CA2027218A1

CA2027218A1 - Shaving gel

Info

Publication number: CA2027218A1
Application number: CA002027218A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Samuel J. Mann; David Garlen
Original assignee: Samuel J. Mann; David Garlen; Inverness Corporation
Current assignee: Inverness Corp
Priority date: 1989-10-11
Filing date: 1990-10-10
Publication date: 1991-04-12
Also published as: IT9048356A1; IT9048356A0; JPH03145415A; GB9021964D0; DE4032311A1; NL9002203A; IT1242071B; AU6394590A; ES2023581A6; FR2652740A1; GB2236760A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A shaving gel which remains gelled upon application to the skin, remains on the skin after one or more passes of the razor, provides a closer, smoother shave, reduces or eliminates cuts and nicks to the skin, is non-irritating and holds hair more rigidly for shaving is provided. The gel comprises a gel intermediate which remains gelled upon application to the skin and a cosmetically-acceptable carrier. The shaving gel may further contain a lubricating agent, a moisturizing agent, an emollient, a preservative, a stabilizer, a coloring agent and a fragrance. Also provided is a method of producing said shaving gel.

Description

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` SHAVING GEL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a shaving gel, and in particular, to a shaving gel which remains gelled throuqhout the ~having procedure.
Shaving foams, creams, and post-foaming gels are known in the art. Such shaving products usually have a soap base and are used in conjunction with a razor by both men and women for the remova~ of hair at the surface of the skin. Shaving foams and creams are opaque. Current shaving gels are initially transparent but become foamy and opaque upon application to the skin.
Current shaving products are less than satisSactory for several reasons. One disadvantage is that most shaving products and the protection they provide are removed from the skin after one or two passes of the razor, leaving the skin unprotected ~rom the blade in any subsequent passes of the razor. A further disadvantage is that the consistency of the shaving product and lack of lubriciousness creates friction between the razor and the skin causing skin to lift or raise up around the hair pore, which prevents the razor from providing the closest possible shave, and which is the cause of cuts and irritation typically experienced. Another disadvantage is that the thin consistency of the shaving products is such that the hair is not firmly held for maximum removal, a more significant problem for women with typically softer hair. A further disadvantage is that the user is unable to see the hair and skin, as well as any cuts, scratches, skin disorders, and the like, through the opaque foam, cream or post-foaming gel, which they would wish to avoid while shaving. Yet another disadvantage is that the soap base in shaving products may be irritating to the skin. Still another disadvantage is that any shaving product remaining on the skin after shaving must be washed or wiped off the skin, and cannot be rubbed directly into the skin to provide additional moisturizing for the '` skin.
Accordingly, a shaving product which remains on the skin after one or more passes of the razor, which provides a smoother, closer shave, which minimizes or eliminates nicks, cuts and irritations to the skin, is transparent, which does not contain soap, which may be rubbed into the skin after shaving, and which leaves no soapy re~idue on the sink or tub when rinsed o~f, is desired.
UMMARY OF THE INVENTION -Generally speaking, in accordance with the instant invention, a shaving gel which remains gelled and does not become foamy upon application to the skin is provided. The gel comprises a gel intermediate which remains gelled upon application to the sXin and a cosmetically- acceptable carrier. The shaving gel may further contain a lubricating agent, a moisturizing agent, an emollient, a preservative, a stabilizer, a coloring agent and a fragrance. ~ -~
Also in accordance with the instant invention, a method of preparing a shaving gel which remains gelled upon application to the skin is provided. An acidic compound capable of being neutralized upon the addition of a suitable base into a gel intermediate is dissolved in rapidly-agitating cold water. A cosmetically-acceptable carrier is added to the solution, along with any moisturizing agents, emollients, preservatives, or stabilizers. A suitable base is added with slow stirring to the mixture at room temperature to form a gel.
To this gel is then added a lubr~cating agent and any coloring agents or fragrances.
Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an improved shaving gel. ~
-A further object of the instant invention is to provide a ~- -shaving gel which remains gelled upon application to the skin. ~ --Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide ; -a shaving gel which remains on the skin after one or more passes of -the razor such that the skin is protected from multiple passes of the razor.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide a shaving gel which maintains its high viscosity upon application to the skin and therefore provides a closer shave with fewer or no cuts or nicks to the skin.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide a shaving gel which contains specific lubricating agents to reduce if ~- ~,'., ' , .~ ,, .
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~- 3 not eliminate razor drag, thus providing the closest pos~ible shave and the reduction if not elimination of cut9 and irritation.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide a shaving gel which allows for a closer shave, thereby reducing the frequency of shaving and shortening the shaving time by reducing the number of strokes required to obtain a satisfactory shave.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a shaving gel which holds the hair upright and more firmly than soap-based gels for maximum removal.
Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a shaving gel which is less irritating to the skin than soap-based shaving products.
Still another object of the instant invention i9 to provide a shaving gel with moisturizing and healing properties, increased lubricity and razor slip.
Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a shaving gel which may be rubbed into the skin after completion of the shaving procedure to provide additional moisturizing of the skin.
A further object of the instant invention is to provide a shaving gel which remains transparent after application to the skin.
Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a method for producing the improved shaving gel described herein.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The invention accordingly comprises the composition possessing the features, properties, and the relation of the components, and the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
; I DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The instant invention provides a shaving gel which remains gelled and does not become foamy upon application to the skin.
Primary components in the composition include a gel intermediate which r-main- gelled and do-s not bocome foamy upon application to ~' 4 ~ '~J ~ rJ

the skin and a cosmetically-acceptable carrier. The compos~tion does not include 80ap (water-soluble salts of high molecular weight fatty acids) or post-foaming agents.
The gel intermediates that may be used in the invention are well-known in the cosmetic art. They are comprised of an acidic compound, usually water-soluble derivatives of naturally-occurring substances such as cellulose, sucrose, and glucose, which upon contact with a suitable base, form a gel intermediate. Some commonly-used acidic compounds include the copolymers of acrylic acid and a polyallyl sucrose, and reaction products of cellulose or glucose with acids or alkylene oxides. Particular examples include Acrysol, manufactured by Rohm-Haas, and carbomer-934, -940, and -941, available from B.F. Goodrich Co. under the brand name Carbopol 934, 940 and 941, respectively. Carbomer-940 is particularly preferred because of the excellent translucence of the resulting gel intermediate. The suitable base may be any base capable of neutralizing the acidic co~ound into a gel intermediate. Said suitable bases are known in the cosmetic art. A particularly preferred suitable base is triethanolamine. Accordingly, the particularly preferred gel intermediate is the triethanolamine salt of carbomer-940.
The specific weight percentage of the gel intermediate in the total shaving gel weight will depend upon the particular gel intermediate used. For the triethanolamine salt of carbomer-940, the optimum range is between about 0.25 and about 1.0%.
The cosmetically-acceptable carrier may be any liquid which adds volume to the shaving gel without adversely affecting the performan¢e of the gel. Typically, the cosmetically-acceptable carrier will be deionized water.
The shaving gel may also contain a lubricating agent. The purpose of the lubricating agent is to lubricate the skin and provide better slippage bètween the razor and skin. Lubricating agents are well known in the art. The particularly preferred lubricating agent is polyacrylamide, a homopolymer of 2-propeneamide available under the brand names Cyanamer P-250, Gelamide-250, and Superfloc 16 plus , ~ J~ J 'j '~
from American Cyanamide Co. The ideal welght percentage o~ the lubricating agent in the shaving gel will depend upon the particular lubricating agent. For polyacrylamide, the optimum range i~ between about 0.05 and about 0.5%.
A moisturizing agent may also be present in the shaving gel. The purpose of the moisturizing agent is to counteract the dryness of the skin as the result of shaving and enhance the moisture content in the skin. Various moisturizing agents are Xnown in the cosmetic art, particularly lotions. For purposes of the instant invention, glycerin and propylene glycol in the presence of ethyl alcohol are particularly preferred because this combination provides non-greasy moisturizing effects. The specific weight percentage of the moisturizing agent in the total shaving gel weight will depend upon the particular moisturizing agent used. The optimum range of the particularly preferred moisturizing agent is between about 1 and about 4% each of glycerin and propylene glycol, and between about 5 and about 20% of ethyl alcohol.
Because the moisturizing agent is ideally present in a relatively large weight percentaqe, the excess shaving gel remaining on the skin after completion of the shaving process may be rubbed into the skin instead of being washed off. This adds an additional moisturizing effect.
The shaving gel may also contain an emollient. The purpose of the emollient is to soothe the skin and promote healing to the skin of minor burns and cuts caused by shaving. Emollients are known in the cosmetic art, particularly lotions. The particularly preferred emollient is a combination of allantoin and aloe vera gel.
The ideal weight percentage of the emollient in the shaving gel will depend upon the particular emollient. The optimum range of the particulariy preferred emollient is between about 0.05 and about 1%
alla~toin and between about 0.5 and 5% aloe vera.
Preservatives may also be present in the shaving gel, and these are known in the art. Examples of such preservatives include N-(3-chloroallyl) hexaminium chloride, also known as quaternium-15, and diazolidinyl urea. These preservatives are available from Dow .

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Chemical and Sutton Laboratories of Chatham, New Jersey, respectively, under the brand names Dowicil 200 and Germall II, respectively. The specific weight percentage of the preservative in the total shaving gel will depend upon the particular preservative used. The optimum range of N-(3-chloroallyl) hexaminium chloride or diazolidinyl urea is between about 0.05 and about 1%.
The shaving gel may also contain stabilizers, and these are known in the art. The particularly preferred stabilizer is disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA). The specific weight percentage of the stabilizer in the shaving gel will depend on the particular stabilizer chosen. The optimum range of disodium EDTA is between about 0.05 and about 1%.
A coloring agent and fragrance may also be added to the shaving gel, and these are known in the cosmetic art. Examples include FD&C Blue #1 for the coloring agent and Fragrance Cltrus Lime MF 2910 dissolved in polysorbate-20 for the fragrance. Polysorbate-20, also known as polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate, is a solubilizer for the fragrance and is available from ICI under the ` -~;
brand name Tween-20. -It is anticipated that the aforementioned components and others may be added to the shaving gel, as long as such components do not detract from the characteristics of the shaving gel that are distinct from characteristics of gels that are soap-based or contain post-foaming agents. ~ -:
After application to the skin, the gel will retain a viscosity of between about 7.5 x 104 to about 15 x 104 centipoise, which is significantly higher than other current shaving products after application to the skin. This viscosity produces a barrier film between the razor and the skin which, particularly in combination with lubricating agents, substantially or entirely ~ ;
prevents the-skin around each hair pore from being snagged by the ~ -razor. In contrast, the foams of current shaving products depend on bubbles for a "ball-bearing" effect in preventing the skin around the pores from being snagged by the razor. This "ball-bearing" effect is not as consistent or effective as the film of the gel.
' Because the skin around the hair pore i8 prevented by the gel from being snagged and lifted, the razor is able to cut the hair deeper in the pore for a closer shave. Additionally, cuts and nicks to the skin are substantially reduced or eliminated entirely.
Moreover, because of the higher viscosity, the product of the instant invention will hold the hair in a more stable position so that it may be sheared more efficiently by the razor.
After one or more passes with a razor, a gel film will still remain on the sin, unlike current soap-based or foamy shaving products. This gel film will continue to provide protection to the sXin during subsequent passes with a razor. This continued protection is important since the typical shaving procedure involves multiple passes with the razor, particularly over non-planar skin surfaces such as the chin or knees.
A unique property of the gels of the instant invention is that they may be transparent or that they may appear translucent in bulk before application to the skin, yet still be transparent as a thin film after application to the skin. In order that the user may bé able to see the hair while shaving, any component added to the gel would optimally not affect the transparency of the final shaving gel, although transparency or lack thereof will not adversely affect the other advantages of the gels of the instant invention.
Generally, the procedure for making the shaving gel is as follows. Any moisturizing agents, emollients, preservatives, and stabilizers are added to the cosmetically-acceptable carrier and the acidic compound. The suitable base is slowly added, producing a gel intermediate. It is also anticipated that any moisturizing agents, emollients, preservatives, and stabilizers may be added to the cosmetically-acceptable carrier and the suitable base, and that the acidic compound may be slowly added to produce the gel intermediate.
Any lubricating agents, coloring agents or fragrances may be added at this point to the gel intermediate to produce the final shaving gel.
These procedures may occur at room temperature.
The shaving gel may be dispensed using traditional packaginq known in the art, uch as c~llapsibl- =-tal tubes and ' %'Vl'J~i.J,~
~ 8 pressurized aerosol dispensers. However, because o~ the unique properties of instant invention, the shaving g~l may also be dispensed in packages which have heretofore not been used ~or shaving products. Examples of these new packages include clear plastic tubes, clear or opaque bottles, and high-viscosity dispenser (HVD) pumps such as the HVD pump available from Calmar.
The following Example of the instant invention is for illustrative purposes only and is not in any way intended to limit the scope of the claims as presented hereinafter. ,~
Example 1 The shaving gel described in Table I was prepared as follows:
Table I
No. Inqredie~t % bv weiaht 1 Deionized Water 34.59 2 Carbomer-940 (2% soln.j37.50 -~

3 SD-Alcohol 40 15.00 4 Aloe Vera Gel 1:1 .50 Glycerin 96% 3.00 ;
6 Propylene Glycol 2.00 7 Quaternium-15 .10 -8 Diazolidinyl Urea .30 9 Disodium EDTA .10 Allantoin .10 11 Triethanolamine 99% .75 12 Polyacrylamide (3% soln.) 5.00 - -13 I FD&C Blue #1 (1%) .01 -! ' -:
14 Polysorbate-20 1.00 --Fragrance Citrus Lime MF 2910 .05 100. 00 ~.J~
, 9 A two-percent solution of carbomer-940 (#2) was prepared by sprinkling the carbomer-940 into rapidly agitating cold water. The resulting dispersion was added at room temperature to deionized water (#l) at room temperature. Added to this mixture was the SD-alcohol 40, aloe vera gel, glycerin, propylene glycol, quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, disodium EDTA, and allantoin (#3-#10). With slow stirring, triethanolamine (#11) was added, at which point the resulting gel became clear. A three-percent solution of polyacrylamide (#12) was prepared by sprinkling dry polyacrylamide into water. This solution was added to the gel, followed by FD&C
Blue #1 (#13). The Fragrance Citrus Lime MF 2910 (#15) was pre-dissolved in the polysorbate-20 (#14), and then this mixture was added to tha gel.
All procedures were carried out at room temperature.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above composition and in the method set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are .
intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention here'in described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

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' '~' 10 Particularly it is to be understood that in said claims, ingredients or compounds recited in the singular ars intended to include compatible mixtures of such ingredients wherever the sense permits.

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Claims

1. A shaving gel which comprises a gel intermediate which remains gelled upon application to the skin and a cosmetically-acceptable carrier.

2. The shaving gel of claim 1, wherein the gel intermediate is the triethanolamine salt of carbomer-940.

3. The shaving gel of claim 2, wherein the triethanolamine salt of carbomer-940 has a concentration between about 0.25 and about 1.0% by weight of the shaving gel.

4. The shaving gel of claim 1, further comprising a lubricating agent.

5. The shaving gel of claim 4, wherein the lubricating agent is polyacrylamide.

6. The shaving gel of claim 5, wherein the polyacrylamide has a concentration between about 0.05 and about 0.5% by weight of the shaving gel.

7. The shaving gel of claim 4, further comprising a moisturizing agent, an emollient, a preservative, and a stabilizer.

8. The shaving gel of claim 7, wherein the moisturizing agent is glycerin, propylene glycol and ethyl alcohol.

9. The shaving gel of claim 8, wherein the glycerin and propylene glycol each have a concentration between about 1 and about 4% by weight of the shaving gel and the ethyl alcohol has a concentration between about 5 and about 20% by weight of the shaving gel.

10. The shaving gel of claim 7, wherein the emollient is allantoin and aloe vera gel.

11. The shaving gel of claim 10, wherein the allantoin has a concentration between about 0.05 and about 1% by weight of the shaving gel, and the aloe vera gel has a concentration between about 0.5 and 5% by weight of the shaving gel.

12. The shaving gel of claim 7, wherein the preservative is selected from the group consisting of N-(3-chloroallyl) hexaminium chloride, diazolidinyl urea, and a combination of both.

13. The shaving gel of claim 12, wherein the preservative has a concentration between about 0.05 and about 1% by weight of the shaving gel.

14. The shaving gel of claim 7, wherein the stabilizer is disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate.

15. The shaving gel of claim 14, wherein the disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate has a concentration between about 0.05 and about 1% by weight of the shaving gel.

16. The shaving gel of claim 7, further comprising a coloring agent and a fragrance.

17. The shaving gel of claim 1, wherein the shaving gel has a viscosity of between about 7.5 x 104 to about 15 x 104 centipoise.

18. The shaving gel of claim 1, wherein the shaving gel is transparent and remains transparent upon application to the skin.

19. A shaving gel which comprises a gel intermediate which remains gelled upon application to the skin and a cosmetically-acceptable carrier, wherein the gel intermediate is between about 0.25 and about 1.0% by weight and the cosmetically-acceptable carrier is between about 99.0 and about 99.75% by weight of the shaving gel.

20. The shaving gel of claim 19, wherein the gel intermediate is the triethanolamine salt of carbomer-940 and the cosmetically-acceptable carrier is deionized H2O.

21. A shaving gel which comprises a gel intermediate which remains gelled upon application to the skin, a lubricating agent, and a cosmetically-acceptable carrier, wherein the gel intermediate is between about 0.25 and about 1.0% by weight, the lubricating agent is between about 0.05 and about 0.5 by weight, and the cosmetically-acceptable carrier is between about 98.5 and about 99.70% by weight of the shaving gel.

22. The shaving gel of claim 21, wherein the gel intermediate is the triethanolamine salt of carbomer-940, the lubricating agent is polyacrylamide, and the cosmetically-acceptable carrier is deionized H2O.

23. A shaving gel which comprises:
a) a gel intermediate which remains gelled upon application to the skin, between about 0.25 and about 1.0% by weight;
b) a lubricating agent, between about 0.05 and about 0.5% by weight;
c) a moisturizing agent, between about 7 and about 25% by weight;
d) an emollient, between about 0.5 and about 6% by weight;
e) a preservative, between about 0.05 and about 1 by weight;

f) a stabilizer, between about 0.05 and about 1% by weight;
g) a coloring agent, between about 0.00 and about 0.05% by weight;
h) a fragrance, between about 0.00 and about 1.50%
by weight; and i) a cosmetically-acceptable carrier, between about 60.95 and about 92.10% by weight.

24. The shaving gel of claim 23, wherein:
a) the gel intermediate is the triethanolamine salt of carbomer-940;
b) the lubricating agent is polyacrylamide;
c) the moisturizing agent is glycerin, between about 1 and about 4% by weight, propylene glycol, between about 1 and about 4% by weight, and ethyl alcohol, between about 5 and about 20% by weight of the shaving gel;
d) the emollient is allantoin, between about 0.05 and about 1% by weight, and aloe vera gel, between about 0 5 and 5%
by weight of the shaving gel;
e) the preservative is N-(3-chloroallyl) hexaminium chloride, between about 0.00 and about 1% by weight, and diazolidinyl urea, between about 0.00 and about 1% by weight of the shaving gel;
f) t h e s t a b i 1 i z e r i s d i s o d i u m ethylenediaminetetraacetate;
g) the coloring agent is FD&C Blue #1;
h) the fragrance is Fragrance Citrus Lime MF 2910 dissolved in polysorbate-20; and i) the cosmetically-acceptable carrier is deionized H2O.

25. A method of preparing a shaving gel which comprises:
a) dissolving in rapidly-agitating cold H2O an acidic compound which is capable of being neutralized upon the addition of a suitable base into a gel intermediate which remains gelled upon application to the skin;
b) adding, at room temperature, a cosmetically-acceptable carrier to the solution of step a):
c) adding the suitable base, with slow stirring and at room temperature, to the solution of step b) to form a gel; and d) adding, at room temperature, a lubricating agent to the gel of step c).

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the acidic compound is carbomer-940, the suitable base is triethanolamine, and the lubricating agent is polyacrylamide.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein step b) further comprises adding a moisturizing agent, and emollient, a preservative, and a stabilizer, and wherein step d) further comprises adding a coloring agent and a fragrance.