Patent ID: 7674472

Claim:
A method of providing a topical base composition for use in the preparation of a skin cream, a skin lotion or a vanishing cream containing 50 to 90% water, the said method comprising: (a) providing an essentially anhydrous mixture comprising fatty acid and an organic base wherein said mixture is heated to a temperature in the range of 40° C. to 80° C. to form, at least partially, a fatty acid soap wherein a degree of neutralisation of the fatty acid is from 8 to 90%, and wherein the mixture is subsequently cooled to a temperature below the crystallization temperature before a water based composition is added in step (b), (b) providing sufficient water based composition at a temperature up to 100° C. such that all of the fatty acid is dispersed or solubilised to provide a base mixture; (c) optionally further agitating the contents of the composition resulting from step (b); whereby a topical base composition is formed.