Abstract:
A cosmetic composition is described that includes an aqueous combination of petroleum jelly, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate and a C 12  -C 15  alkyl lactate. The composition provides petroleum jelly in a nongreasy but efficacious form to counteract skin dryness.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a cosmetic emulsion based upon petroleum jelly. 
     2. The Related Art 
     Petroleum jelly is one of the oldest skin treatment products still in commerce today. For over 100 years, the Chesebrough Company and its successors have sold this substance under the brand, Vaseline®. There is good reason for the longevity of this product. Its occlusive and healing properties render this product especially efficacious against dry and damaged skin. 
     If petroleum jelly has any drawbacks, it undoubtedly involves the greasy nature of the substance. Petroleum jelly can rub off on clothes or anything else in contact therewith. Thus, the art has sought a product with the benefits of petroleum jelly but lacking its disadvantages. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cosmetic composition with a substantial amount of petrolum jelly that, nevertheless, is relatively nongreasy. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic composition based upon petroleum jelly in the form of a creamy emulsion that provides essentially the same moisturizing, protecting and restoring properties against dry skin as would 100% petroleum jelly. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic composition based upon petroleum jelly that is an emulsion with good phase stability and pleasing aesthetics. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will more fully be appreciated through the detailed description that follows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cosmetic composition is provided that includes: 
     (i) from 30 to 95% by weight of petrolum jelly; 
     (ii) from 10 to 65% by weight of water; 
     (iii) from 1 to 10% by weight of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate; and 
     (iv) from 0.1 to 10% by weight of C 12  -C 15  alkyl lactate. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now it has been discovered that a combination of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate and an alkyl lactate can combine with an aqueous emulsion of petroleum jelly to obtain a nongreasy skin protective product. 
     Accordingly, the main hydrophobic component of the composition will be petroleum jelly. This substance will be present in an amount from at least 30% up to 95%, preferably between about 30 and 50% by weight. 
     Water will be present in an amount from about 10 to 65%, preferably from about 45 to 65% by weight. 
     Essential to the invention of removing the greasy aspect of petroleum jelly is the presence of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, available under the trademark Dry-Flo® from the National Starch and Chemical Company, Bridgewater, N.J., The amount of this material may range from 1 to 10% by weight, optimally from 3.5 to 5% by weight. 
     A fourth essential component of cosmetic compositions according to the present invention is that of a C 12  -C 15  alkyl lactate. Amounts of the lactate will range from 0.1 to 10%, preferably from 3 to 8%, optimally from 4 to 6% by weight. The alkyl lactate is necessary in conjunction with the aluminum starch octenylsuccinate to achieve an adequate gliding feel for the product on the skin. 
     When combining Dry-Flo® into the cosmetic composition, it is preferable to add the material into the petroleum jelly and maintain the combination at a temperature between 38° C. and 100° C., preferably between 75° C. and 80° C. This heat treatment in the presence of water allows the Dry-Flo®to  undergo a controlled swelling which absorbs the petroleum jelly yielding the nongreasy effect. 
     Advantageously, cosmetic compositions of the present invention may also include a microcrystalline wax (in addition to any present naturally in the petroleum jelly). Amounts of the added microcrystalline wax may range from about 0.1 to 10%, preferably from 0.5 to 2%, optimally from 0.8 to 1.5% by weight. A preferred microcrystalline wax is Microwax 1275W/W 44®. 
     Beyond the aforementioned essential components, the cosmetic compositions of the present invention may also include other ingredients typically found in cosmetic formulations. Among these ingredients are emollients, solvents, humectants, thickeners, preservatives, fragrances and vitamins. 
     Emollients may be such materials as C 8  -C 30  fatty alcohols, C 8  -C 30  fatty acids, triglyceride oils, silicone oils and a variety of esters. Illustrative are stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate, lanolin, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, soybean oil, dimethyl polysiloxane and dimethyl polycyclosiloxane. Amounts of the emollient may range anywhere from about 0.5 to 20%. Most preferred is a mixture of stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol. 
     Solvents may include ethyl alcohol and isopropanol. Among the humectants may be included glycerin, diglycerin, sorbitol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and butylene glycol. Most preferred is a 1:1 mixture of glycerin and diglycerin. 
     Thickeners may be selected from such materials as crosslinked polyacrylates available under the Carbopol® trademark, celluloses such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose and methyl cellulose, and natural gums such as xanthan, carrageenan and pectin gums. Most preferred are the crosslinked polyacrylates, especially Carbopol 934® available from the B. F. Goodrich Company. 
     Powders may be such materials as chalk, talc, Fullers earth, kaolin, starch, colloidal silica, smectites clays, montmorillonite clays and chemically modified magnesium aluminum silicates. 
     Among the preservatives useful are methyl paraben, propyl paraben, EDTA salts, potassium sorbate, potassium benzoate and DMDM hydantoin. 
     Cosmetic compositions of the present invention may also contain vitamin ingredients such as Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin E acetate, Niacin, Vitamin C and combinations thereof. 
     Emulsifiers could also be useful for purposes of the present invention. These emulsifiers may be alkoxylated C 8  -C 30  fatty acids and fatty alcohols. Examples of such materials are polyoxyethylene (4)lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene (8) monostearate, polyoxyethylene (10) cetyl ether and polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl ether. A particularly preferred emulsifier is Myreth-3-Myristate® available commercially as Cetiol 1414-E®. 
    
    
     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 cosmetic emulsion according to the present invention is outlined below. 
     
         ______________________________________Component          Weight %______________________________________Petroleum Jelly    30.0Carbopol 934 ® (2% soln.)              15.0Dry-Flo ®      5.0C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 Alkyl Lactate              5.0Cetiol 1414-E ®              3.5Cetearyl Alcohol   2.4Microwax 1275 ®              1.0Glycerin           1.0Diglycerin         1.0Triethanolamine    0.8Ethylene Brassylate              0.15Glydant Plus ® 0.1Vitamin E Acetate  0.1Disodium EDTA      0.05Water              Balance______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 2 
     A further cosmetic emulsion according to the present invention is outlined below. 
     
         ______________________________________Component           Weight %______________________________________Petroleum Jelly     30.0Carbopol 934 ® (2% soln.)               8.0Diethylene Glycol Dioctanoate               5.0Dry-Flo ®       5.0C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 Alkyl Lactate               3.5Cetiol 1414-E ® 3.5Glycerin            2.0Microwax 1275 ® 1.0Triethanolamine     0.6Glydant Plus ®  0.1Disodium EDTA       0.05Water               Balance______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 3 
     A still further cosmetic emulsion according to the present invention is outlined below. 
     
         ______________________________________Component          Weight %______________________________________Petroleum Jelly    40.0Carbopol 934 ® (2% soln.)              8.0Dry-Flo ®      8.0C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 Alkyl Lactate              2.0Cetiol 1414-E ®              1.5Cetearyl Alcohol   1.3Microwax 1275 ®              0.5Glycerin           0.5Diglycerin         0.5Triethanolamine    0.4Ethylene Brassylate              0.15Glydant Plus ® 0.1Vitamin E Acetate  0.1Disodium EDTA      0.01Water              Balance______________________________________ 
    
     The foregoing description and Examples illustrate selected embodiments of the present invention. In light thereof, various modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, all of which are within the spirit and purview of this invention.