METHOD AND COMPOSITION FOR THE CURLING OF EYE LASHES

Abstract: A setting lotion for eye lashes in gel form comprises an aqueous alcoholic mixture containing a dissolved resin and in gel form. Suitable polymers include polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyvinyl acetates and/or a dimethylhydantoin formaldehyde condensation polymers; the most preferred is a polyvinyl pyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymer. The gel may be created by using an acidic carboxyvinyl polymer as the gelling agent.

Description: METHOD AND COMPOSITION FOR THE CURLING OF EYE LASHES This invention relates to a method of curling eye lashes that can be carried out without professional assistance and to a composition for use in the method. The curling of eye lashes raises problems that do not occur with hair as the proximity to the eye precludes the use of most chemical methods and makes the use of heated tongs hazardous. Professional beauty salons provide an eye lash curling service at considerable cost. As the lifespan of an eye lash is approximately thirty days the treatment must be carried out frequently. The present invention provides a method of curling eye lashes which can be carried out with minimal hazard to the eye and which is suitable for home use and a composition for use in the method. According to the present invention there is provided a setting lotion comprising an aqueous alcoholic mixture containing a dissolved resin and in gel form. There is also provided a setting lotion comprising a method of curling eye lashes comprising applying the above setting lotion in gel form to a row of eye lashes, allowing the deposited gel to dry and thereafter curling the lashes into the required shape using tongs or similar means. The setting lotion in gel form is preferably applied using a small brush. The preferred brush has bristles at one end extending radially from a straight handle formed from twisted wire, wood or a synthetic polymer. The brush may comprise part of the container in which the lotion is supplied. Preferably while applying the lotion the eye and upper cheek is protected by an absorbent pad such as a gauze pad. Setting takes place after such lotions have been applied through evaporation of the water and alcohol . A thin film of resin remains which is found to have suffic- icient strenqth to maintain each eye lash in the desired shape for long periods. The resin is preferably a synth- I etic polymer with appreciable elasticity. This ensures that the coating of resin on each lash does not flake in the event that the lash is flexed. The concentration, solvent composition and resin type control the thickness of the resin coating deposited on each lash. The flexibility of the resin coating may be increased by including one or more plasticisers which remain in the resin coating after the solvent mixture has evaporated. Particularly preferred resins are synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate and dimethylhydantoin formaldehyde condensation polymers. The polymers used may be homopolymers, copolymers or mixtures of polymers. A most preferred resin is a polyvinylpyrrol- idone/vinylacetate copolymer. The preferred plasticisers are polyethylene glycols. In order to convert the lotion into a gel form suitable gelling agents are incorporated into the liquid so that it becomes non-Newtonian in flow, preferably thixo- tropic, so that the lotion can be applied easily with a brush to the lashes but does not flow off subsequently and remains in place while the solvents evaporate. A preffer- ed gelling agent is an acidic carboxyvinyl polymer. Such polymers may be mixed with the other components of the lotion in a sightly acidic liquid phase after which the pH is increased causing the dispersed polymer to form a gel . The shape tends to be lost after washing the face or showering unless the eye lashes are covered with a protective layer of tape or similar water impermeable material. However the curling method may be repeated easily after ablutions have taken place. Eye make-up, such as mascara, may be applied after the lashes have been curled in the conventional manner. Other components may be added to the mixture before gelling such as denaturants, to discourage accidental or deliberate ingestion, perfume and colourants. The preferred solvent mixture is ethanol and water in proportions from 1/2.5 to 1/3.5 parts by weight and contains from 1 to 4 percent, more preferably 1.5 to 2.5 percent, by weight of resin. The invention will be illustrated by the following examples of gelled lotions used for setting eye lashes. Example 1 An eye lash gel was prepared having the following composition in percentage by weight: Ethanol 30.0 Luviskol VA 37 E 2.0 A.M. . 100 0.5 Carbopol Ultrez 10 polymer 0.60 Bitrex 0.08 Disodium EDTA 0.05 Nipaguard BPX 0.05 Deionised water to make 100 percent Luviskol VA 37 E is a polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate (PVA/VA0 copolymer supplied as an approximately 50 % solution in ethanol . A.M.P. 100 is aminopropanol. Carbopol Ultrez 10 polymer is an acidic carboxyvinyl polymer gelling agent. Bitrex is a denaturing agent Nipaguard is a methyl paraben, 2-bromo-nitropan-l,3-diol, propylparaben and phenoxyethanol mixture. I The lotion was prepared in three stages as follows: STAGE 1 A first mixture was prepared containing: Ethanol 27.0 g Disodium EDTA 0.05 g Carbopol Ultrez 10 Polymer 0.6 g Deionised water 65.5 g The mixture was rendered homogeneous by use of a high speed stirrer to disperse the Carbopol Ultrez polymer. 15 STAGE 2 A second mixture was prepared containing: Ethanol 3.0 g Luviskol VA 37 E 2.0 g Nipaguard BPX 0.05 G Bitrex solution 0.08 g In order to obtain homogeneous mixing the Luviskol polymer, supplied as a 50% solution in ethanol, was first mixed with the ethanol componen . The other components were added subsequently with stirring. STAGE 3 A third mixture was prepared containing: A.M.P. 100 0.5 g Deionised water l.0 g The mixtures from stages 1 and two were stirred together to form a homogeneous combination. This waε allowed to stand after mixing to enable any entrained air to escape. After deaeration the mixture from stage 3 was added to raise the pH and cause and the Carbopol Ultra dispersion to form a gel. The final pH was in the range 6.5 to 7.2. Example 2 A high strength eye lash gel was prepared having the following composition in percentage by weight: Ethanol 25.2 Luviskol VA 37 E 4.0 A.M.P. 100 0.65 Carbopol Ultrez 10 polymer 0.60 Bitrex 0.08 Disodium EDTA 0.05 Nipaguard' BPX 0.05 Deionised water to make 100 percent The components were mixed in three stages in the manner described in Example 1 to obtain the product which contained approximately two percent by weight PVA/VA resin. The gelled lotion was applied to eye lashes and was allowed to dry for between 20 and 60 seconds. The time depended on the ambient temperature and humidity. After treatment the eye lashes were curled using tongs and the eye lashes retained the curl . It was possible to enhance the appearance of the eye lashes in a conventional manner by the application of mascara. The gelled setting lotion is preferably packaged in jars or tubes. The lotion may be removed from the former by use of the applicator brush or in the case of the latter it may be squeezed directly on to the bristles. In a preferred form a the setting lotion is stored in a substantially tubular container enclosed with a cap carrying a brush whose stem and head is fits into the container.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A setting lotion characterised in that it comprises an aqueous alcoholic mixture containing a dissolved resin and in gel form. I 2. The setting lotion according to claim 1 characterised in that the resin is a synthetic polymer with appreciable elasticity. 3. The setting lotion according to claim 2 characterised in that the synthetic polymers is a homopolymer, copolymer or a mixture of polymers. 4. The setting lotion according to claims 1 or 2 charact¬ erised in that the synthetic polymer resin is polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate and/or a dimethylhydantoin formaldehyde condensation polymer. 5. The setting lotion according to claim 4 characterised in that the synthetic polymer is a polyvinylpyrrolidone/ vinylacetate copolymer. 6. The setting lotion according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the dissolved resin is present in an amount from 1 to 4 percent by weight. 7. The setting lotion according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the gelling agent is an acidic carboxyvinyl polymer. 8. The setting lotion according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that it contains a plasticizer for the resin. 9. The setting lotion according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the aqueous alcoholic mixture comprises ethanol and water in proportions from 1/2.5 to 1/3 parts by weight. 10. A method of curling eye lashes characterised in that a setting lotion in gel form according to any of the claims l to 9 is applied to a row of eye lashes, holding the lashes in the required shape using tongs until the setting action is complete, thereafter releasing the lashes and removing surplus setting lotion.

Inventors: COLLIS JOANNA, HOSE SARA-JANE, COLLIS, JOANNA, HOSE, SARA-JANE
Applicants: COLLIS JOANNA, HOSE SARA JANE, COLLIS, JOANNA, HOSE, SARA-JANE
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61K8, A61Q1, A61Q5