Nail polish remover with gelatin

Abstract: The invention provides a nail polish or lacquer removing composition including a volatile organic solvent such as acetone, gelatin and glycerin present to stably suspend the gelatin.

Description: The invention relates to the suspension of gelatin in nail polish remover. Products have long been marketed for the removal of nail polish (lacquer) from fingernails and toenails. Essentially, these products consist of a solvent(s) with which to dissolve the lacquer. Typically, the solvent will be a relatively volatile material such as acetone or ethyl acetate. Organic solvents have a tendency to remove natural emollients round in the nail. As a result, nails become brittle. There have been reported attempts to overcome the adverse effects of solvents on fingernails and surrounding skin. For instance, US Patent 4,032,464 (Mausner) reports a nail lacquer remover in a creamy viscous form that minimises the danger of skin irritation. The composition is an aqueous solution that includes a chelating agent, a humectant such as propylene glycol, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid, a proteinaceous material and palmitates of Vitamins A and D alongside a carboxy vinyl polymer thickener US Patent 4,735,798 (Bernstein) is a further example of the art. Therein a nail polish remover composition is reported comprising a mixture of acetone, ethyl acetate ethyl alcohol, water and glycerin (glycerol). The composition was indicated to have disinfectant properties, strengthen the fingernails and have a pleasant feel while allowing subsequent coatings of nail polish to adhere better. US Patent No. 5294435 to Remz et al describes a lacquer removing composition that includes acetone, water, glycerin and a conditioning agent such as C 8 -C 20 fatty acid derivative held in suspension by an acrylic copolymer. The commercial embodiment of the composition mentioned in this application is found in Cutex Polish Remover with Vaseline Intensive Care (Trade Mark) lotion. Gelatin has long been known as a nail strengthening ingredient. Indeed, many commercially available lacquer removers have included gelatine as a component. A problem with gelatin in acetone and water systems is that of maintaining insoluble gelatin in suspension under long term storage conditions. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nail polish remover that includes gelatin in a stably suspended state even after prolonged storage. A further object of the present invention is to provide a nail polish remover which will ameliorate the problem of nail embrittlement caused by solvent stripping. These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent through the detailed description of the invention and examples that follow. The present invention provides a nail polish removing composition comprising: (i) from 50% to 99.5% of a volatile organic solvent; (ii) from 0.00001% to 5% by weight of gelatin; and (iii) from 0.1% to 10% by weight of glycerin. Compositions according to the present invention include a major amount of volatile organic solvent in combination with gelatin. Now it has been discovered that the gelatin can be stably suspended with the aid of glycerin. Volatile organic solvents employed for the present invention will have a boiling point lower than 100°C, preferably below 50°C. Acetone, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and methyl ethyl ketone are the solvents of choice. Amount of the solvent will range from 50% to 99.5% by weight of the total composition. Preferably, the amount will range from 75% to 90%, optimally, about 85% by weight. Water may also be present in the compositions. Amounts of water may range anywhere from 0.01% up to 25%, preferably from 8% to 15%, optimally between 10% and 13% by weight. Gelatin will be present in amount from 0.00001% to 5% preferably between 0.00001% and 1%, optimally between 0.00001% and 0.1% by weight. The form of gelatin may be as finely divided solid particles of average particle size ranging between about 1 and about 1000 microns, optimally between about 100 and about 400 microns. Glycerin will be present to suspend the gelatin in amounts ranging from 0.1% to 10%, preferably between 0.5% and 3%, optimally between 1% and 2% by weight. Diglycerin may also be present in compositions of this invention. The amount may range from 0.1% to 10%, preferably between 1% and 2% by weight. Conditioning agents may also be present in compositions of the invention. Such agents may be in the form of C 8 -C 20 fatty acids or salts thereof. Typical fatty acids include lauric, myristic, oleic, stearic acids and mixtures thereof; preferably the acid or salt is based upon stearic acid. Typical fatty acid salts are those with cations such as sodium, potassium, diethanolammonium, triethanolammonium, ammonium ions and mixtures thereof. Conditioning agents will be present in an amount from about 0.01% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.05% to about 1% by weight of the total composition. Optionally, there may be included within the compositions of the invention humectants which may be selected from propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof. Amounts of these components may range from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the total composition. Emollients such as fatty acid esters (e.g. glycol and diglycol stearate, glycerol stearate, cetyl acetate), mineral oil, silicone oil, lanolin and lanolin derivatives may be present in amounts from about 0.01% to about 3% by weight of the total composition. Minor other functional components may also be present. These include acidulants such as citric acid, buffers, Vitamins A,D and E, panthenol and UV absorbers such as oxybenzone and ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate. The following Examples will more fully illustrate the embodiments of this invention. All parts, percentages and proportions referred to herein and in the appended claims are by weight of the total composition unless otherwise stated. EXAMPLE 1 A composition typical of the present invention was prepared whose formula is outlined in Table 1. INGREDIENT WEIGHT % Acetone 85.0 Glycerin 1.0 Diglycerin 1.0 Colourant 0.2 Fragrance 0.2 Gelatin 0.0001 Water qs EXAMPLE 2 A composition typical of the present invention was prepared whose formula is outlined in Table II. INGREDIENT WEIGHT % Acetone 85.0 Glycerin 1.5 Diglycerin 1.5 Colourant 0.4 Fragrance 0.2 Citric Acid 0.05 Vitamin E Acetate 0.01 Gelatin 0.0001 Panthenol 0.0001 Water qs EXAMPLE 3 A composition typical of the present invention was prepared whose formula is outlined in Table III. INGREDIENT WEIGHT % Acetone 85.0 Glycerin 1.5 Diglycerin 1.5 Fragrance 0.2 Uvinul 400 (Trade Mark) 0.2 Colourant 0.1 Gelatin 0.001 Water qs EXAMPLE 4 A composition typical of the present invention can be prepared according to the formula outlined in Table IV. INGREDIENT WEIGHT % Acetone 75.0 Glycerin 10.0 Colourant 0.2 Fragrance 0.2 Gelatin 1.0 Water qs EXAMPLE 5 A composition typical of the present invention can be prepared according to the formula outlined in Table V. INGREDIENT WEIGHT % Acetone 60.0 Ethyl Acetate 15.0 Ethyl Alcohol 5.0 Glycerin 5.0 Gelatin 0.1 Water qs EXAMPLE 6 A series of tests were conducted to determine the suspending ability by glycerin of gelatin particles. (1) Centrifugation. To increase the force of gravity and accelerate the settling process formulations containing 85% acetone, 0.15% gelatin, water and either 0 or 1.5% glycerin were prepared. Each was spun for 10 minutes at an R.C.F. (relative centrifugal force) of 2,000. The container without the glycerin had a noticeably larger amount of settled gelatin. (2) Viscosity . A HAAKE CV-20 Rheometer measured the viscosity of the two formulations containing 0/15% gelatin and either 0 or 1.5% glycerin. the temperature was 25°C and the shear rate was 100 sec -1 . The viscosities were: PRODUCT VISCOSITY @ 100 SEC -1 , mPa-sec 85% acetone/15% water 0.463 85% acetone/13.5% water/1.5% glycerin 0.622 The viscosity difference represents a 34.4% increase in the viscosity of the lacquer remover due to the addition of the glycerin. Thus, glycerin aids in the suspension of gelatin.

Claims: A nail polish removing composition comprising: (1) from 50% to 99.5% of a volatile organic solvent; (ii) from 0.00001% to 5% by weight of gelatin; and (iii) from 0.1% to 10% by weight of glycerin. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the volatile organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetone, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone and mixtures thereof. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein water is present in an amount from 0.01% to 25% by weight. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein gelatin is present in an amount from 0.0001% to 1% by weight. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein glycerin is present in an amount 1% to 5% by weight. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the solvent is acetone and is present in an amount from 75% to 90% by weight. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising from 0.1% to 10% by weight of diglycerin.

Inventors: MINER PHILIP EDWARD, ROSE WALTER, MINER, PHILIP EDWARD, ROSE, WALTER
Applicants: UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC, UNILEVER N.V.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61K8, C09D9, B08B7, A61Q3