AU716758B2

AU716758B2 - Body soap composition

Info

Publication number: AU716758B2
Application number: AU13194/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sachio Hamada; Satoshi Kazama; Shinji Taniuchi; Hitoshi Watanabe; Norihiro Yamamoto
Original assignee: Johnson and Johnson KK
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson KK
Priority date: 1996-01-25
Filing date: 1997-01-22
Publication date: 2000-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-22
Also published as: CA2244670C; CN1213398A; AU1319497A; BR9707078A; NZ325938A; JPH09202898A; KR19990082012A; EP0885288A1; CN1117848C; WO1997027279A1; CA2244670A1

Description

WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121

DESCRIPTION

BODY SOAP COMPOSITION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a body soap composition containing fatty acid soap and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, in particular to a liquid soap excellent in use feeling at rinse and after washing owing to containing fatty acid soap and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate in a specific ratio, and especially relates to a facial cleanser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally as raw materials of body soaps comprising mainly metallic salts of higher fatty acids, that is higher fatty acid soaps, solid soaps of metallic salts of higher fatty acids have been widely used. Thus regarding the form, most of the fatty acid soaps have been solid type. They are well fitted for toilet soaps because they show excellent foamability and cleansing power, but one of their problems is that their use feeling is not satisfactory such as stiff feeling caused to the skin after rinse especially to the face skin.

Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, anionic surface active agents, are widely used for body soaps because they show excellent foamability, cleansing power and comparatively low skin irritation. But one of the problems of the body soaps containing polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate as a main component is that it is not easy to rinse after cleansing and that one who uses the soap feels slimy after rinse especially after washing one's face.

As the results of the researches to remove the above problems, the inventors have eventually found that body soaps having an excellent use feeling during and after cleansing can be made by compounding fatty acid soap and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate in a specific ratio, and further excellent irritation reducing effect, foam stabilizing effect and -2cleansing power improving effect can be attained by adding thereto either amphoteric surface active agents such as betaine type amphoteric surface active agents or surface active agents selected from the group consisting of sorbitan type and polyethylene glycol type or both.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect the invention provides a body soap composition comprising 1 to 30% fatty acid soap and 1 to 30% polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate by weight, wherein the weight ratio of the fatty acid soap and the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate is in the range of 8:2 to 3:7, and the fatty acid soap is prepared by neutralizing a mixture comprising as main components lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid and isostearic acid with triethanolamine.

Preferably the weight ratio of the fatty acid soap and the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate is in the range of 8:2 to 6:4.

The body soap composition of the present invention preferably contains a further 15 0.5 to 20% amphoteric surface active agent by weight. Examples of the amphoteric surface active agents can be a betaine-type amphoteric surface active agents.

And further, the body soap composition preferably contains 0.1 to 5% nonionic surface active agent by weight. Preferable examples of the nonionic surface active agents can be either sorbitan type or polyethylene glycol type nonionic surface active agents or both. The body soap compositions of the present invention can be used in a variety of forms and are not restricted particularly but liquid type is preferable. A preferable application thereof is a facial cleanser.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment, the fatty acid soap of the present invention is an alkaline salt of a higher fatty acid represented by the general formula as follows: (R'COO)jMk' wherein R' is an alkyl group having more than six carbon atoms, M 21059-OO.DOC is an alkaline group, j and k are independently integers of 1 to 3.

Examples of the higher fatty acids in the present invention can be caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, oleic acid, 1 2 -hydroxystearic acid, undecylenic acid, lanolin fatty acid, linoleic acid, licinoleic acid and isostearic acid and so forth. They can be used as a mixture thereof having proper properties. Fats used for raw materials for preparation of the higher fatty acids are, for example, beef tallow, mutton tallow, palm oil, olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil, palm kernel oil and so forth, though the raw materials are not limited thereto. Said alkaline group can be sodium, potassium, ammonium

(NH

4 cation and so forth, and in the present invention ammonium cation is preferred.

The content of the fatty acid soap in the body soap composition of the present invention is 1 to 30% by weight. If no more than 1% by weight, cleansing power and foamability will not be enough. If exceeding 30% by weight, it is not preferred because of decrease in use feeling, increase in skin irritation and crystallization at low temperature in the case of liquid body soaps, In a preferred embodiment, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether S sulfates of the present invention are compounds shown by the general formula as follows:

[R

2 0(CH 2 CH20) S0 3

M

2 wherein R 2 is an alkyl group having more than six carbon atoms, M 2 is an alkaline group, 1 is an integer from 1 to 30, m and n are independently integers from 1 to 3.

Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, anionic surface active agents, are generally prepared by sulfating polyoxyethylene derivatives of higher alcohols and then neutralizing with alkaline compound to form alkaline salts, but the preparation method in the present invention is not limited thereto. Examples of the alkaline salts can be sodium salt, potassium salt, ammonium salt and so forth. Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates are widely used because they irritate skin less than alkyl ether WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 sulfates.

The content of the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates is 1 to 30% of the body soap composition by weight. If no more than 1% by weight, cleansing power and foamability are not enough. If exceeding 30% by weight, it is not preferable because of decrease in rinsing quality after use and remaining slimy feeling after rinse. Examples of the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates can be polyoxyethylene octyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene palmityl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether sulfate, and so forth, especially polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate such as sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate is preferred because of its low skin irritation.

The form of the body soap of the present invention can be, for example, solids, semi-solids, foam or solutions, in particular solutions are preferred.

It is preferred to add amphoteric surface active agents to the body soap of the present invention. The amphoteric surface active agent can be a carbonic acid type such as aminoacid type and betaine type, sulfate type, sulfonic acid type, phosphate type, and so forth. In particular addition of betaine type amphoteric surface active agents are preferred. The betaine type amphoteric surface active agents can be, for example, N-alkyl-Ncarboxymethyl ammonium betaine, sodium 2 -alkyl-l-hydroxyethyl imidazoline betaine, alkyldimethylamino acetic acid betaine, alkylimidazolinium betaine and coconut oil fatty acid amide propyl betaine. Preferred amphoteric surface active agents other than the betaine type listed above are, for example, Nalkylaminoethyl glycine such as N-lauryl diamino ethyl glycine and N-myristyl diaminoethyl glycine, N-alkyl N-alanine, N,N,Ntrimethyl amino propionic acid, N-hydroxyethyl N,Ndihydroxyethyl amino propionic acid, N-alkyl-N,N-dihydroxyethyl amino propionic acid, N,N,N-trihydroxyethyl amino propionic acid, N-alkyl N,N-dimethyl amino propionic acid, N-alkyl N,Ndihydroxyethylamino acetic acid, N-alkyl N,N-dimethyl amino acetic acid, N-alkyl N,N-dimethyl amino lactic acid, N-alkyl N,N- WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 dimethyl amino propyl sulfonic acid, N-alkyl N,N-dimethyl amino- 2-hydroxypropyl sulfonic acid. The above amphoteric surface active agents can be contained independently or jointly. The contents of the amphoteric surface active agents are preferably from 0.5 to 20% of the body soap composition by weight. If no more than 0.5% by weight, preferred low irritation that should be realized by addition of an amphoteric surface active agent will not be attained. It is not preferable to exceed 20% by weight because of decrease in foamability of the body soap.

It is preferred to add further nonionic surface active agents to the body soap of the present invention. Preferred nonionic surface active agents can be sugar fatty acid esters such as sucrose fatty acid ester, maltol fatty acid ester and lactose fatty acid ester; sugar alcohol fatty acid esters such as maltitol fatty acid ester and lactitol fatty acid ester; fatty acid polyglycerin esters such as decaglyceryl monolaurate and diglyceryl monostearate; fatty acid diethanol amides such as lauric acid mono- or di-ethanolamide and myristic acid mono- or di- ethanolamide; fatty acid monoglyceride.

Among the nonionic surface active agents, sorbitan type and polyethylene glycol type are particularly preferred. As sorbitan type surface active agents, polyoxyethylene coconut oil fatty acid sorbitan, sesquioleic acid sorbitan, trioleic acid sorbitan, monooleic acid sorbitan, monostearic acid sorbitan, monopalmitic acid sorbitan, monolauric acid sorbitan; and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, and so forth, especially polyoxyethylene coconut oil fatty acid sorbitan is preferred.

Preferred polyethylene glycol type nonionic surface active agents can be monooleic acid polyethylene glycol, monostearic acid polyethylene glycol, monolauric acid polyethylene glycol, distearic acid polyethylene glycol; polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester such as polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene copolymer, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene fatty acid esters and so forth. Distearic acid WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 polyethylene glycol is especially preferred. The nonionic surface active agents can be used independently or jointly.

The contents of the nonionic surface active agents are preferably from 0.1 to 5% of the body soap by weight. When no more than 0.1% by weight, sufficient foam stabilizing effect and cleansing power may not be attained. When exceeding 5% by weight, foamability may decrease.

Other surface active agents than those mentioned above can be optionally added to the present body soap composition on condition that they do not impair the effects of the present invention. Examples of such surface active agents can be sodium alkylsulfate such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium myristyl sulfate; sodium N-acyl zarcosinate such as sodium N-lauroil zarcosinate and sodium N-myristoil zarcosinate; sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium hydrogenated coconut fatty acid monoglyceride monosulfate, sodium lauroilsulfoacetate,

N-

acylglutamate such as sodium N-palmitoil glutamate, sodium Nmethyl-N-acyl taurine, sodium N-methyl-N-acylalanine, sodium aolefine sulfonate and sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate. The above surface active agents can be contained either independently or jointly.

The body soap of the present invention can further contain additives such as tackifiers, stabilizers, emulsifiers, moisturizers, antimicrobial agents, chelating agents, fragrances and so forth if not impairing the effects of the present invention.

Examples of the tackifiers can be electrolytes such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride and sodium sulfate; fatty acid polyethylene glycol esters such as monostearic acid polyethylene glycol and distearic acid polyethylene glycol; alkylol amides such as coconut oil fatty acid diethanol amide and polyoxyethylene coconut oil fatty acid monoethanol amide; cellulose derivatives such as methyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose. The tackifiers can be contained either independently or jointly.

Stabilizers can be included in order to improve solution WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 stability at low temperatures especially in the case of transparent body soaps. Examples of the stabilizers can be alcohols such as ethanol, propylene glycol and glycerine, sodium benzenesulfonate, sodium xylenesulfonate, urea, etc. The stabilizers can be contained either independently or jointly.

Examples of the emulsifiers can be opalizers such as styrene polymer and polyvinylacetate, magnesium stearate, ethylene glycol monostearate, ethylene glycol distearate, stearyl alcohol, pearly brighteners such as fish scales, titanium mica and oxychlorobismus treated mica. Those emulsifiers can be contained either independently or jointly.

Examples of the moisturizers can be higher alcohols such as cetanol and stearyl alcohol, lanoline derivatives, glycerine sorbit, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol. These moisturizers can be contained either independently or jointly.

The germicides are often compounded not only for sterilization, disinfection and deodorization but also in order to prevent dermatitis such as pimple as well as skin cleaning.

Some of them can be contained for medically effective ingredients or antiseptic agents. The examples of the germicides can be cresols such as meta-cresol and para-chloro-meta-cresol, chlorhexidine, isopropyl methyl phenol, photosensitizer 101, chloroxylenol, trichlorocarbanilide, halocarban, phenol, trichrosan, phenoxyethanol, etc. Above germicides can be contained either independently or jointly.

Chelating agents are often used to improve clearness of transparent liquid body soaps or to prevent decrease in transparency caused by formation of metallic soap. Examples of the chelating agents can be ethylene diamine tetraacetate derivatives, tripolyphosphates, hexametaphosphates, dihydroxy ethylglycine, citric acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid and saccharic acid. The chelating agents can be contained either independently or jointly.

Examples of the fragrances can be menthol, anethole, carvone, eugenol, limonene, ocimene, n-decylalcohol,citronellol, WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 alpha-terpineol, methyl salicylate, methyl acetate, citronellyl acetate, cineole, linalool, ethyl linalool, vanillin, thymol, spearmint oil, peppermint oil, lemon oil, orange oil, sage oil, rosemary oil, cinnamon oil, pimento oil, cinnamon leaf oil, perilla oil, wintergreen oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, etc.

They can be contained either singly or in combination.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will become more apparent in the following examples. Numerals are based on weight if not otherwise defined. Methods and criteria of sensuous evaluation tests in the Examples are as follows: 1. Test method: Subjects cleanse their face using test samples and evaluate foamability and slimy feeling after rinse according to below criteria. The test results are average values of the evaluations of all the subjects.

2. Criteria of evaluation: Foamability at use: X: not foamable A: slightly foamable 0: foamable 0: sufficiently foamable Slimy feeling after rinse: X: very slimy A: slimy 0: slightly slimy practically not slimy 3. Combined evaluation: Results of the above two tests are scored as X:O, A:l, 0:2, and the scores of the two tests for each sample are added and the sums are the combined evaluations. Samples whose combined evaluations are more than 4 are regarded as "good" and less than 3 "defective".

Examples 1 to 3, Comparative Examples 1 and 2: WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 As shown in Table 1, five samples were prepared by mixing fatty acid soap (prepared by neutralizing a mixture of fatty acids comprising lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid and isostearic acid with triethanol amine) and sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate so that the ratios of the fatty acid soap to sodium polyethylene lauryl ether sulfate in the samples were 0:10, 3:7, 5:5, 7:3 and 10:0 respectively.

Table 1 Co. Ex. 1 Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex.3 Com. Ex. 2 Fatty acid soap 0 7 11.5 16 23 Sodium polyoxyethylene 23 16 11.5 7 0 lauryl ether sulfate Purified water 77 77 77 77 77 Composition ratio 0:10 ~3:7 5:5 7:3 10:0 Foamability in use A o o 0 X Slimy feeling after rinse A o0 o

O

Combined evaluation 2 4 4 5 2 In the table, amounts of the fatty acid soaps were calculated based on the amounts of synthesized fatty acid soaps. Summed percentage of the fatty acid soap and sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate in each test sample was kept at a constant value of 23% by weight of the mixed solution. A preparation method for each sample was as follows: 154g purified water in a glass beaker of 500ml was heated up to about 70 C in a water bath. Except for comparative examples 1 and 2, fatty acid soaps-were prepared by adding fatty acid and triethanolamine directly to the glass beaker so that the weight of formed soap became equivalent to the composition ratio shown in Table 1, and then sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate corresponding to the composition ratio shown in Table 1 was added 9 WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 to the aqueous solution. In comparative example 1, 46g sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate was charged to a 154 g purified water, the mixed aqueous solutions were agitated with a stirrer while cooling until the solutions became uniform, then stopped agitation, cooled the solutions to a room temperature and stored as the test samples.

Sensual evaluation tests were performed for twenty subjects using five test samples shown in Table 1. The results showed that, in the test of foamability at use, samples of composition weight ratios in the range from 3:7 to 7:3 were evaluated as good.

In the test of slimy feeling after rinse, the composition ratios in the range from 3:10 to 10:0 were evaluated as good, in particular the ratio 7:3 was considered as the best evaluation in Table 1. Consequently samples of ratios in the range from 3:7 to 7:3 were evaluated as good in both tests of foamability and slimy feeling as well as the combined evaluations, and were found that they had good use feeling.

Examples 4 to 8: As shown in Table 2, the samples whose ratios of fatty acid soap to sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate being in the range from 3:7 to 7:3 which were evaluated as good in the sensual evaluation tests in Table 1 were investigated more in detail.

Sample preparation methods were the same as those of Table 1.

Table 2 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex.6 Ex.7 Ex. 8 Fatty acid soap 9 11.5 14 16 19 Sodium polyoxyethylene 14 11.5 9 7 4 laurylether sulfate Purified water 77 77 77 77 77 Composition ratio 4:6 5:5 6:4 7:3 8 2 foamability in use o o o o o Slimy feeling after rinse 0 o 0 0 o 0 Combined evaluation 4 4 4 5 4 WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 Five compositions having weight ratios of fatty acid soap to sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate of 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, 7:3 and 8:2 were prepared, and sensual tests were performed for twenty six subjects using above five test samples. The results showed that all the samples were evaluated as good in said two tests and all the combined evaluations also were good and above all the ratio 7:3 was evaluated as which showed the ratio was especially preferable.

Examples 9 to 11, Comparative Examples 3 and 4: Facial cleanser having compositions shown in Table 3were prepared according to the following procedures: 260g purified water was poured into a one litter glass beaker, heated up to 70 C, while agitating ingredients shown in Table 3 were charged sequentially to the glass beaker, the solution was agitated for more than ten minutes with a stirrer till the solution became uniform, agitation was stopped, and the solution was stood and cooled to the room temperature.

WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 Table 3 Composition ratio (weight Component Com. Ex. 3 Ex. 9 Ex. 0 Ex. 11 Com.Ex.4 Fatty acid soap 0.0 6.8 11.4 16.0 22.8 Sodium polyoxyethylene 22.8 16.0 11.4 6.8 0.0 12lrul ath r ii l 1 y uuui ii a oC Alkyl betain Polyoxyethylene fatty acid sorbitan Fatty acid polyethylene glycol Cone. glycerine trichrosan paraben Coconut oil fatty acid diethanol amide Pigments Flavors Purified water Composition ratio foamability in use Slimy feeling after rinse Combined evaluation 1. 5 2.0 0. 2 1.0 3. 0 trace 0. 2 balance 0:10 0

A

3 1. 5 2.0 0.2 1.0 3.0 trace 0.2 balance 1. 5 2.0 0. 2 1. 0 3.0 trace 0. 2 balance 1. 5 0. 2 3. 0 trace 0. 2 balance 7:3 0 5 1. 3:7 5:5 trace 0.2 balance 10:0

A

0 3 0 0 4 0 4 A sensual test was performed for twenty nine subjects using above five test samples. The results showed that, in the test of foamability at use, the samples of weight ratio in the range from 0:10 to 7:3 were evaluated as good, in the test of slimy feeling after rinse, the ratio in the range from 3:7 to 10:0 were evaluated as good, in particular the ratio 7:3 was evaluated as Examples 12 to 14, Comparative Example In order to investigate more in detail around the ratio of WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 7:3 that showed the best evaluation of all the samples in Table 3, samples for facial cleanser compositions were prepared in a similar process to the samples in Table 3 in compositions shown in below Table 4 whose ratios of fatty acid soap to sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate were 6:4, 7:3, 8,2 and 9:1.

Table 4 Composition ratio (weight S1 Component Fatty acid soap Sodium polyoxyethylene laurylether sulfate Alkyl betain Polyoxyethylene fatty acid sorbitan Fatty acid polyethylene glycol Cone. glycerine trichrosan paraben Coconut oil fatty acid diethanol amide Pigments Flavors Purified water I Ex. 12 1 Ex. 13 16.0 6. 8 4.0 0. 5 1. 5 2.0 0. 2 1. 0 3.0 trace 0. 2 balance Ex. 14 18. 2 4. 6 0. 1. 5 2.0 0.2 1.0 3.0 trace 0. 2 balance Corn. Ex. 20. 2. 3 1. 2.oO 0. 2 3. 0 trace 0. 2 balance trace 0.2 balance Composition ratio 6:4 7:3 8:2 9:1 foamability in use 0 0 0 a Slimy feeling after rinse 0 0 0 0 Combined evaluation 4 5 4 3 A sensual test was performed for nineteen subjects using above test samples. The results showed that, in the test of foamability at use, the samples of composition ratio in the range WO 97/27279 PCT/JP97/00121 from 6:4 to 8:2 were evaluated as good. In the test of slimy feeling after rinse, all the composition ratios in the range from 6:4 to 9:1 were evaluated as good, in particular the ratio 7:3 showed the best evaluation in Table 4. As a result of the tests, the samples of the ratios in the range from 6:4 to 8:2 were good in combined evaluations, which showed they had good use feeling.

Putting all the aforementioned results together, in body soaps containing fatty acid soaps and sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate, those whose range of the ratio of fatty acid soap to sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate being 8:2 to 3:7 have excellent use feeling such as "foamability at use" and "slimy feeling after rinse", and those whose range of the ratio of fatty acid soap to sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate being 8:2 to 6:4 had excellent use feeling, in particular in the evaluation in slimy feeling the sample of the composition ratio 7:3 showed the best result of all the samples.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION A body soap in the present invention containing 1 to fatty acid soap and 1 to 30% polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate by weight whose weight ratio of the fatty acid soap to the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate being in the range of 8:2 to 3:7 has an excellent use feeling such as foamability at use and slimy feeling after rinse.

Claims

1. A body soap composition comprising 1 to 30% fatty acid soap and 1 to polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate by weight, wherein the weight ratio of the fatty acid soap and the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate is in the range of 8:2 to 3:7, and the fatty acid soap is prepared by neutralizing a mixture comprising as main components lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid and isostearic acid with triethanolamine.

2. The body soap composition according to claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of the fatty acid soap and the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate is in the range of 8:2 to 6:4.

3. The body soap composition according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate is polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate.

4. The body soap composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the composition further contains 0.5 to 20% amphoteric surface active agent by weight.

The body soap composition according to claim 4 wherein the amphoteric surface active agent is a betaine type amphoteric surface active agent. 15

6. The body soap composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the .o composition further contains 0.1 to 5% nonionic surface active agent by weight.

7. The body soap composition according to claim 6 wherein the nonionic surface Sactive agent is either sorbitan type or polyethylene glycol type or both and wherein °polyethylene glycol type nonionic surface active agents are mono and diesters of fatty acids of polyethylene glycols.

8. The body soap composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the composition is a facial cleanser.

9. The body soap composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the composition is in the form of a liquid. 25

10. A body soap composition, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the examples and excluding comparative examples. DATED this 23rd Day of February 1999 JOHNSON JOHNSON KABUSHIKI KAISHA Attorney: PAUL G. HARRISON Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS

21059-00.DOC