Patent Description:
While conventional liquid cleansing compositions including antibacterial agents have shown efficacy in reducing the transmission of disease or infection, the incorporation of the antibacterial agents in sufficient or effective concentrations to control the pathogenic microorganisms may often produce liquid cleansing compositions having undesirable properties. For example, antibacterial agents are generally irritating to the skin when provided in the relatively high concentrations necessary to control the pathogenic microorganisms. Additionally, the antibacterial agents may often strip moisture from the skin, thereby leaving the skin feeling overly dry or chapped. Accordingly, there are competing desires to reduce the amount or concentration of the antibacterial agents while maintaining antibacterial efficacy. In addition to the foregoing, incorporating the antibacterial agents in the relatively high concentrations necessary to control the pathogenic microorganisms may be detrimental to the sensory properties or aesthetics of the liquid cleansing compositions. For example, the relatively high concentrations of the antibacterial agents may affect the foaming properties of the liquid cleansing composition, which has become publically associated with the cleaning ability of the liquid cleansing composition.

What is needed, then, are improved liquid cleansing compositions incorporating antibacterial agents having comparable or improved sensory properties.

A liquid cleansing composition and a method for manufacturing the liquid cleansing composition according to the present invention are defined in the claims. The following aspects are useful for understanding the invention. This summary is intended merely to introduce a simplified summary of some aspects of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the present teachings, nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. Rather, its purpose is merely to present one or more concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description below.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities embodied in the present disclosure may be achieved by providing a liquid cleansing composition, including a cleansing component and an antibacterial system. The antibacterial system includes an antibacterial agent and an antibacterial enhancing agent. A weight ratio of the antibacterial agent to the antibacterial enhancing agent is greater than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM>.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities embodied in the present disclosure may also be achieved by a method for manufacturing the liquid cleansing composition. The method for manufacturing the liquid cleansing composition includes contacting an antibacterial agent with an antibacterial enhancing agent to produce an antibacterial system. A weight ratio of the antibacterial agent to the antibacterial enhancing agent is greater than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM>. The method also includes contacting the antibacterial system with a cleansing composition to produce the liquid cleansing composition.

The antibacterial enhancing agent according to the invention is lactic acid.

The antibacterial agent according to the invention is phenoxyethanol.

In another embodiment not covered by the invention, the weight ratio of the antibacterial agent to the antibacterial enhancing agent may be greater than or equal to about <NUM>:<NUM> and less than or equal to about <NUM>:<NUM>.

The weight ratio of the antibacterial agent to the antibacterial enhancing agent according to the invention is greater than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM>.

In another embodiment, the cleansing component may be a liquid soap, and optionally a liquid hand soap.

In another embodiment, the cleansing component may be a shower gel.

In another embodiment, the cleansing component may include one or more surfactants.

In another embodiment, the liquid cleansing composition may include at least <NUM> wt% of the one or more surfactants, and optionally at least <NUM> wt% of the one or more surfactants.

In another embodiment, the one or more surfactants may include a betaine surfactant.

In another embodiment, the betaine surfactant may be cocoamidopropyl betaine.

In another embodiment, the liquid cleansing composition may include a foam enhancer, and the foam enhancer may be cocamide monoethanolamide.

It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating some preferred aspects of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The following description of various preferred aspect(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

Any value within the range may be selected as the terminus of the range.

It should be appreciated that all numerical values and ranges disclosed herein are approximate valves and ranges, whether "about" is used in conjunction therewith. It should also be appreciated that the term "about," as used herein, in conjunction with a numeral refers to a value that may be +/- <NUM>% (inclusive) of that numeral, +/- <NUM>% (inclusive) of that numeral, +/- <NUM>% (inclusive) of that numeral, +/- <NUM>% (inclusive) of that numeral, +/- <NUM>% (inclusive) of that numeral, or +/- <NUM>% (inclusive) of that numeral.

It has been surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that an antibacterial system including an antibacterial agent that is phenoxyethanol and an antibacterial enhancing agent that is lactic acid in a weight ratio of <NUM>:<NUM> (<NUM>:<NUM>) to <NUM>:<NUM> (<NUM>:<NUM>) exhibits a synergistic effect that provides a significant and unexpected reduction of gram+ and gram-bacteria. It has further been surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that a liquid cleansing composition incorporating the antibacterial system having the antibacterial agent that is phenoxyethanol and the antibacterial enhancing agent that is lactic acid in the weight ratio of <NUM>:<NUM> (<NUM>:<NUM>) to <NUM>:<NUM> (<NUM>:<NUM>) exhibits comparable or enhanced sensory properties. For example, it has been surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that the liquid cleansing composition incorporating the antibacterial system exhibits enhanced or relatively greater foaming as compared to a liquid cleansing composition that does not include the antibacterial system.

The liquid cleansing composition as defined in the claims includes a cleansing component and an antibacterial system. The cleansing component may be a shower gel, a liquid soap, or any other hair and/or skin cleanser. As further described herein, the antibacterial system may include one or more antibacterial agents and one or more antibacterial enhancing agents.

The antibacterial system as defined in the claims includes an antibacterial agent that is phenoxyethanol. Further illustrative antibacterial agents may include, but are not limited to, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, <NUM>-bromo-<NUM>-nitro-<NUM>,<NUM>-dioxane, <NUM>-bromo-<NUM>-nitropropane-<NUM>,<NUM>-diol, alkyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, N-(hydroxymethyl)-N-(<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxy methyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-dioxo-<NUM>-imidaxolidinyl-N-(hydroxy methyl)urea, <NUM>-<NUM>-dimethyol-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl hydantoin, formaldehyde, iodopropynl butyl carbamate, parabens, methylisothiazolinone, mixtures of methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazoline, mixtures of phenoxyethanol/butyl paraben/methyl paraben/propylparaben, <NUM>-phenoxyethanol, tris-hydroxyethyl-hexahydrotriaz-ine, methylisothiazolinone, <NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-isothiazolin-<NUM>-one, <NUM>,<NUM>-dibromo-<NUM>,<NUM>-dicyanobutane, <NUM>-(<NUM>-chloroalkyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-triaza-azoniaadam-antane chloride, sodium benzoate, polyhexamethylene biguanide, alexidine, triclosan, parachlorometaxylenol, zinc pyrithione, essential oils (e.g., tea tree, eucaplyptus, thyme), silver and salts thereof, chlorhexidine and salts thereof, and combinations thereof The antibacterial agent as defined in the claims is phenoxyethanol (i.e., <NUM>-phenoxyethanol).

The antibacterial system also includes one or more antibacterial enhancing agents configured to increase or enhance the activity of the antibacterial agent. The antibacterial enhancing agent according to the invention is lactic acid.

A weight ratio of the antibacterial agent to the antibacterial enhancing agent as defined in the claims is greater than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM>. For example, the weight ratio of the antibacterial agent to the antibacterial enhancing agent may be about <NUM>:<NUM> to about <NUM>:<NUM>, or about <NUM>:<NUM>. In another example, the weight ratio of the antibacterial agent to the antibacterial enhancing agent may be about <NUM>:<NUM> to about <NUM>:<NUM>, or about <NUM>:<NUM> to about <NUM>:<NUM>.

The liquid cleansing composition may include one or more surfactants. In at least one embodiment, the surfactants may be or include a salt of a C<NUM>-<NUM> alcohol ethoxylate sulfate, a betaine surfactant, and/or an alkyl polyglucoside. In another embodiment, the liquid cleansing composition may include one or more anionic surfactants, one or more cationic surfactants, one or more zwitterionic surfactants, one or more nonionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. The amount of the surfactants in the liquid cleansing composition may be from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%. For example, the amount of the surfactants in the liquid cleansing composition may be from about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt%. In another embodiment, the amount of the surfactants in the liquid cleansing composition may be from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%. For example, the amount of the surfactants in the liquid cleansing composition may be from about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt%. In another example, the amount of the surfactants in the liquid cleansing composition may be about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%.

The salt of the C<NUM>-<NUM> alcohol ethoxylate sulfate may be any one or more salts of the C<NUM>-<NUM> alcohol ethoxylate sulfate. In at least one example, the C<NUM>-<NUM> may be lauryl. The average moles of ethylene oxide may be from <NUM> to <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the average moles of the ethylene oxide is <NUM> to <NUM>. The cation of the salt may be any suitable cation of the C<NUM>-<NUM> alcohol ethoxylate sulfate. For example, the cation may be an alkali metal (e.g., sodium, potassium), an alkaline earth metal (e.g., calcium), ammonium, triethanolamine. In an exemplary embodiment, the salt of the C<NUM>-<NUM> alcohol ethoxylate sulfate is sodium lauryl ether sulfate. The sodium lauryl ether sulfate may have an average of <NUM> moles of the ethylene oxide.

As previously discussed, the one or more surfactants may include a betaine surfactant. Illustrative betaine surfactants may include, but are not limited to, cocodimethylcarboxymethyl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, lauryldimethylcarboxymethyl betaine, lauryldimethylcarboxyethyl betaine, cetyldimethylcarboxymethyl betaine, lauryl-bis-(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl) carboxymethyl betaine, oleyldimethylgammacarboxypropyl betaine, and lauryl-bis-(<NUM>-hydroxypropyl)-carboxyethyl betaine, and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the betaine surfactant is a cocamidopropyl betaine. The alkyl polyglucoside may include any suitable alkyl group. For example, the alkyl group may be a decyl, a lauryl, or a coco. In a preferred embodiment, the alkyl polyglucoside is decyl glucoside.

In an exemplary embodiment, the surfactants of the liquid cleansing composition may include <NUM>-<NUM> weight % of the salt of a C<NUM>-<NUM> alcohol ethoxylate sulfate, <NUM>-<NUM> wt% betaine surfactant, and <NUM>-<NUM> wt% alkyl polyglucoside, based on a total weight of the surfactants. In another embodiment, the surfactants of the liquid cleansing composition may include <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% of the salt of a C<NUM>-<NUM> alcohol ethoxylate sulfate, <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% of the betaine surfactant, and <NUM> to <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% of the alkyl polyglucoside.

In at least one embodiment, the liquid cleansing composition may include at least one anionic surfactant. Illustrative anionic surfactants may include, but are not limited to, watersoluble salts of higher fatty acid monoglyceride monosulfates, such as a sodium salt of a monosulfated monoglyceride of hydrogenated coconut oil fatty acids, such as sodium N-methyl N-cocoyl taurate, sodium cocomonoglyceride sulfate. Illustrative anionic surfactants may also include higher alkyl sulfates. As used herein, "higher alkyl" refers to C<NUM>-<NUM> alkyl. For example, the anionic surfactant may be or include sodium lauryl sulfate. The anionic surfactants may also include higher alkyl-ether sulfates. In another embodiment, the anionic surfactant may include higher alkyl aryl sulfonates, such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (sodium lauryl benzene sulfonate), and higher alkyl sulfoacetates, such as sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (dodecyl sodium sulfoacetate), higher fatty acid esters of <NUM>,<NUM> dihydroxy propane sulfonate, sulfocolaurate (N-<NUM>-ethyl laurate potassium sulfoacetamide) and sodium lauryl sarcosinate. In an exemplary embodiment, the anionic surfactant may be or include a water soluble salt of alkyl sulfates having from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and water soluble salts of sulfonated monoglycerides of fatty acids having from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. For example, the anionic surfactant may be or include, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium coconut monoglyceride sulfonates, and mixtures thereof.

In at least one embodiment, the liquid cleansing composition may include at least one nonionic surfactant. The nonionic surfactant may function as an emulsifier. Illustrative nonionic surfactants may include, but are not limited to, poloxamers. For example, the nonionic surfactants may include polysorbate <NUM>, poloxamer <NUM>, poloxamer <NUM>, poloxamer <NUM>, and mixtures thereof. The nonionic surfactants may also include, but are not limited to, ethoxylated and hydrogenated ethoxylated castor oils, such as those commonly designated as PEG NN castor oil or PEG NN hydrogenated castor oil, where "NN" designates the number of ethylene oxide units polymerized onto the castor oil to form the nonionic surfactant. For example, the nonionic surfactants may be or include PEG <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the nonionic surfactant is PEG <NUM> hydrogenated castor oil, which is commercially available as CREMOPHOR® RH40 from BASF Corp. of Florham Park, NJ.

The liquid cleansing composition may include one or more fatty alcohols. The fatty alcohols may be or include a C<NUM>-<NUM> fatty alcohol, or preferably a C<NUM>-<NUM> fatty alcohol. Illustrative fatty alcohols may include, but are not limited to, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. The amount of the fatty alcohols in the liquid cleansing composition may be greater than or equal to <NUM> wt% and less than or equal to <NUM> wt%.

The carrier of the liquid cleansing composition may be or include water. Water of the liquid cleansing composition may be deionized water, demineralized water, and/or softened water. In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier of the liquid cleansing composition includes demineralized water and softened water. Water may make up the balance of the liquid cleansing composition. For example, the amount of water in the liquid cleansing composition may be from about <NUM> wt% to <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%. In another example, the amount of water in the liquid cleansing composition may be at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, at least <NUM> wt%, or at least <NUM> wt%. In at least one embodiment, the amount of demineralized water may be about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt%, and the amount of softened water may be about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt%. The amount of water in the liquid cleansing composition may include free water added and water introduced with other components or materials of the liquid cleansing composition. For example, the amount of the water in the liquid cleansing composition may include free water and water associated with the surfactants or any other component of the liquid cleansing composition.

In some embodiment, the liquid cleansing composition may include one or more skin care agents. Any suitable skin care agents that do not adversely affect the stability and/or efficacy of the liquid cleansing composition may be used. In at least one embodiment, the skin care agent may include an emollient configured to maintain a soft, smooth, and pliable appearance to the skin. As is known by those skilled in the art, the emollients may function by remaining on the surface of the skin or in the stratum corneum to act as a lubricant, to reduce flaking, and/or to improve the appearance of the skin.

The skin care agents may generally include one or more polymers (e.g., polyvinylpyrrolidine), protein derivatives (e.g., derivatized hydrolyzed wheat protein), ethoxylated fatty ethers, cellulosics (e.g., hydroxyethylcellulose), and combinations thereof. Illustrative skin care agents may include, but are not limited to, esters comprising an aliphatic alcohol having about <NUM> to about <NUM> carbon atoms condensed with an aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acid including about <NUM> to about <NUM> carbon atoms (e.g., isopropyl myristate, decyl oleate, cetearyl isononanate). The esters may be straight chained or branched. In a preferred embodiment, the ester has a molecular weight of less than about <NUM>.

Other skin care agents may include, but are not limited to, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, polyquaternium-<NUM>, polyquaternium-<NUM>, polyquaternium-<NUM>, guar gum derivatives, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, a polyethylene glycol, a methyl ether of a polyethylene glycol, quaternium-<NUM>, wheat germamidopropyl hydroxypropyl dimonium hydrolyzed wheat protein, stearyl methicone, dimethicone copolyol, dimethicone propyl PG betaine, poly(sodium styrene sulfonate), sorbitan oleate, steareth-<NUM>, steareth-<NUM>, isoceteth-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM> glyceryl cocoate, PEG-<NUM> lanolin, glycereth-<NUM>, PPG-<NUM>-ceteth-<NUM>, a C<NUM>-C<NUM> alcohol, canola oil, glyceryl laurate, triglyceryl monostearate, glyceryl monostearate, vitamin E acetate, sunflower seed amidopropylethyldimonium ethylsulfate, sodium PEG-<NUM> olive oil carboxylate, PPG-<NUM> hydroxyethyl caprylamide, PPG-<NUM> hydroxyethyl cocamide, mineral oil, petrolatum, aloe barbadensis, isostearamidopropylmorpholine lactate, strontium acetate, palmitamidopropyltrimonium chloride, and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the skin care agent is or includes a conditioner, such as a cationic cellulose polymer (e.g., polyquaternium-<NUM>).

The liquid cleansing composition may include one or more additional optional ingredients. Illustrative optional ingredients may include, but are not limited to, one or more dyes, fragrances, buffers and buffering agents (e.g., inorganic phosphates, sulfates, and carbonates), pH adjusters (e.g., acids and/or bases), preservatives (e.g., parabens, sodium salicylate, sodium benzoate), thickeners, viscosity modifiers, antioxidants, foam enhancers, chelating agents (e.g., EDTA, phosphates), opacifiers, hydric solvents, hydrotropes, humectants, antimicrobials, and combinations thereof.

Illustrative basic pH adjusters may include ammonia; mono-, di-, and tri-alkyl amines; mono-, di-, and tri-alkanolamines; alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides; and combinations thereof. For example, the basic pH adjuster may be ammonia, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, monoethanolamine, triethylamine, isopropanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and combinations thereof.

Illustrative acidic pH adjusters may include mineral acids. The mineral acids may be or include hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and combinations thereof.

The liquid cleansing composition may have a neutral pH, an alkaline pH, or an acidic pH. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid cleansing composition is at least partially acidic. For example, the liquid cleansing composition may have a pH less than <NUM>. In another example, the liquid cleansing composition may have a pH greater than or equal to <NUM> and less than <NUM>. For example, the liquid cleansing composition may have a pH of about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or about <NUM>. In another example, the liquid cleansing composition may have a pH from about <NUM> to less than <NUM>, about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid cleansing composition has a pH from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

The foam enhancer may be or include, but is not limited to, cocamide MEA (i.e., cocamide monoethanolamide), cocamide DEA, soyamide DEA, lauramide DEA, oleamide MIPA, stearamide MEA, myristamide MEA, lauramide MEA, capramide DEA, ricinoleamide DEA, myristamide DEA, stearamide DEA, oleylamide DEA, tallowamide DEA, lauramide MIPA, tallowamide MEA, isostearamide DEA, isostearamide MEA, and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the foam enhancer is cocamide MEA.

Illustrative humectants may include, but are not limited to, ascorbic acid, ascorbyl dipalmitate, acetamide MEA, glucose glutamate, glucuronic acid, TEA-lactate, TEA-PCA, corn syrup, fructose, glucose, glycerin, glycol, <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-hexanetriol, sodium lactate, sodium PCA, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, inositol, lactic acid, lactose, mannitol, PCA, PEG-<NUM> propylene glycol, polyamino sugar condensate, propylene glycol, pyridoxine dilaurate, saccharide hydrolysate, hydroxystearyl methylglucamine, glucamine, maltitol, mannitol, methyl gluceth-<NUM>, methyl gluceth-<NUM>, riboflavin, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, glutamic acid, glycereth-<NUM>, glycereth-<NUM>, glycereth-<NUM>, saccharide isomerate, sorbeth-<NUM>, sorbitol, sucrose, thioglycerin, tris-(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane, tromethamine, histidine, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM>, PEG-<NUM> pentaerythritol ether, polyglyceryl sorbitol, sorbitol, urea, xylitol, and combinations thereof.

In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for cleansing skin and controlling the presence and/or growth of bacteria on the skin including contacting the skin with the liquid cleansing composition disclosed herein. The present disclosure may also provide methods for producing, fabricating, or otherwise manufacturing the liquid cleansing composition. The present disclosure may also provide methods for providing the liquid cleansing composition that maintains or improves one or more sensory properties (e.g., foaming) of the liquid cleansing composition.

The following examples and other embodiments described herein are exemplary and not intended to be limiting in describing the full scope of compositions and methods of this disclosure.

A series of liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) were prepared by combining the ingredients/components according to Table <NUM>. Each of the liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) included varying amounts of the antibacterial agent, phenoxyethanol, and varying amounts of the antibacterial enhancing agent, lactic acid.

To validate the antibacterial system for use in pharmaceutical, medical, dental, veterinary, agri-food, and industrial sectors, and for domestic or community use, an in-vitro antibacterial efficacy study was performed on each of the liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>). For the in-vitro antibacterial efficacy study, each of the liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) was evaluated in accordance with the procedures of the European Standard (NF EN <NUM>: Chemical Disinfectants And Antiseptics - Quantitative Suspension Test For The Evaluation Of Basic Bactericidal Activity Of Chemical Disinfectants And Antiseptics). According to the European Standard (NF EN <NUM>), a disinfecting agent (e.g., the antibacterial system) must kill <NUM>% of the targeted bacteria (i.e., a <NUM>-log reduction) using an inoculum of <NUM><NUM> cfu/ml of the gram+ and gram- bacteria (i.e., E. coli and S. The results of the in-vitro antibacterial efficacy study are summarized in Table <NUM>.

As is evident from Table <NUM>, including the phenoxyethanol (PE) alone, as in liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), or the lactic acid (LA) alone, as in liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), did not achieve the <NUM>-log reduction of the gram+ and gram- bacteria. As such, the liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>)-(<NUM>) did not pass the European Standard (NF EN <NUM>). As further evident from Table <NUM>, including the phenoxyethanol and the lactic acid outside the preferred ratio of from about <NUM>:<NUM> to about <NUM>:<NUM> (about <NUM>:<NUM> to about <NUM>:<NUM>), as in liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) also did not achieve the <NUM>-log reduction of the gram+ and gram- bacteria. However, the liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>), (<NUM>), and (<NUM>) including both the antibacterial agent (e.g., phenoxyethanol) and the antibacterial enhancing agent (e.g., lactic acid) in the preferred ratio exhibited a reduction of the gram+ and gram-bacteria in an amount greater than the minimum <NUM>-log.

The liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) from Example <NUM> were further evaluated by an Expert Sensory Panel of eight expert panelists for sensory properties via a blind sequential monadic block design. Each of the eight expert panelists assessed each of the liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) using a standardized methodology and a <NUM>-<NUM> point assessment scale, where '<NUM>' represented the lowest value (i.e., none or low) and '<NUM>' represented the highest value. Each of the liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) were blinded and coded with a random three-digit number. The order of sample presentation was balanced and randomize across all the panelists. The panelists evaluated each of the liquid cleansing compositions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) for a range of sensory properties or characteristics including: product attributes before and during washing, lather attributes on pouf and hands during washing, skin feel attributes on hands and forearms during rinsing and after drying. The results of the Expert Sensory Panel are summarized in Table <NUM>.

The liquid cleansing composition (<NUM>) of Example <NUM>, which exhibited a greater than minimum <NUM>-log reduction of bacteria, was found to provide similar sensory properties in each category as compared to the comparative liquid cleansing composition (<NUM>), which did not exhibit a greater than minimum <NUM>-log reduction of bacteria. Additionally, the liquid cleansing composition (<NUM>) exhibited statistically significant increase in foaming lather (Amount of Foam-10R) as compared to the comparative liquid cleansing composition (<NUM>).

Claim 1:
A liquid cleansing composition, comprising:
a cleansing component;
an antibacterial system, the antibacterial system comprising:
an antibacterial agent that is phenoxyethanol; and
an antibacterial enhancing agent that is lactic acid, wherein a weight ratio of the antibacterial agent to the antibacterial enhancing agent is greater than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>:<NUM>, and
a pH adjuster selected from basic pH adjusters and mineral acids.