Styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer containing cosmetic compositions and their use

Abstract: Disclosed are cosmetic compositions comprising (a) a particulate styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer, (b) an emollient, and (c) a pigment and/or sunblock agent. The compositions are characterized by a combination of desirable characteristics, including that they leave a smooth texture when applied to the skin, they are easily spreadable, and they are relatively transfer proof.

Description: This invention relates to styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer containing cosmetic compositions and methods for using such compositions. The compositions of the invention have a number of desirable characteristics, including that they leave a smooth texture when applied to the skin, are easily spreadable, and are relatively transferproof. Certain components that are sometimes used in cosmetic compositions (e.g., fatty soaps) can form an unappealing texture when applied to the skin. Cosmetic compositions that contain such components tend to flake-off from the skin, are difficult to apply, and frequently are water soluble. Cosmetic compositions that do not exhibit the foregoing characteristics are, of course, desirable. Cosmetic compositions typically contain one or more colorants. Alternatively (or in addition), they may contain sunblock agents to provide the skin protection from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. In skin compositions that are intended for use in protecting the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, it is desirable that the sunblock agent be distributed uniformly throughout the composition. An object of this invention is to provide a styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer containing cosmetic composition that exhibits a combination of desirable properties, including that they leave a smooth texture when they are applied to the skin, they are readily spreadable on the skin, and they do not tend to flake-off the skin after application. Another object of this invention is to provide a styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer containing cosmetic composition for use as a sunblock. Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method for applying cosmetics (including cosmetics that contain a sunblock) to the skin. The foregoing and other desirable advantages are obtained by a composition and the use of a composition that comprises: (a) a first component comprising particulate styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer, wherein the copolymer is a diblock copolymer having the structure S-EP, wherein "S" denotes a block comprising styrene monomers and "EP" denotes a block comprising ethylene and propylene monomers; (b) a second component comprising an emollient selected from the group consisting of isododecane, a C₉-C₁₂ aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C₉-C₁₂ isoparaffin, mineral oil, isotetracosane, an ester made from a C₃-C₁₂ alcohol and a C₃-C₁₈ carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof; and (c) a third component selected from the group consisting of a colorant, a sunblock agent, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the colorant used in the composition of the invention is selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, mica, and mixtures thereof. Preferred sunblock agents are selected from the group consisting of melanin, melanin protein, submicron particles (i.e., less than 1 micron) of titanium dioxide and iron oxide, octyl methoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3 and mixtures thereof. We have discovered that the particulate styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer used in the compositions of the invention provides an effective substrate suitable for transfer and spreading onto the skin in a smooth fashion and for rendering the remaining components of the composition relatively transferproof (i.e., the compositions do not tend to flake-off the skin after application to the skin). The polymers in the compositions of our invention differ from the particulate polymers that are described in the prior art and said to be useful in cosmetic compositions (see, for example, French patent application no. 2367486, PCT application no. WO 88/01164 and European patent application no. 0154831). The compositions of the invention may also include other ingredients that are suitable for use in cosmetic compositions. Such ingredients include: fragrances, common texture modifiers, such as nylon, polymethylmethacrylate, and agents to control viscosity, such as polyethylene glycol. The compositions of the invention may be applied in effective amounts to the skin in any suitable manner. The amount applied and the frequency of application will, of course, vary depending upon the composition being applied to the skin and the effect desired. The particulate styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer of the present invention preferably comprises from 0.50% to 90% by weight of the composition of the invention. Most preferably, the composition contains from 1.0% to 25% by weight of the copolymer. Particulate styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymers are well known in the art. For example, suitable styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymers for use in this invention may be obtained, in powdered form, from Shell Chemical Company, Oak Brook, Illinois under the description "Kraton® G Rubber." A particularly preferred material is Kraton® G-1701X. We understand that the G-1701X material is a diblock copolymer having the structure S-EP where "S" denotes a block comprising styrene monomers and "EP" denotes a block comprising ethylene and propylene monomers. The emollient used in the composition of the invention preferably comprises from 10.0% to 90% by weight of the composition. Most preferably, the emollient comprises from 10% to 70% by weight of the composition. The amount and identity of emollient(s) used are chosen to achieve the desired property for the intended use of the composition (e.g., for use as a foundation, concealer, blush, etc.). Suitable emollients are isododecane, C₉-C₁₂ aliphatic hydrocarbons (for example, Permethyl® 99A-D available from Permethyl Corp., Frazer, Pennsylvania), the C₉-C₁₂ isoparaffins (for example, Isopar® available from Exxon, Houston, Texas), isotetracosane, an ester made from a C₃-C₁₂ alcohol and a C₃-C₁₈ carboxylic acid (such as glycerol trioctanoate available as Trivent® OCG from Trivent Chemical Co., Inc., South River, New Jersey; isodecyl isononanoate available as Wickenol® 152 from Wickhen Products, Inc., Huguenot, New York; trioctyl citrate available from Bernel Industries, Engelwood, New Jersey; and isopropyl myristate available as Lexol® IPM from Inolex Chemical Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); and mineral oils (such as the white mineral oils available from Witco Incs., New York, New York). Mixture of emollients may be used in our compositions in order to tailor the properties of the resulting compositions to best fit their intended use. Colorants used in the present invention are preferably used in amounts such that they comprise 1.0% to 85.0% by weight of the composition and preferably to be in the form of small particles (e.g., particles having an average size of a few microns or less). Most preferably, the colorant comprises 5% to 50% by weight of the composition. Among suitable colorants are titanium dioxide (such as titanium dioxide #328 available from Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, South Plainfied, New Jersey), iron oxide (such as Cosmetic Yellow-Iron Oxide 7055, available from Whittaker, Clark and Daniels), zinc oxide, boron nitride, colored nylon (for example, Orgasol® available from Lipo, Patterson, New Jersey) and colored polymethylmethacrylate. Any colorant suitable for use in cosmetic compositions and compatible with the other constituents in our composition may be used. Mixtures of colorants may also be used. The selection of a suitable colorant, of course, depends on the color desired and the intended use of the composition (e.g., as a foundation, concealer, blush, etc.). When a sunblock is used in our composition, it preferably comprises from 0.50% to 90.0% by weight of the composition. Any natural or synthetic sunblock suitable for use in cosmetic compositions may be used. The most preferred natural sunblock for use in the present invention comprises submicron particles of titanium dioxide available from De Gussa, Teterboro, New Jersey. Another natural sunblock is submicron particles of iron oxide. Among suitable synthetic sunblock agents are octyl methoxycinnamate and benzophenone-3. Techniques commonly used in the cosmetic industry may be used to combine the ingredients of the composition of the present invention. For example, the compositions of our invention may be made by the following steps: (1) Mixing a styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer with an emollient by adding the two materials to a vessel and sweepstirring the two materials together at a temperature of 85-90°C for a sufficient period of time to form a transparent, uniform, preliminary dispersion of the copolymer. Preferably the copolymer is added to the vessel in the form of copolymer that had previously been admixed with an emollient. (2) Cooling the resultant dispersion to room temperature, with continued sidesweeping. (3) Adding colorant(s) and/or sunblock agent(s) to the preliminary dispersion, with continued sidesweeping until a uniform mixture is obtained. When both colorant(s) and sunblock(s) are added, preferably the soluble colorant(s) and sunblock(s) are added first, followed by adding the nonsoluble sunblock(s) and colorant(s) with sidesweeping until a uniform mixture is obtained. (4) Adding any additional ingredients that are desired to be in the composition, with sidesweeping until the resulting mixture is uniform. The following examples are presented for the sole purpose of further illustrating the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, all parts and percentages are by weight. EXAMPLES Example 1 A composition suitable for use as foundation and a sunscreen was prepared from the following components in the stated amounts: Component % By Weight 1. Styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer (Kraton® G-1701X) in the form of a 15% admixture with Isododecane 20.00 2. Emollient Isododecane 17.00 3. Colorant Titanium Dioxide #328 (Whittaker, Clark & Daniels) Iron Oxide 15.00 2.00 4. Sunscreen Parsol mcx (octyl methoxycinnamate) Spectrasorb UV9 (Benzophenone-3) 6.00 5.00 5. Texture Modifier Talc 20.00 6. Emollient Isotetracosane 15.00 Components 1 and 2 above were combined in accordance with step (1) described above to form a transparent, uniform dispersion. After cooling the resultant dispersion to room temperature as described in step 2 above, components 3, 4 and 5 were added in accordance with steps (3)-(4) above. We also added isotetracosane with these components in order to control the viscosity. Example 2 A composition suitable for use as a concealer and sunscreen was prepared: Components 1 and 2 above were combined in accordance with step (1) described above to form a transparent, uniform dispersion. After cooling the resultant dispersion to room temperature as described in step 2 above, components 3, 4 and 5 were added in accordance with steps (3)-(4) above. We also added isotetracosane with these components in order to control the viscosity.

Claims: A cosmetic composition comprising: a first component comprising particulate styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer, wherein the copolymer is a diblock copolymer having the structure S-EP, wherein "S" denotes a block comprising styrene monomers and "EP" denotes a block comprising ethylene and propylene monomers; a second component comprising an emollient selected from the group consisting of isododecane, a C₉-C₁₂ aliphatic hydrocarbon, a C₉-C₁₂ isoparaffin, mineral oil, isotetracosane, an ester made from a C₃-C₁₂ alcohol and a C₃-C₁₈ carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof; and a third component selected from the group consisting of a colorant, a sunblock agent, and mixtures thereof. The cosmetic composition of claim 1, wherein the colorant is selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, mica, and mixtures thereof. The cosmetic composition of claims 1 or 2 wherein the sunblock agent is selected from the group consisting of melanin, melanin protein, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, octyl methoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3, and mixtures thereof. The cosmetic composition of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the particulate styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer is present in an amount of about 0.50-90% by weight of the composition. The cosmetic composition of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the emollient is present in an amount of about 10-90% by weight of the composition. The cosmetic composition of any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the colorant is present in an amount of about 1-85% by weight of the composition. The cosmetic composition of any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the sunscreen is present in an amount of about 0.50-90% by weight of the composition. The cosmetic composition of any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the composition comprises about 1.0-25% by weight of particulate styrene-ethylene-propylene copolymer, about 10-70% by weight of emollient, and about 5.0-50% by weight of colorant. Use of the compositions according to any of claims 1 to 8 as cosmetic compositions to be applied to the skin.

Inventors: CHUNG KENNETH K, NARDOLILLO IRENE, CHUNG, KENNETH K., NARDOLILLO, IRENE
Applicants: ESTEE LAUDER INC, ESTEE LAUDER INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61Q1, A61K8, A61Q19, A61Q17