US2393864A - Cream nail polish remover - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 29, 1946 2,393,864 01mm NAIL rousn nmuovan Damon E. Francisco, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation, a corporation of New York g No Drawing. Application Apr-i117, 1942,

Serial No. 439,394

v 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a cream for removing hardened lacquers and similar coatings from finger-nails- The provision of a satisfactory flnger-nail-lacquer remover is not so simple as would appear from a mere statement that a lacquer coating is to be removed. The formulation of a satisfactory nail lacquer remover involves not only the problem of efllciently removing the hardened lacquer coating from the finger-nail but also the problem of preventing the lacquer remover from attacking the finger-nail and theskin surrounding the nail, and of completely removing any elements of the lacquer remover which might prevent a fresh coating of lacquer from adhering to the finger-nail.

The usual finger-nail lacquers are lacquer bases of gums, resins and the like, for instance nitrocellulose, in an appropriate volatile solvent or mixture of solvents, for instance acetone, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate and the like, or mixtures thereof. The usual nail lacquer removers are fluids composed of solvents for the lacquer bases.

When these fluids are applied to the finger-nail, they not only attack the lacquer but also the nail and the skin, withdrawing the natural oil or moisture or both, with the result that the nail and skin become dry, brittle and harsh. If it'be attempted to prevent the lacquer from attacking the nail and skin by the inclusion of inert materials, other problems arise. For instance, if clays, chalk or similar insoluble and solid inerts are incorporated with the fluid lacquer solvents, these materials are merely absorbents which do not release the solvents on the hardened lacquer film. Also, if the inert is a material such as a grease, oil or soap, an emulsion or dispersion is usually made which decreases the eflicacy of the lacquer remover. Furthermore, if an oil or grease, or other non-volatile or water insoluble ingredient, which is incompatible with the lacquer base, be

incorporated, a film remains on the nail when the lacquer remover is wiped off. This film can-' not easily be removed and prevents the firm ad- "herence of a new coat of lacquer. Thus, the in- -corporation of inert materials in. the nail lacquer 'aremover is a disadvantage as, in any event, they decrease the efliciency of the remover both besential constituent of the nail lacquer remover is a solid or semi-solid material which has somewhat of a solvent action for, or-is compatible with, the bases of the nail lacquers, under the conditions of using the cream, thus providing a cream nail lacquer remover. which has the advantages of both a liquid type remover and a paste type remover, without the disadvantages of either. Moreover, the essential ingredient of my nail lacquer remover and that which gives it the cream-like texture, is soluble in, and can completely be removed from the hands merely by,

the use of pure water, thus rendering it unnecessary when cleaning the nails after application of the lacquer remover, to use soap or other agent which may leave a film on the nails and prevent adherence of a new coat of nail lacquer. Furthermore, the essential ingredient in mynail lacquer remover, although an agent assisting in the removal of the lacquer film, is not a solvent for the oils of the skin; and thus the drying action of the nail lacquer remover is materially reduced over previous removers, rendering it unnecessary to incorporate an oil in the lacquer remover to decrease the skin drying action. In the preferred cream nail lacquer remover, the essential ingredient and all other ingredients which are non-volatile under the conditions of use, are compatible with the lacquer bases, thus enabling a new coat of lacquer to be applied to the finger-nail immediately after removing the previous lacquer coating, even though the nails are not washed with water before applying a new coat of lacquer. Various features of the invention, which overcome the disadvantages of the usual nail lacquer removers will be obvious or will be discussed later in this specification, where they will more easily be understood.

An essential ingredient of my cream nail lacquer remover is a normally solid polyethylene glycol of relatively high molecular weight. The compounds may also be referred to as polyoxyethylene glycols. They may be formed by the reaction of ethylene oxide with ethylene glycol in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, and with the degree of addition of the ethylene oxide controlled to produce the molecular size desired. For instance, ethylene oxide may be reacted with ethylene glycol or other alkylene glycol of low molecular weight as a starting material tofgive the polyethylene glycols. When the polyethylene glycols are referred-to as having given molecular weights or average molecular weights, it is understood that the material may be a mixture of polyethylene glycols of different molecular weights. For instance, ethylene glycol has a. molecular weight, in round numbers, of 62 and ,each ethylene oxide radical has a. molecular weight of 44. Polyethylene glycol composed of nineteen ethylene oxide radicals added to one ethylene glycol molecule has a molecular weight of 898. A polyethylene glycol having an average 'molecular weight of 900 may thus be a mixture lar weight of about 900 are normally solid, having a fusion or melting point of about 35 C. to 37 C. For the purposes of this invention; I use a polyglycol composition of the type disclosed herein, containing suflicient oxyethylene radicals to form a normally solid polyethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol compositions having an average molecular weight of at least 900 are preferred.

' The polyethylene glycols having the higher average molecular weights are, at normal temperatures, harder than'those of the lower average molecular weights and have higher melting points. For example, a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of approximately 900 (as determined by the Menzies and Wright method of determining molecular weights, described at page 2314, vol. 43 (1921) of the Journal of the American Chemical Society) has a density of approximately 1.152 g. per c.c. at 20 C., a melting point of approximately 35 C. to 37 C., a viscosity of '78 Saybolt Universal seconds at 210 F. and a flash point of 430 F. A polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of approximately 3500 (as determined by the same method),[has a density of approximately 1.203, a melting point of approximately 50 C.

to 53 C., a viscosity of 418 and a flash point of 535 F., in the unitspreviously stated. A polyethylene glycol, having an average molecular weight of approximately 6000 has a melting point of about 6065 C. The liquid polyethylene glycols have average molecular weights beginning in the neighborhood of 200 and running up to about 500 where they beginto assume the consistency of the 900 molecular weight material previously described. For the purpose ofthis disclosure, the term polyethylene glyco is intended to include the polyoxyethylene glycol compositions indicated; and the term .solid is intended to refer to materials which are semi-solid and will hold their shape at normal temperatures of from approximately 20 C. to 35 C., as distinguished from those which are distinctly liquids and incapable of holding a given shape at these temperatures. Although atsolidpolyethylene glycol is an essential ingredient of the nail lacquer remover, the liquid forms may be incorporated as will later be described.

ing higher average molecular weights are dissolved somewhat like hard soaps. However, the polyethylene glycols are completely soluble in water and the solutions are clear as distinguished from the colloidal solutions which have the opalescent effect produced by soaps. Except in special instances hereinafter referred to, where the liquid polyethylene glycols are used, I prefer to use the polyethylene glycols having average molecular weights between 900 and 6000, as it has been found that these materials can be used, in combination with the other ingredients. hereinafter described, to produce creams of the desired characteristics and yet easily be removed from the nail so that a new. coat of lacquer will firmly hold to the nail, when ltis applied. Also, as they are compatible with the usual bases of nail lacquers,

any film remaining on the finger-nail after the All of these polyethylene glycols may be prepared substantially free from odor and have the property of forming clear, colorless and stable solutions. They are all soluble in the hereinafter described solvents which are also solvents for nitrocellulose and other lacquer bases, and in water. The. polyethylene glycols which have average molecular weights of approximately 900 to 2500 are almost immediately dissolved in water when rubbed between the fingers and those havold lacquer film has been softened and merely wiped off with a cleansing tissue, does not interfere with the adherence of a new coat of lacquer.

In a broad aspect, the invention contemplates the incorporation of the normally solid polyethylene glycols with any of the other usual ingredients of nail lacquer removers, with a cream as the desired end product. The solid polyethylene glycols may be used to replace all or a part of the usual cream-forming inerts in a-cream. The polyethylene glycols will give the bodying effect of the inerts without the disadvantages of the inerts. In addition, the polyethylene glycols also have their own desirable characteristics which lend themselves admirably to use in finger-nail-lacquer removers. For instance, the polyethylene glycols have solvent characteristics with respect to the lacquer bases used in making fiinger-nail lacquers. Thus when a solid polyethylene glycol is used to replace chalk, oil, grease, soap, water or other inert in a fiingernail-lacquer remover, the bodying effect of the polyethylene glycol is obtained, yet the inefliciency imparted to the said lacquer remover by the inert, is overcome. Furthermore, the polyethylene glycols do not make the skin and fingernails dry, rough or harsh as they do not remove natural moisture or oils from the skin and nails; in fact, they have an emollient actionon the skin and nails. Thus, the polyethylene glycols may replace the oils which are frequently used in finger-nail lacquer removers as emmolients and, whereas the oils, whether emulsified or not, due

to their non-solvent characteristics for the lacof the polyethylene glycols, I am enabled, by the addition of a single material to a liquid lacquer solvent, to form a cream, eliminate materials which decrease the effectiveness of the lacquer remover, eliminate or at least decrease the drying or harshening action or embrittlement of the nails and skin frequently obtained by the use of a lacquer solvent, provide an emollient, and em able the finger-nails to be cleaned of the lacquer remover by the use merely of water. Th particular polyethylene glycol to be-used will depend somewhat; upon the manufacturer's preference as to whether he wishes to produce a stiffer or a more fluent cream, as well as his preference in the matter of including inerts. The solid polyethylene glycols of the higher molecular weights are to be used when the other ingredients of the cream are liquids and when a stiffer cream is desired. The solid polyethylene glycols of the lower molecular weights are to be used when the other ingredients of the cream include solids and when a more fluent cream is desired. The creamsmay vary in consistency from a brushable thin cream to a fairly heavy cream whichis just spreadable.

The lacquer removing cream will include as a second ingredient, a liquid solvent for the lacquer base. Examples of such ingredients are: acetates, for instance butyl acetate; ketones, for instance acetone; ketone alcohols, for instance diacetone alcohol; solvent ethers or ether alcohols, for instance ethylene glycol monomethyl ether; and solvent lactates, for instance ethyl lactate. Solvents which include carbon-containing ring groups may also be used; for instance ethylene glycol monophenyl ether or ethylene glycol monobenzyl ether may be used instead of, or in admixwhich evaporates readily between 50 C. and. 100,

C. or lower, and another which is a relatively nonvolatile solvent, that is, one which evaporates between 120 C. and 200 C. or higher. The polyethylene glycols will decrease the rate of evaporation of all the solvents and thus increase the efficiency of the lacquer remover from this point of view. The polyethylene glycols also increase the efficiency of the lacquer remover because they have a solvent action on the lacquer film and they do not (as does an inert) decrease the solvent efficiency of the other solvents. The thinly fluid solvent, which is usually the most volatile, readily attacks and softens the hardened lacquer film and carries in the heavier solvents. The readily volatile solvents may evaporate from the fingernail rather quickly after the cream is applied but the less volatile solvents remain on the nail and, with the substantially non-evaporable polyethylene glycol, keep the lacquer base in a fluent condition so that the mass may easily be wiped from the nail. e

The previously described ingredients, that is the solid polyethylene glycol and the liquid solvent for the lacquer base, eifectively cooperate to produce an effective and desirable remover for the lacquer film which is on the finger-nail. The polyethylene glycol is, as previously stated, somewhat of a solvent for the lacquer base and it is quite an effective solvent when combined with the liquid solvent. However, it is not a solvent for the natural oils of the skin and finger-nail and thus, while it assists in removing the lacquer base from the finger-nail, it decreases the effect of the liquid solvent in removing the natural oils and thus decreases the embrittlement of the finget-nail and the harshening of the skin. Also, because of' their solvent effect on the lacquer base, the polyethylene glycols enable a cream lacquer base remover to be prepared which, as compared with other creams, either is more eflicient in its action or does less harm to the skin and nail, or both. If two creams are compared, each having the same amount of the same liquid lacquer-base remover, but one containing the polyethylene glycol and the other containing an inert, the cream containing the. polyethylene glycol will soften the lacquer base more quickly than the other and will do less harm to the skin and finger-nail; also, if two creams are prepared which soften the lacquer base with about the same speed, one cream containing a polyethylene glycol and the other not, the cream containing the polyethylene glycol will do very much less harm to the skin and finger-nail. This action is obtained because the polyethylene glycols are both a solvent for the lacquer base and a nonsolvent for the natural oils of the skin.

The preferred cream prepared in accordance with this invention comprises only solvent and solute. The solvent is stable and the solute is stable. Also the system is stable being a saturated solution of the solute in the solvent, carrying additional solute. Both the solvent and solute are compatible with the base of the finger-nail lacquer. This composition is distinct from a cream formed merely by thickening a liquid by means of an insoluble inert, for instance chalk, in. that it possesses perfect volumetric homogeneity, that is, the mass is homogeneous in each unit of volume; it is also distinct from a cream formed by preparing an emulsion with water (an inert) in that it contains no inerts and is stable whereas an emulsion is subject to breaking and separation of the components.

In case a mixture of solvents is used, one or more of the ingredients of the solvent combination may be included for its special effect. For this purpose, in a remover for the lacquer base, a quantity of a liquid polyethylene glycol may be substituted for a portion of, for instance, acetone. The liquid polyethylene glycol is a solvent for the solid polyethylene glycol and attacks the lacquer base more readily than the solid polyethylene glycol but does not attack the lacquer base so readily as does acetone. However, the liquid polyethylene glycol does not attack the oils in the skin and finger-nail as does acetone. To obtain a liquid polyethylene glycol, the addition of the ethylene oxide radicals to the alkylene glycols of low molecular weight, previously described, may be stopped while the polyethylene glycols are of such low molecular weight (for instance, from 200 to 500 molecular weight) that they are liquid at normal room temperatures. The less the addition of the ethylene oxide radicals, the more fluid is the polyethylene glycol and the more pronounced are its solvent properties for the solid polyethylene glycols. Many different solvent combinations may be made.

In th preferred cream, one'of the solvents has such hygroscopic characteristics that it will draw moisture from the air without drawing the body moisture and oil from the skin. Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether has proven eminently satisfactory although other alkyl ethers of diethylene glycol may be used; for instance the diethylene glycol monomethyl ether and the butyl ether as well as other homologues may be used. These substances have a soothing or emollient effect upon the skin, are water soluble, solvents for the nail lacquer bases and mutual solvents for the polyethylene glycols and the different liquid lacquer solvents previously mentioned. These solvents are of particular advantage in a nail lacquer remover which contains no inert water or oil as they are solvents for the lacquer films and they withdraw moisture from the air instead of from the skin. Furthermore, their volatility at room temperatureis such that they may .be classed as relatively non-volatile solvents, their volatilities being greater than those of the polyethylene glycols and less than, for instance, acetone. As the said ethers are liquids, they decrease the consistency of the creams to which the are added and this factor should be considered in connection with their use. Thus, with a cream having a given consistency and comprising, for instance, a given normally solid polyethylene glycol and acetone, the addition of the ether may be used to decrease the consistency and the skin drying effect of the cream, or the substitution of the ether for a part of the acetone may decrease the skin drying effect of the cream while maintaining the former consistency. The incorporation of the ethers may also be used to permit the incorporation of harder and longer chained polyethylene glycols while maintaining the cream at the former consistency. A further advantage of the ethers isthat, in the creams herein described, they produce a smoother cream.

Representative nail lacquer removing creams may have the following compositions:

Example 1.One hundred parts by weight of a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of approximately 3500 and a melting point from about 50 C. to 53 C., are melted; and into the melted mass are slowly poured, with stirring, 100 parts by Weight of a mixed solvent which, in this case, is composed of 486 parts by weight of ethyl acetate and 180 parts by weight of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether. The solvent may be at normal room temperature when added to the melted mass. The mixture is maintained at a temperature sufilciently high to prevent any crystallization of the-polyethylene glycol and to allow its solution in the solvent. When this is accomplished, the mixture is cooled, with continuous stirring, until a cream is obtained. External cooling is usually required to start crystallization and produce a cream. However, the cooling is preferably slow enough and with sufficient stirring to produce the formation of very small crystals and yield a smooth cream. The temperature of the polyethylene glycol, during the introduction of the solvent, is preferably maintained at the minimum necessary to allow solution of the polyethylene glycol in the solvent. The stirring is preferably continued until the composition has reached room temperature.

Example 2.Fifty parts by weight of a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of approximately 6000 and a melting point from about 60 C. to 65 C., are melted; and into the melted mass are slowly poured 200 parts by weight of the mixed solvent of Example 1, with the stirring and cooling described in Example 1.

When first made the composition of Example 1 was a soft cream and the composition of Example 2 was a very soft cream. However, after aging for approximately two months by standing in a closed container, both compositions had substantially the same desirable consistency for packaging in collapsible tubes. The creams were easily extrudable and spreadable, but were not "runny."

Example 3.A'cream was made by melting together 40 parts by weight of the polyethylene glycol of Example 2, and 10 parts by weight of a polyethylene glyco1 having an average molecular weight of approximately 900 and a melting point from about 35 C. to- 37 C. Into the mixed polyethylene glycols were then incorporated 200 parts of the solvent mixture of Example 1, in the manner stated in Example 1. The aged mixture wasa slightly softer cream than that of Example 2.

Example 4.--A cream was made by melting 84 parts by weight of the polyethylene glycol of Example 1. Into this were slowly incorporated 30 parts by weight of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (B. P. 201.9 C. at 760 mm), while the mass was stirred. While the stirring was continued 87 parts by weight of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (B. P. 125 C.) were incorporated and then 48 parts by weight of acetone (B. P. 56.l C.). When the liquids are incorporated separately, it is preferred that those of the higher boiling points be incorporated first.

Example 5.--A cream was made by melting 84 parts by weight of the polyethylene glycol of Example 1. To this were successively. added 45 parts by weightof diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and 122 parts by weight of ethyl acetate (B. P. 77.1 C.)

The creams of Examples 4 and 5 were quite thin when freshly made but the viscosity increased with aging to give medium heavy creams of substantially the same consistency. The creams of the foregoing examples are rather fast in their action. They soften a hardened film of nitrocellulose lacquer on the finger-nail in about 5 to 7 seconds.

Example 6.-A cream was made by melting together 20 parts and '5 parts by weight respectively of the polyethylene glycols of Example 3 and with these 25 parts of mixed polyethylene glycols were incorporated parts by weight of a mixed solvent composed of 30 parts by weight of ethyl acetate, 8 parts of butyl acetate, 10 parts of ethyl lactate, 13.5 parts of anhydrous ethanol and 13.5 parts of solvent naphtha. *The solvent naphtha was used merely as a diluent. The cream, upon cooling and aging, had a moderately heavy consistency, that is it was fairly heavy but still tubable. The cream was fairly slow in action requiring about '7 to-10 seconds to loosen the hardened lacquer film from the finger-nail.

Example 7.A cream was made by melting 70 parts by weight of the polyethylene glycol of Example 1, then adding 70 parts of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (B. P. 132152 C.) and 60 parts of acetone with stirring and cooling. The aged composition was a cream of moderate consistency.

Example 8.A cream was made by melting 50 parts by weight of the polyethylene g col of Example 1 and adding 50 parts of acetone. The mass was cooled while being stirred. Ethyl acetate may be substituted for the acetone. After aging, the cream was fairly heavy. A fairly soft cream may be made by using about 17 parts of the said polyethylene glycol with 50 parts of acetone, or decreasing still further the amount of said polyethylene glycol and using in combination therewith the 900 molecular weight polyalkylene glycol. The creams of Examples '7 and 8 are of the fast action type.

In general, a composition which contains less than 60% of active solvent is of the slow action type. In considering solvents (and diluents if they be used) it should be borne in mind that a cream of the type described i not merely an emulsion,

or an otherwise fluid mass thickened with insoluble materials. The properties of the liquid lacquer solvent should therefore be considered with respect to the polyethylene glycol and any other ingredients of the composition, having in mind that the composition must loosen the hardened lacquer film from the finger-nail in a reasonably short time and from thi point of view the best lacquer solvent should be used, that the polyethylene glycols assistthe liquid lacquer solvents in loosening the lacquer film, that the desideratum is a composition having the least amount of drying action on the nails and skin and therefore is one using the least amount of an active drying solvent such as acetone, that the ethylene glycols do not have a drying action on the skin, and that the cream prepared according to the present invention can be formed most readily and with the least amount of polyethylene glycol (or, conversely, with the greatest amount of solvent) the poorer the solvent is forthe polyethylene glycol (or, conversely, the less the amount of the glycol which is soluble in the solvent) It is difficult to give examples of all possible combinations of the polyethylene glycols and solvents but the principles upon which variations are based may be stated. If no inerts are present, the cream is a saturated solution of the polyethylene glycol in acetone'or other solvent, the mass carrying additional polyethylene glycol. In general, the higher the molecular weight, the harder is the polyethylene glycol and the less is required to make a cream with any given solvent. Therefore, starting with a cream composed of a solid polyethylene glycol (for instance, a material having an average molecular weight of 3500) and a solvent (for instance, acetone) and having a given consistency, the consistency may be increased by increasing the amount of the solid polyethylene glycol or by using a polyethylene glycol of a higher molecular weight or by using a poorer solvent (for instance, ethyl acetate) for the polyethylene glycol. The consistency may be decreased by reversing these factors. The skin-drying action of the cream may be decreased by increasing the amount of polyethylene glycol or by incorporating a lacquer solvent which has less skin drying ac tion, for instance the diethylene glycol ethers previously described. The solvent action of the compositions may be increased by increasing the amount of solvent and using a higher molecular weight polyethylene glycol to maintain the same consistency of the cream, if this be desired.

The creams made according to the previous description have all of the advantages of the usual cream, for instance, they are more convenient to carry and to use than liquid products and they are less likely to be spilled than are liquids; but they also have advantages which are due to their composition, in that the creams may be made without the use of such inerts as have heretofore been considered necessary to form creams and to decrease the skin drying effect of the lacquer remover, and any residue of my cream can easily be removed from the hands by the mere application of water. My creams are more efilcient than the usual creams. This is due to a combination of factors. It is found that the polyethylene glycol exerts a spreading effect on the solvent, which assists in the application of the composition. The solid polyethylene glycol reduces the amount of solvent needed and the solvent which is present is very effective in attacking the lacquer film because the polyethylene 'glycol tends tohold it and prevent its evaporation. Also, although the essential polyethylene glycol is a solid at normal room temperatures, when it is applied to the hardened lacquer film in connection with a liquid lacquer solvent, the liquid solvent attacks the lacquer film and so liquefies or softens it that the lacquer film is dissolved or absorbed by the polyethylene glycol. Moreover, due to the absence of inerts, the lacquer solvent is not diluted and its solvent efiect is not diminished. This does not mean, however, that any of the usual inerts'cannot be incorporated, if desired. To lessen the cost of the cream, one may, for instance, incorporate acetone and a solid inert filler with suflicient solid polyethylene glycol to give a cream. Depending upon the amount of the filler, the polyethylene glycol and the acetone may form a saturated solution or an unsaturated solution or the cream may carry more of the solid polyethylene glycol than is sufficient to form a saturated solution. But the inclusion of any inert is not recommended as it renders the cream less efllcient. Also, if the inerts are such that they have to be emulsified or dispersed in the cream, there i always the possibility that the emulsion or dispersion may break, giving a cream of poor quality. But, if desired, one may include for instance, water or toluene or any other material to decrease the consistency or cost of the cream, or may include soap or grease or solid incrts and the like to increase the consistency, or may include grease or oil further to decrease the skin drying action of the lacquer solvents. My invention is not to be limited, therefore, to a cream which contains no inerts and it may be necessary, for sale promotion, to include perfumes, coloring materials and the like.

I claim: a

1. A composition in cream form eflective in removing from finger nails the hardened coatings of finger-nail lacquer, the composition essentially comprising a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of at least about 500 and a liquid solvent for said hardened coatings, the composition containing sufiicient of said solvent to remove said coatings from the finger nails in conjunction with said glycol.

2. A composition in cream form efiective in removing from finger nails the hardened coatings of .finger-nail lacquer, the composition essentially comprising a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of at least about 500 and a liquid which is a mutual solvent for said glycol and for said hardened coatings, the composition containing sufiicient of said solvent to remove said coatings from the finger nails in conjunction with said glycol.

3. A composition in cream form effective in removing from finger nails the hardened coatings of finger-nail lacquer, the composition essentially comprising a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight from about 500m about 6,000 and a liquid solvent for said hardened coatin s, the composition containing sufilcient of said solvent to remove said coatings from the finger nails in conjunction with said glycol.

4. A composition in cream form efiective in removing from finger nails the hardened coatings of finger-nail lacquer, the composition essentially comprising a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of at least about 500 and a water-soluble liquid solvent for said hardened coatings, the composition being free of water-insoluble ingredients and containing suflicient 01' said solvent to remove said coatings from the finger-nail lacquer, the composition essentially comprising a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight or at least about 500 and a liquid solvent for said hardened coatings, there being at least approximately 20% by weight of said glycol based on the combined weight of said glycol and solvent and sumcient combined glycol and solvent to remove said coatin s from the 1 fin er nails.

6. A composition in cream form eflective in removing irom finger nails the hardened coatings of finger-nail lacquer. the composition essentially comprising between about 20 parts and 50 parts by weight of a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of at least about 500 and between about 80 parts and 50 parts by weight of a solvent for said hardened coatings, there being sufllcient combined glycol and solvent to remove 1 said coatings from the finger nails.

DAMON E. FRANCISCO.