IL23918A - Anhydrous depilatory stick - Google Patents

Description

Patents Form No. 3 PATENTS AND DESIGNS ORDINANCE.

SPECIFICATION.

AHHYDROUS DEPILATORY STICK ·»·»» ' CHEMWAY CORPORATION; Θ . oorp OPft ion of the State of Delaware* U»S#A»¾ of 300 ■^eir -&ld---&oady----Wayae:r---New-- -er&93rr---Unitflji..Stataa...of...Amfirifta#.:.' do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described aud ascertained in and by the following statement : - U.S. 177,7^6 Doc. 161-193A BA-11076 - IIO92 This Invention relates to a depilatory composition. More particularly this Invention relates to an anhydrous, stable, depilatory composition in solid form containing as the essential active depilating agent a substituted thiol in which the hydrogen atom in hydrogen sulfide is substituted by various organic residues.

Depilatory compositions containing substituted thiols, particularly thioglycollates, are well known in the art and are commercially available generally as pastes or creams or as powders to be admixed with water to form a paste just prior to use. The depilatory pastes suffer from the disadvantage that they contain water and are inherently unstable, having short shelf lives, due primarily to the decomposition of the substituted thiol components with the formation of offensive sulphidic odors. The dry powders, although stable, are inconvenient of application.

The depilatory compositions of this Invention are unique in that they are in an anhydrous, solid form. Since they are anhydrous, they are indefinitely stable and hence are free from any offensive sulphidic odors. They may be produced in any desired shape but are most conveniently prepared in the form of a cake or a stick. In a preferred form, the depilatory compositions of this invention are prepared In stick form, similar to the size and shape of lipstick, and it has been found that the cooperative action of the wetted skin and the residual water present as a skin component provides sufficient water so that contact of the solid stick form depilatory composition with a wetted skin area creates a cream containing an ionized active depilatory capable of complete depil-ation in less than ten minutes. Moreover, it has been found that the time required for effective depilation is not sufficient to permit formation of offensive sulphidic odors so that when the cream is removed, the skin retains an odor of perfume. Also, the composition of the solid form depilatory prevents penetration of externally applied water so that there is no significant decomposition of the active depilating agent with formation of offensive sulphidic odors after use. The anhydrous solid stick form depilatory compositions of this invention can be conveniently packaged, for example, in lipstick-like con-tainers or as pencils, to provide a cosmetically elegant, odorless, safe and effective answer to the problem of facial hypertrichosis .

The present invention provides depilatory compositions which are anhydrous, stable depilatory compositions in solid form characterized by the combination of a non-ionic poly-alkenoxy. water-in-oil emulsifier and a solid, inert, organic filler material, together forming a solid base, having intimately dispersed therein a solid basic material selected from guanidine, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal silicates, alkali metal trlbasic phosphates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal carbonates* alkaline earth metal silicates, and alkaline earth metal tribaslc phosphates, and as the essential active depilating agent, an effective depilating amount of depilating material selected from substituted thiols in which the hydro- residue containing two to four carbon atoms, and including at least one of hydroxyl, ketone, aldehyde, ether, amine, sul<- ; fonic acid, carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid salt groups, the solid basic material being present in an amount suffi-cient to provide a pH of 10.5 to 12.5 in a saturated aqueous solution of the depilatory composition.

The solid base serves to sequester the irritation factor of the ionized active ingredients and gives protective emolliency to the sensitive skin, particularly facial, areas. Hence the solid base contains a solid, inert, organic filler material to provide hydrophilic and emollient properties, to provide body and to prevent penetration of externally applied water, and a non-ionic polyalkenoxy type water-in-oil emulsi-fier to provide homogeneity to the final composition and to supplement the emollient, hydrophilic and sequestering properties of the solid, inert, organic filler material.

The anhydrous solid, inert, organic filler materials include the absorption base components conventionally employed in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations. These include natural and synthetic waxes, semi-solid and solid hydrocarbons, starches, gums and resins. Specifically included are those most commonly used such as petrolatum, paraffin wax, micro-crystalline wax, stearyl, lauryl, oleyl and cetyl alcohols, methyl cellulose, spermaceti, beeswax, ceresin, lecithin, cephalin and the hydrogenated vegetable oils. The anhydrous, solid base can also contain small amounts of inorganic filler materials such as bentonite and coloring materials such as titanium dioxide. The solid base will generally contain up to about 75 percent by weight of solid, inert, organic filler material. the solid base includes a sterol as a portion of the solid, inert, organic filler material to augment and enhance the hydro-philic and emollient properties of the other filler material.

Useful sterols are those of animal and vegetable origin conventionally employed in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations and include the C27-C compounds such as cholesterol, cholestanol, epicholestanol, coprostanol, epicoprostanol, lath-osterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol, ergosterol, ergostanol, 5, 6-dihydroergosterol, cerevisterol, zymosterol, brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, stigmastanol, the sitosterols, fucosterol, chalinasterol, poriferasterol, clionasterol, spongosterol, cerebrosterol and C30 compounds such as lanosterol and agnosterol. Preferably, the sterol is the unsaponifiable lanolin fraction of commerce containing principally lanolin alcohols. These are available commercially as "Cerelan", "Amerchol", uHartolan" and "Dusoran 60" and are described in an article by Gabriel Barnett in "Drug and Cosmetic Industry", Vol. 80, No. 5, (May, 1957 ) . The unsaponifiable lanolin fraction can be in solid form, semi-solid form, or portions in liquid form, i.e. dispersed in a mineral oil vehicle, can be admixed with portions in solid form. The solid base will generally contain about 10 to 55 percent by weight of sterol.

The non-ionic polyalkenoxy water-in-oil emulsifiers include those conventionally employed in cosmetic and pharmaceuti-cal preparations. Preferably employed is a sterol such as those described above which has been reacted with an alphabeta alkylene oxide containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and butylene oxide. The amount of alkylene oxide reacted with the sterol or lanolin alcohol fraction is sufficient to impart hydrophilic surface active properties and generally ranges from about 10 to 40 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of sterol. These are marketed commercially as "Polychols" and "Solulans". Also useful are the group of reaction products of lanolin and hexitan ester poly- oxyethylene ethers obtained by reacting lanolin with a poly- oxyethylene ether of a hexitol or a hexitol ester such as sorbitol or sorbitol onostearate in the presence of an alkali and sold commercially as Atlas G-1425, G-1441, and G-1471.

Ethoxylated lanolin derivatives obtained by reacting lanolin with ethylene oxide and marketed as "Lanogel", "Ethoxylan" and "Etholan" are suitable.

Although the ethoxylated lanolin derivatives are preferable, other non-ionic polyalkenoxy water-in-oil e ulsi- fiers are useful. Thus there can be used the conventional non-, ionic polyethenoxy surface active agents and these include the oxyethylated polyoxypropylene glycols described in U. S. Patent 2:β7¾6ΐ and sold commercially as "pluronics", the oxyalkylated partial esters of polyhydric alcohols and fatty acids described in U.S. Patent 2, 380,166 and sold commercially as "Tweens", the benzyl ethers of alkylphenoxy polyethoxyethanols described in U.S. Patent 2,856, 34 and sold commercially as "Triton CF-10", the polyoxyalkylene surfactants described in U.S.

Patent 2,677,700, the mixed higher polyoxyalkylene ethers of hexitols described in U.S. Patent 2,673,882, alkylphenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanols produced by the reaction of an alkyl- phenol with ethylene oxide and sold commercially as "Igepals", the oxyalkylated glycerols, produced by reaction with glycerol of a mixture of ethylene and propylene oxides, marketed by Dow Chemical Co., and the fatty alcohol ethers such as the cetyl, stearyl, lauryl or oleyl ethers of ethylene oxide polymers. The solid base will generally contain about 10 to 40 percent by weight of the non-ionic polyalkenoxy water-in-oil emulsifier.

The active depilating agent of the compositions of this invention is a substituted thiol in which the hydrogen atom in hydrogen sulfide is substituted by an organic residue containing two to four carbon atoms and at least one of a group selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, ketone, aldehyde, ether, amine, sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid salt groups. Such materials are well known and are described in U.S. Patent 2, 352, 524 and British Patent 521,240. As explained in those patents, the thiol group normally has a pronounced disagreeable odor unless the organic group attached to the thiol group has one or more substltuent groups such as hydroxyl, ketone, aldehyde, ether, amine, sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid salt groups. The most effective and least odlferous are the guanidine, ethylene diamine, alkali and alkaline earth metal salts of thioglycollic acid and thiolactic acid, including specifically the guanidine, ethylene diamine mono- and di-, sodium, potassium and calcium thioglycollates and thiolactates. The preferred active agent is calcium thioglycollate. The final depilatory composition will generally contain about 10 to 35 percent by weight of the substituted thiol.

The activating agent for the substituted thiol is a solid basic material which can be any of guanidine or the alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, carbonates, silicates, and tribasic phosphates, preferably iron free since iron forms discoloration in the presence of a substituted thiol. The solid basic substance must be present in an amount sufficient to provide a basic medium for the depilating agent when contacted with the wetted skin and the final depilatory composition will thus generally contain about 5 to 25 percent by weight of solid basic material sufficient to provide a pH of 10.5 to 12.5 in a saturated aqueous solution of the depila-tory composition, preferably a pH of 11 to 12. A lower pH requires more time for effective depllatlon and a higher pH tends to produce irritation.

The anhydrous solid base, the substituted thiol and the solid basic substance are admixed in order to provide a final depilatory composition in solid form having intimately dispersed therein the substituted thiol and the solid basic material. A small amount of perfume, i.e., 1 to 2 percent by weight of the final depilatory composition, can be incorporated into the final depilatory composition.

Depilatory compositions in solid stick form of this Invention are illustrated by the following examples. In the examples, commercial unsaponi led lanolin fractions containing primarily lanolin alcohols were employed. These are designated Lanolin Fractions A, B and C and their respective properties are set forth in the following Table I lanolin fractions of Table I are semisolid or liquid (dissolved in liquid petrolatum) multisterol, non-ionic, surface active emulsifiers and emollients. The active factors are cholesterol and related sterols, as well as complex higher alcohols, all of natural lanolin origin. Among the sterols present are cholesterol, agnosterol, lanosterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol, dihydrocholesterol and cerebrosterol. These are present in their free forms (as the alcohols). There are no fatty acids or eaters. The absence of acids, alkalies, esters, amines, soaps, glycols, and resins makes these fractions physically and chemically inert. Also employed in the examples was a commercial oxyethylated select lanolin alcohol fraction containing 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of lanolin alcohol condensed in ether form and designated Ethoxylated Fraction D. The specifications for this material are as follows: Appearance: Solid mass Color: Tan Odor: Slight fatty odor Consistency: Waxy solid Solubility in Water: Freely soluble Solubility in Alcohol: Freely soluble Acid Number: 1 Hydrox 1 Number: ^ Saponification Number: 9 pH (10$ Aqueous Solution) at 25°C: 6.0 Cloud Point (1$ Solution in NaCl): 87°C.

TABLE I Lanolin Lanolin Fraction Fractio Specifications A B Appearance Semi-solid mass Semi-solid Color Cream Pale Yello Odor Paint & Pleasant Slightly P Melting Point (USPXV-Class II) 3° - 46°C. 60°C.

Viscosity (Saybolt at 38°C.) pH - (Brom Thymol Blue) 7.0 5.5 ( 10$ Water emulsion) at 25°C.

Specific Gravity at 25°C 0.845 to 0.855 0.840 to Moisture Anhydrous Anhydrous Ash None None Acid Number Negligible Negligible Ester Number Negligible Negligible Bulk (lbs. per gallon) 7 7 EXAMPLE I An anhydrous stick base was prepared by admixing in a vessel heated to about 90°C. the following materials in the indicated proportions: Ingredients Part8 By Weight Lanolin Fraction A 5 Lanolin Fraction B 25 Ethoxylated Fraction D 20 Paraffin, NFXT 20 Petrolatum, U.S. P. 15 Stearyl alcohol, U.S. P. 15 100 The admixture (stick base) was permitted to cool to about 75eC. at which time calcium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide and calcium thloglycollate were added in amounts sufficient to give an intermediate having the proportions indicated below: Ingredients Parts By Weight Calcium Hydroxide U.S. P. (Iron Free) 4.0 Strontium Hydroxide CP (Iron Free) 8.0 Calcium Thloglycollate · 3H20 17.0 Stick Base 70.0 99.0 The admixture was then milled until the temperature dropped to about 55°C. at which time a perfume was added and thoroughly mixed in to provide a final admixture having the proportions indicated below: Final Admixture Parts By Weight Calcium Hydroxide U.S. P. (Iron Free) 4.0 Strontium Hydroxide CP (Iron Free) 8.0 Calcium Thioglycollate · 3¾0 17.0 Stick Base 70.0 Perfume 1.0 100.0 This final admixture was then poured into chilled lipstick-type molds to provide a final product in conveniently sized solid stick form. These solid sticks were subjected to various tests which showed that they were compatible with all types of metal and plastic containers conventionally employed for packaging lipstick and similar items. Several solid sticks were subjected to severe stability tests Involving placing them in closed boxes wherein the temperature was maintained at 40°C. and the relative humidity at the conventional level and at 8o# and 100$ for 60 days. After maintenance under these conditions, the sticks were still in solid form and their depilating action was not significantly impaired. Other sticks were exposed to the open air under ambient conditions for periods of six weeks and longer with similar results.

The sticks were tested for depilating action in the following manner: A small amount of water was spread on about a three square inch area of a male human forearm having considerable hair. The stick was dipped into water and applied with a circular motion to the wetted skin area, for 10 to 30 seconds, until a white cream had formed. After five minutes, the stick was again dipped in water and applied with a circular motion to the wetted skin area. After an additional five minutes, the cream was removed with a paper tissue leaving a skin area devoid of hair and stubble, and having a fragrant odor .

EXAMPLE 2 An anhydrous stick base was prepared similarly as in Example 1 from the following materials in the indicated proportions : Ingredients Parts by Weight Lanolin Fraction A 5.0 Lanolin Fraction B 20.0 Lanolin Fraction C 5.0 Ethoxylated Fraction D 20.0 Paraffin, NFXT 20.0 Petrolatum, U.S. P. 20.0 Stearyl Alcohol, U.S .P. 10.0 100.0 This admixture was admixed and milled with calcium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, calcium thioglycollate and perfume as described in Example 1 to give a final admixture having the proportions indicated below: Ingredients Parts By Weight Calcium Hydroxide, U.S.P . (Iron Free) 4.0 Strontium Hydroxide, CP (Iron Free) 6.0 Calcium Thioglycollate · 3H20 15.0 Stick Base 7 .0 Perfume 1.0 100.0 Similarly as in Example 1, the admixture was poured into chilled molds.

EXAMPLE 3 An anhydrous stick base was prepared similarly as in Example 1 from the following materials in the indicated proportions : Ingredients Parts By Weight Lanolin Fraction A 5.0 Lanolin Fraction C 10.0 Ethoxylated Fraction D 35.0 Paraffin, NFXT 10.0 Beeswax 10.0 Stearyl Alcohol, U.S. P. 30. 0 100.0 This admixture was admixed and milled with calcium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, calcium thioglycollate containing water of crystallization and perfume as described in Example 1 to give a final admixture having the proportions indicated below: Ingredients Parts By Weight Calcium Hydroxide, U.S. P. (Iron Free) 6.0 Strontium Hydroxide, CP (Iron Free) 12.0 Calcium Thioglycollate · 3%0 25.5 Stick Base 55.5 Perfume 1.0 100. 0 Similarly as in Example 1, the admixture was poured int chilled molds.

EXAMPLE 4 An anhydrous stick base was prepared similarly as in Example 1 from the following materials in the indicated proportions: Ingredients Parts By Weight Lanolin Fraction A 5· 0 Lanolin Fraction C 25.0 Ethoxylated Fraction D 20.0 Petrolatum, U.S. P. 15.0 Cholesterol, U.S. P. 20.0 Stearyl Alcohol, U.S. P. 15.0 100.0 This admixture was admixed and milled with calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, calcium thioglycollate and perfume to give a final mixture having the proportions indicated below: Ingredients Parts By Weight Calcium Carbonate (Iron Free) 4.0 Calcium Hydroxide, U.S. P. (Iron Free) 4.0 Strontium Hydroxide, CP (Iron Free) 4.0 Calcium Thioglycollate · 3¾0 17.0 Stick Base 70.0 Perfume 1.0 100.0 Similarly as in Example 1, the admixture was poured into chilled molds.

EXAMPLE 5 An anhydrous stick base was prepared similarly as in Example 1 from the following materials in the indicated proportions: Ingredients Parts By Weight Lanolin Fraction A 15.0 Ethoxylated Fraction D 10.0 Mineral Oil, U.S. P. 25.0 Petrolatum, U.S. P. 25.0 Paraffin, PXT 10.0 Stearyl Alcohol, U.S. P. 15.0 100.0 This admixture was admixed and milled with calcium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, calcium thioglycollate, Duponol C and perfume as described in Example 1 to give a final admixture having the proportions indicated below: Ingredients Parts By Weight Calcium Hydroxide, U.S. P. (Iron Free) 5.0 Strontium Hydroxide, CP (Iron Free) 10.0 Calcium Thioglycollate . 3H20 21.25 Stick Base 61.25 ♦Duponol C, U.S. P. 1.5 Perfume 1.0 100.0 * Duponol C is sodium lauryl sulfate in powder form .

Similarly as in Example 1, the admixture was poured into chilled molds.

EXAMPLE 6 An anhydrous stick base was prepared similarly as in Example 1 from the following materials in the indicated proportions: Ingredients Parts By Weight Lanolin Fraction A 5.0 Lanolin Fraction C 25.0 Ethoxylated Fraction D 20.0 Petrolatum, U.S. P. 15.0 ♦Ozokerite 170 20.0 Stearyl Alcohol, U.S. P. 15.0 100.0 This admixture was admixed and milled with calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, strontium hydroxide, calcium thloglycollate and perfume as described in Example 1 to give a final admixture having the proportions indicated below: Ingredients Parts By Weight Calcium Hydroxide, U.S. P. (iron Free) 4. 0 Calcium Carbonate 4. 0 Strontium Hydroxide, CP (Iron Free) 4 .0 Calcium Thloglycollate · 3H20 17. 0 Stick Base 70.0 Perfume 1.0 100.0 Similarly as in Example 1, the admixture was poured into chilled molds.

EXAMPLE 7 An anhydrous stick base was prepared similarly as in Example 1 from the following materials in the indicated pro- Ingredlents Parts By Weight Lanolin Fraction A 5.0 Lanolin Fraction C 25.0 ♦Lantox 11 o 20.0 Petrolatum, U.S. P. 15. 0 Paraffin, NFXT 20.0 Stearyl Alcohol, U.S. P. 15.0 100.0 * Lantox 110 is an oxyethylated lanolin alcohol fraction.

This admixture was admixed and milled with calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, strontium hydroxide, calcium thloglycollate and perfume as described in Example 1 to give a final admixture having the proportions indicated below: Ingredients Parts by Weight Calcium Hydroxide, U.S. P. (Iron Free) 4.0 Calcium Carbonate 4.0 Strontium Hydroxide, CP (Iron Free) 4.0 Calcium Thioglycollate . 3¾0 17.0 Stick Base 70.0 Perfume 1.0 100.0 Similarly as in Example 1, the admixture was poured into chilled molds.

In the following Examples 8, 9 and 10, the components of the solid stick base include Condensation Products I, II, III and IV which are, respectively, stearyl alcohol condensed with 30 moles of ethylene glycol, a mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohol with 15 moles of ethylene oxide, stearyl alcohol condensed with 30 moles of ethylene oxide, and lauryl alcohol condensed with 40 moles of ethylene oxide. In Examples 9 and 10 the inorganic filler material was a bentonite-inorganic clay which tends to form a gel with water.

EXAMPLE 8 An anhydrous depilatory composition, for use in the production of a depilatory stick in the form of a wrapped pencil, was prepared from the following materials in the indi-cated proportions: Condensation Product I 35 Condensation Product II 35 Calcium Hydroxide 13 Calcium Thioglycollate 17 The condensation products were melted by heating to about 80°C. and the dry powders were mixed in with stirring. The admixture was milled while being cooled to room temperature, i.e., about 20eC, and then extruded into cylindrical lengths about 1/8" in diameter. The extruded lengths were permitted to remain at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours and then were wrapped in a pencil wrapping machine.

This formula gave an active depilation and a satisfactory pH (12.3).

EXAMPLE 9 An anhydrous depilatory composition was prepared similarly as in Example 8 but from the following materials in the indicated proportions: Condensation Product I 30 Condensation Product II 30 Calcium Hydroxide 13 Calcium Thioglycollate 17 Inorganic Filler 10 Titanium Dioxide 5 This formula produced a depilatory stick which was harder than that of Example 8 and was, therefore, more acceptable for use in the formation of the wrapped pencils. The inorganic filler present in this formula was used to assist in making the applied cream adhere to the area of application. The titanium dioxide, as an inert white pigment, adds to the cosmetic elegance of the product and by its opacity sharply defines the area of application.

This formula gave an active depilation at a satisfactory pH and was less irritating than the formula of Example 8.

EXAMPLE 10 An anhydrous depilatory composition was prepared similarly as in Example 8 but from the following materials in the indicated proportions: Condensation Product III 30 Condensation Product IV 30 Calcium Hydroxide 13 Calcium hiogl oollate 17 This formula gave a depilatory stick which was even harder than that of Example 9 and consequently even more acceptable for use in the formation of wrapped pencils. It gave an active depilation and a satisfactory pH.

The depilatory sticks in the form of the pencils of Examples 8, 9 and 10 are used in generally the same manner as the other depilatory sticks of the previous Examples 1 through * except that the pencils are repeatedly dipped in water during application.

As shown by the above examples, the depilatory compositions of this invention can be formed from a wide range of materials so long as they are substantially anhydrous. The various ingredients can be in solid or liquid form provided that the respective proportions of solid and liquid are such as to give a final product having a melting point of at least about o°C. so that they can be shipped in warm climates with-out losing shape. Also the various ingredients and their proportions should be chosen so as to provide a depilatory composition soft enough to dissolve readily when applied to a wetted skin area. Also, the ingredients, especially the surface active materials, should be stable under conditions of rela-tively high alkalinity.

Suitable perfumes are those conventionally employed in cosmetics and soaps and include animal perfumes such as musk, civet, ambergris and castor, as well as vegetable perfumes such as sage, thyme, mint, cinnamon, cassia, cedar, sandal wood, rose, violet, anise, caraway, orris, orange, camphor and myrrh and mixtures thereof.

The anhydrous, solid form depilatory composition of this invention can also be used in the form of a cake together with an applicator brush in the same manner as a cake of shaving soap with a shaving brush. That is, the applicator brush can be wetted with water, used to work up a lather from the cake of solid form depilatory, and then such lather applied to the skin area to be depilated. In other respects, the technique of using the cake form is substantially the same as with the stick form of the depilatory composition, particularly as to timing of applications.

Claims (13)

6# $f& tiiat w¾a we Claim id I

1. Anhydrous, stable depilatory compositions in solid form characterized by the combination of a non-ionic' polyalkenoxy- water-in-oil emulsifier and a solid, inert, organic filler material, together forming a solid base, havin intimately dispersed therein a solid basic material selected from guanidine, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal silicates, alkali metal tribasic phosphates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkaline earth metal silicates, and alkaline earth metal tribasic phosphates, and as the essential active depilating agent, an effective depilating amount of depilating material I known per, se /selected from substituted thiols in which the hydrogen atom in hydrogen sulfide is substituted by an organic residue containing two to four carbon atom's, and including at least one of hydroxyl, ketone, aldehyde, ether, amine, sulfonic acid, car- boxyllc acid and cax-boxylic acid salt groups, the solid basic material being present in an amount sufficient to provide a pH of 10.5 to 12.5 in a saturated aqueous solution of the depilatory composition.

2. A depilatory composition according to claim 1, in which the depilating agent is selected from guanidine thioglycollate, ethylene diamine thioglycollate, alkaline earth metal thioglycollate, alkali metal thioglycollate, guanidine thlolactate, ethylene diamine thiolactate, alkaline earth metal thiolactate or alkali metal thiolactate.

3. A depilatory composition according to claim 1 or 2, in which the filler material includes a sterol.

4. A depilatory composition according to claim 3* in which the sterol is an unsaponl iable lanolin fraction.

5. A depilatory composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the emulsifier is a polyethenoxy surface active agent.

6. A depilatory composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the solid basic material is present in an amount of about 5 to 25 percent by weight based on the final depilatory composition.

7. A depilatory composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the depilating agent is present in an amount of about 10 to 35 percent by weight based on the final depilatory composition.

8. A depilatory composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the solid base contains about 10 to 55 percent by weight of an unsaponifiable lanolin fraction, 10 to 40 percent by weight of the reaction product of an unsaponifiable lanolin fraction and 10 to 40 moles per mole of unsaponifiable lanolin fraction of an alpha-beta alkylene oxide having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and up to 75 percent by weight of a solid, inert, organic filler material.

9. A depilatory composition according to any one of the preceding claims, which contains about 70 percent by weight of the solid base comprising about 30 percent by weight of an unsaponifiable lanolin fraction, about 20 percent by weight of an unsaponifiable lanolin fraction reacted with about 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of lanolin fraction, about 15 per- cent by weight of petrolatum^ about 20 percent by weight of paraffin wax* about 15 percent by weight of stearyl alcohol, and said composition also contains about 4 percent by weight of calcium hydroxide, about 8 percent by weight of strontium hydroxide, about 17 percent by weight of calcium thioglycollate, and 1 percent by weight of perfume.

10. A depilatory composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which contains about 74 percent by weight of the solid base comprising about 30 percent by weight of an unsaponifiable lanolin fraction, about 20 percent by weight of an unsaponifiable lanolin fraction reacted with about 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of lanolin fraction, about 15 percent by weight of petrolatum, about 20 percent by weight of paraffin wax, about 15 percent by weight of stearyl alcohol, and said composition also contains about 4 percent by weight of calcium hydroxide, about 6 percent by weight of strontium hydroxide, about 15 percent by weight of calcium thioglycollate, and 1 percent by weight of perfume.

11. . A depilatory composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the composition is in stick form.

12. . A depilatory composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the composition is in cake form.

13. Anhydrous, stable depilatory compositions in solid form substantially as hereinbefore described. 8th <*ay of £¾