: 
##STR1## 
in which: R.sub.1 is alkyl or alkenyl, linear or branched, having 11 to 21 
carbon atoms, and x+y(+z) represent from 10 to 30 inclusive. 
The compounds of this type include the mono- and di-laurates, the mono- and 
di-palmitates, the mono- and di-stearates, and the mono- and di-oleates of 
.alpha.-methyl polyethoxylated glucoside, which is polyethoxylated with 
from 10 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide, and mixtures thereof. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mixture of mono- 
and di-stearate of .alpha.-methyl glucoside ethoxylated with 20 moles of 
ethylene oxide is used and, in particular, the compound sold by AMERCHOL 
under the trade denomination of "GLUCAMATE SEE-20" [R.sub.1 =C.sub.17 
H.sub.35 and x+y(+z)=20]. 
In a preferred embodiment, the alkyl carboxylate or alkenyl carboxylate of 
.alpha.-methyl polyethoxylated glucoside is present in the composition in 
a concentration ranging from about 1 to 5% by weight depending on the 
extent of lathering power which is desirably conferred to the composition. 
According to the invention, a preservative agent is generally contained 
therein in amounts from 0.002 to 0.3% and preferably from 0.02 to 0.2%. 
The preservative agents which can be used in the lotions include: sodium 
ethyl mercuro thiosalicylate; the digluconate, the diacetate or the 
dihydrochloride of chlorhexidine; the nitrate of phenylmercury; a mixture 
containing from 30% of sodium benzoate and 70% of monochloracetamide or a 
compound corresponding to the formula I: 
##STR2## 
in which: R represents an alkyl of from 12 to 18 carbon atoms or a mixture 
of said alkyl, as for example, mixtures of C.sub.12 -C.sub.14 and C.sub.14 
-C.sub.16, and mixtures of said preservative agents. 
The compounds of formula (I) above include: the chloride of myristyl-cetyl 
dimethyl benzylammonium and the, chloride of lauryl-myristyl dimethyl 
benzylammonium. 
According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the compounds of 
formula (I) are used in association with ethylene diamine tetracetic acid 
or its dipotassium salt. 
In order to maintain the pH of the solutions between 4.5 and 8.5, a mixture 
of a buffer can be employed and particularly a phosphate buffer 
(dipotassium hydrogen phosphate/potassium dihydrogen phosphate) or a 
citrate buffer (sodium citrate/citric acid). 
According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the 
invention contain also a humectant such as hexylene glycol, polyethylene 
glycol 600, etc., these agents permitting a better solubilization of the 
surface active agent in the aqueous solution. 
The eye makeup removal lotion according to the present invention can, in 
addition, contain other conventional adjuvants such as, for example, 
softening agents, perfumes, dyes or other surface active agents such as, 
for example, "Tween 20" (the monolaurate of polyoxyethylenated sorbitan), 
this latter compound being able to enhance, in certain cases, the 
solubilization of the prinicapal surface active agent. 
It is important, of course, that the adjuvants present are also 
characterized as not being able to provoke irritation or a stinging and 
tingling sensation of the ocular mucous. 
The softening agents, which can be used, include: allantoin, azulene, and 
the like. 
The following examples illustrate, without limiting, the invention by 
presenting embodiments of eye makeup removal compositions according to the 
invention.

EXAMPLES OF COMPOSITIONS 
Example A 
An eye makeup removal lotion, in accordance with the invention, is prepared 
from a mixture of the following ingredients: 
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"GLUCAMATE SSE-20", sold by AMERCHOL 
1.5 g 
Hexyleneglycol 1 g 
Potassium dihydrogenophosphate 
0.102 g 
Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, 
3 H.sub.2 O 0.394 g 
Chlorhexidine dihydrochloride 
0.08 g 
Sodium benzoate 0.03 g 
Monochloracetamide 0.07 g 
Demineralized sterilized water, q.s.p. 
100 g 
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Example B 
An eye makeup removal lotion, in accordance with the invention, is prepared 
by proceeding with a mixture of the following ingredients: 
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"GLUCAMATE SSE-20" 2 g 
Potassium dihydrogenophosphate 
0.102 g 
Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, 3 H.sub.2 O 
0.394 g 
Allantoin 0.05 g 
Lauryl-myristyl dimethyl benzylammonium 
chloride 0.0288 g 
Dipotassium salt of ethylene diamine 
tetracetic acid 0.0104 g 
Demineralized sterilized water, q.s.p. 
100 g 
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Example C 
An eye makeup removal lotion in accordance with the invention is prepared 
by proceeding with a mixture of the following ingredients: 
______________________________________ 
"GLUCAMATE SSE-20" 1 g 
"Tween 20" monolaurate of poly- 
oxyethylenated sorbitan 1 g 
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate 
0.102 g 
Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, 3 H.sub.2 O 
0.394 g 
Allantoin 0.05 g 
Myristyl-cetyl dimethyl benzylammonium 
chloride 0.0288 g 
Dipotassium salt of ethylene diamine 
tetracetic acid 0.104 g 
Demineralized sterilized water, q.s.p. 
100 g 
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