WO2021104844A1

WO2021104844A1 - Cleansing composition

Info

Publication number: WO2021104844A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/081542
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Waters; Carrie Ann DROZDOWSKI; Anne Marie Brangi; Tyler Christian HOUGH
Original assignee: Unilever Ip Holdings B.V.; Unilever Global Ip Limited; Conopco, Inc., D/B/A Unilever
Priority date: 2019-11-26
Filing date: 2020-11-09
Publication date: 2021-06-03

Abstract

A cleansing composition comprises: 5 to 25% by weight of an anionic surfactant, 3 to 10% by weight of a zwitterionic surfactant; and 0.5 to 25% by weight of a thickening agent. A ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant is about 0.75 to about 1.25. The ratio preferably is about 0.85 to about 1.0. The ratio more preferably is about 0.9 to about 1.0. A method of cleansing hair is accomplished with the cleansing composition and a method of cleansing skin is accomplished with the cleansing composition.

Description

CLEANSING COMPOSITION

Field of the invention Disclosed herein is a cleansing composition. The cleansing composition comprises an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, and a thickening agent. A ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant is about 0.75 to about 1.25. For example, a ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant is 0.75 to 1.25. Background of the invention

Children can be notoriously difficult to clean. Various bath toys have been introduced to distract children to enable parents to cleanse their children more easily while in the bathtub or shower. One popular, non-bathing related toy for children is slime. Slime generally has properties of both solids and liquids. Like a solid, slime can be formed into a ball and keep its shape. However, slime contains over 90% water and can flow like a liquid. It can be desirable to provide a cleansing composition that will entice children to want to clean themselves. Cleansing compositions are generally formulated with various surfactants that produce large amounts of foam to clean the hair and/or skin of excess sebum and dirt. Anionic surfactants can remove natural protective oils from the skin and hair, leaving the skin and/or hair feeling dry, bristly, and/or tangled. After cleansing, a conditioning agent can be applied to the skin and/or hair to remove the dry and bristly feeling as well as to untangle the hair. Cleansing compositions that cleanse both the skin and hair as well as leaving the skin and hair feeling soft, silky, and/or smooth are continually desired.

U.S. Patent No. 6,770,607 discloses hair shampoos and body wash gels having a consistency such that they jiggle like gelatin and can also hold a shape. The compositions can be molded into various solid shapes such as ducks, fish, birds, etc. A ratio of anionic to amphoteric surfactant is 1 :3.

U.S. Patent No. 6,426,326 discloses liquid cleansing compositions in lamellar phase which possess a lotion-like appearance conveying signals of enhanced moisturization. However, these liquids often undergo an irreversible decrease in viscosity under freeze/thaw conditions, losing their moisturization signals. The use of low salt levels in amphoteric and anionic surfactants in a structured liquid product has been found to improve its freeze/thaw stability.

U.S. Patent No. 6,566,313 discloses shampoo and/or body wash compositions used to cleanse and condition the skin and/or hair treated with the composition. The composition contains a special conditioning complex and an anionic surfactant. The conditioning complex surprisingly enhances the quality and/or quality of foam produced by the anionic surfactant.

U.S. Patent No. 5,683,683 discloses a body wash composition comprising an anionic surfactant, a polymeric cationic conditioning compound, and a quaternized phosphate ester, in an aqueous carrier. The composition contains an anionic surfactant and substantive cationic conditioning agents to both cleanse and condition the skin in a single application of the composition to the skin. The composition demonstrates stability with respect to resisting phase separation and thereby eliminates the need for an amphoteric or nonionic surfactant in the composition.

Thus, it is continually desired to provide a cleansing composition that not only entices children to want to clean themselves, but also cleanses both the skin and hear while leaving the skin and hair feeling soft, silky, and/or smooth.

Summary of the invention

Disclosed, in various embodiments, are cleansing compositions. The cleansing compositions can comprise an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, and a thickening agent. A ratio of the anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant can be about 0.75 to about 1.25, or 0.75 to 1.25. Preferably, the ratio can be about 0.85 to about 1.0, or 0.85 to 1.0. More preferably, the ratio can be about 0.9 to about 1.0, or 0.9 to 1.0.

The above described and other features and characteristics are exemplified by the following detailed description. Detailed description of the invention

Disclosed herein is a cleansing composition. The cleansing composition can include an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, and a thickening agent. A ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant can be about 0.75 to about 1.25, for example, 0.75 to 1.25. Preferably, the ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant can be about 0.85 to about 1.0, for example, 0.85 to 1.0. More preferably, the ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant can be about 0.9 to about 1.0, for example, 0.9 to 1.0. The cleansing composition can form a gel-like consistency. For example, the cleansing composition with the above-described ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant can be formed into a shape and hold that shape temporarily. The cleansing composition can also flow like a liquid. The cleansing composition therefore behaves similarly to slime. Slime generally contains water integrated into a solid network of polymer chains that are cross-linked, forming a gel-like substance. Slime can be sticky, slippery, and wet, making it a desirable consistency for young, curious children, especially if they are encouraged to play with it and use it to cleanse their hair and/or body.

Mixed surfactant solutions are used in a varying rage of industrial and consumer products. The flow properties of such systems affect the manufacturing process, package selection, and consumer perception of the products. The surfactants used in the cleansing compositions disclosed herein can arrange themselves into different microstructures and can also exhibit viscoelastic properties.

Cosmetic cleansers, such as shampoos and body wash liquids can include surfactant systems that are in a micellar region. Such systems include elongated and rod-like micelles, which exhibit entangled polymer-like flow behavior because of their length and flexibility. The viscoelastic behavior of these cosmetic cleansers can be described by the Maxwell model. Micellar solutions that behave like Maxwell fluids can be represented by a single shear modulus (Go) and a single structure relaxation time constant. For systems that deviate from the Maxwell model, of which are some cosmetic cleansers, the viscoelastic response cannot be represented by a single shear modulus (Go) or a singular structural relaxation time. Cosmetic cleansers in the micellar phase all exhibit a G’/G” crossover frequency, oo_h, where G’ (elastic modulus) is equal to G” (loss modulus). Below the crossover frequency, G’ is lower than G” and above the crossover frequency, G’ is larger than G” and is approximately equal to Go. For the Maxwell model, the crossover frequency (can be related to the structural relaxation in Equation (1):

T=1/co_h (1)

And the G’ at the crossover frequency G’_c, can be related to Go in Equation (2):

Go=2G’_C’. (2)

These viscoelastic parameters (G’, G” and oo_h) can be determined using dynamic oscillatory measurement. When discussed herein, the measurements were made by a Rheometric ARES rheometer with a 25 millimeter (mm) cone and plate geometry. The cone angle was 0.1 radians and the gap was 0.051 mm. The measurement was made a temperature of 25°C. An angular frequency range of 0.01 to 125 radians per second (rad/s) was applied to the surfactant solutions at 10% strain, which is in the linear viscoelastic region. G’ at 63 rad/s was measured to compare the compositions disclosed herein to other non-Maxwell behavior surfactant systems. Such a comparison is valid for many cosmetic cleansers that exhibit Maxwell behavior because the G’ at the high frequency region tends towards the plateau value, Go. Many micellar phase cosmetic cleansers have G’h smaller than 400 Pascals (Pa) and oo_h greater than 10 rad/s. Low elasticity contributions and high oo_h allow liquid cleanser to pour out of a container at a consumer approved rate.

A high oo_h means that the structural relaxation time is small, which implies that the time scale it takes for the cleanser to change from solid-like behavior to liquid is short and essentially the cleanser will flow like a conventional liquid. On the other hand, a low oo_h implies a longer time scale for the cleanser to change from solid-like to liquid, which allows the cleanser to retain its shape shortly after being dispensed from a container.

The cleansing compositions disclosed herein have a crossover frequency (oo_h) of 2.5 to 6 rad/s, preferably 3.0 to 5 rad/s, more preferably 3.25 to 3.50 rad/s when measured according to the parameters set forth above. A preferred crossover frequency can be 3.25 to 3.35 rad/s. For example, the crossover frequency can be greater than 3 radians per second, preferably greater than 3.1 radians per second, more preferably greater than 3.2 radians per second. The cleansing compositions disclosed herein have an elastic modulus of 250 Pa to 750 Pa, preferably 300 Pa to 600 Pa, more preferably 525 Pa to 575 Pa.

It was unexpectedly discovered that the cleansing composition disclosed herein having a ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant of about 0.75 to about 1.25, for example, about 0.85 to about 1.0, for example, about 0.9 to about 1.0, for example 0.75 to 1.25, 0.85 to 1.0, or 0.9 to 1.0, has a consistency and flow such that it feels and looks like slime, thereby enticing a child to play with it while taking a shower/bath thereby cleaning himself/herself in the process.

The anionic surfactant disclosed herein can be present in the cleansing composition in an amount of 5 to 25% by weight, preferably 6 to 15% by weight, more preferably 6.5 to 10% by weight. As to the anionic surfactant present in the cleansing composition of the present application, the anionic surfactant used can include aliphatic sulfonates, such as a primary alkane (e.g., C8-C22) sulfonate, primary alkane (e.g., C8-C22) disulfonate, Cs- C22 alkene sulfonate, C8-C22 hydroxyalkane sulfonate or alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonate (AGS); or aromatic sulfonates such as alkyl benzene sulfonate. The anionic may also be an alkyl sulfate (e.g., C12-C18 alkyl sulfate) or alkyl ether sulfate (including alkyl glyceryl ether sulfates). Among the alkyl ether sulfates are those having the formula:

R0(CH₂CH₂0)_nS0₃M wherein R is an alkyl or alkenyl having 8 to 18 carbons, preferably 12 to 18 carbons, n has an average value of at least 1.0, preferably less than 5, and most preferably 1 to 4, and M is a solubilizing cation such as sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium.

The anionic surfactant may also be alkyl sulfosuccinates (including mono- and dialkyl, e.g., C6-C22 sulfosuccinates); alkyl and acyl taurates (often methyl taurates), alkyl and acyl sarcosinates, sulfoacetates, C8-C22 alkyl phosphates and phosphonates, alkyl phosphate esters and alkoxyl alkyl phosphate esters, acyl lactates, C8-C22 monoalkyl succinates and maleates, sulphoacetates, alkyl glucosides and acyl isethionates, and the like. Sulfosuccinates may be monoalkyl sulfosuccinates having the formula:

R¹0₂CCH₂CH(S0₃M)C0₂M ; and amide-MEA sulfosuccinates of the formula:

R¹C0NHCH₂CH₂0₂CCH₂CH(S0₃M)C0₂M wherein R¹ ranges from Ce-C₂₂ alkyl.

Sarcosinates are generally indicated by the formula:

R²C0N(CH₃)CH₂C0₂M, wherein R² ranges from Ce-C₂o alkyl.

Taurates are generally identified by formula:

R³C0NR⁴CH₂CH₂S0₃M wherein R³ is a Ce-C₂o alkyl, R⁴ is a C1-C4 alkyl.

M is a solubilizing cation as previously described.

The cleansing composition disclosed herein may contain Ce-Cie acyl isethionates. These esters are prepared by a reaction between alkali metal isethionate with mixed aliphatic fatty acids having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms and an iodine value of less than 20. At least 75% of the mixed fatty acids have from 12 to 18 carbon atoms and up to 25% have from 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

The acyl isethionate may be an alkoxylated isethionate such as is described in llardi et al. , U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,466, entitled "Fatty Acid Esters of Polyalkoxylated isethonic acid; issued Feb. 28, 1995; hereby incorporated by reference. This compound has the general formula:

R⁵C— (0)0— C(X)H— C(Y)H— (OCH2— CH₂)_m— SOsM wherein R⁵ is an alkyl group having 8 to 18 carbons, m is an integer from 1 to 4, X and Y are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbons and M is a solubilizing cation as previously described.

In an embodiment of the cleansing composition, the anionic surfactant used is 2- acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium perfluorononanoate, potassium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium laurate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium stearate, sodium sulfosuccinate esters, or a combination thereof. Such anionic surfactants are commercially available from suppliers like Galaxy Surfactants, Clariant, Sino Lion, Stepan Company, and Innospec.

Optionally, amphoteric surfactants can be included in the cleansing compositions disclosed herein. Amphoteric surfactants (which depending on pH can be zwitterionic) include sodium acyl amphoacetates, sodium acyl amphopropionates, disodium acyl amphodiacetates and disodium acyl amphodipropionates where the acyl (i.e., alkanoyl group) can comprise a C7-C18 alkyl portion. Illustrative examples of amphoteric surfactants include sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium cocoamphoacetate and mixtures thereof.

The zwitterionic surfactant disclosed herein can be present in the cleansing composition in an amount of 3 to 10% by weight, preferably 4 to 8% by weight, more preferably 5 to 7% by weight. In an embodiment, the zwitterionic surfactant is present in an amount of greater than 5% by weight. As to the zwitterionic surfactants employed in the present cleansing composition, such surfactants include at least one acid group. Such an acid group may be a carboxylic or a sulphonic acid group. They include often include quaternary nitrogen, and therefore, can be quaternary amino acids. They should generally include an alkyl or alkenyl group of 7 to 18 carbon atoms generally comply with an overall structural formula:

R⁶— [— C(O)— NH(CH₂)q— ]r-N⁺— (R⁷— )(R⁸)A— B where R⁷ is alkyl or alkenyl of 7 to 18 carbon atoms; R⁷and R⁸ are each independently alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or carboxyalkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms; q is 2 to 4; r is 0 to 1; A is alkylene of 1 to 3 carbon atoms optionally substituted with hydroxyl, and B is --CO2-- or -SO3-.

Desirable zwitterionic surfactants for use in the cleansing composition disclosed herein and within the above general formula include simple betaines of formula:

R⁶-N⁺-(R⁷)(R⁸)CH₂C0₂ ^· and amido betaines of formula:

R⁶ C0NH(CH₂)_t"N⁺ (R⁷)(R⁸)CH₂C0₂- where t is 2 or 3.

In both formulae R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are as defined previously. R⁶ may, in particular, be a mixture of Ci₂ and CM alkyl groups derived from coconut oil so that at least half, preferably at least three quarters of the groups R⁶ have 10 to 14 carbon atoms. R⁷ and R⁸ are preferably methyl.

A further possibility is that the zwitterionic surfactant is a sulphobetaine of formula:

R⁶ ~N⁺ (R⁷)(R⁸)(CH₂)₃SC>3 or

R⁶-CONH(CH₂)_{U ~}N⁺-(R⁷)(R⁸)(CH₂)₃SC>3- where u is 2 or 3, or variants of these in which --(CH₂)3SC>3 is replaced by -- CH₂C(0H)(H)CH₂S0₃-.

In these formulae, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are as previously defined.

Illustrative examples of the zwitterionic surfactants desirable for use include betaines like cocodimethyl carboxymethyl betaine, cocoamidopropyl betaine and laurylamidopropyl betaine. An additional zwitterionic surfactant suitable for use includes cocoamidopropyl sultaine. Preferred zwitterionic surfactants include lauryl betaine, betaine citrate, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, carboxymethyl)dimethyl-3-[(1 -oxododecyl) amino] propylammonium hydroxide, coco alkyldimethyl betaines, (carboxymethyl) dimethyloleylammonium hydroxide, cocoamidopropyl betaine, (carboxylatomethyl) dimethyl(octadecyl)ammonium, or a combination thereof. Such surfactants are made commercially available from suppliers like Stepan Company, Solvay, Evonik and the like and it is within the scope of the cleansing compositions disclosed herein to employ mixtures of the aforementioned surfactants.

Nonionic surfactants may optionally be used in the cleansing composition. When used, nonionic surfactants are typically used at levels as low as 0.5, 1 , 1.5 or 2% by weight and at levels as high as 6, 8, 10 or 12% by weight. The nonionics which may be used include in particular the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkylphenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene oxide. Specific nonionic surfactant compounds are alkyl (C6-C22) phenols ethylene oxide condensates, the condensation products of aliphatic (Cs-Cis) primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. Other nonionic surfactants include long chain tertiary amine oxides, long chain tertiary phosphine oxides, dialkyl sulphoxides, and the like.

In an embodiment, nonionic surfactants can include fatty acid/alcohol ethoxylates having the following structures a) H0CH₂(CH₂)_s(CH₂CH₂0)_v H or b) H00C(CH₂)_c(CH₂CH₂0)_d H; where s and v are each independently an integer up to 18; and c and d are each independently an integer from 1 or greater. In an embodiment of the invention, s and v are each independently 6 to 18; c and d are each independently 1 to 30. Other options for nonionic surfactants include those having the formula HOOC(CH2)i-CH=CH-- (CH₂)_k(CH₂CH₂0)_z H, where i, k are each independently 5 to 15; and z is 5 to 50. In another embodiment of the invention, i and k are each independently 6 to 12; and z is 15 to 35.

The nonionic may also include a sugar amide, such as a polysaccharide amide. Specifically, the surfactant may be one of the lactobionamides described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,279 to Au et al. , entitled "Compositions Comprising Nonionic Glycolipid Surfactants issued Feb. 14, 1995; which is hereby incorporated by reference or it may be one of the sugar amides described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,814 to Kelkenberg, titled "Use of N-Poly Hydroxyalkyl Fatty Acid Amides as Thickening Agents for Liquid Aqueous Surfactant Systems" issued Apr. 23, 1991; hereby incorporated into the subject application by reference.

In an embodiment, cationic surfactants may optionally be used in the cleansing composition of the present application.

One class of cationic surfactants includes heterocyclic ammonium salts such as cetyl or stearyl pyridinium chloride, alkyl amidoethyl pyrrylinodium methyl sulfate, and lapyrium chloride.

Tetra alkyl ammonium salts are another useful class of cationic surfactants suitable for use. Examples include cetyl or stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride or bromide; hydrogenated palm or tallow trimethylammonium halides; behenyl trimethyl ammonium halides or methyl sulfates; decyl isononyl dimethyl ammonium halides; ditallow (or distearyl) dimethyl ammonium halides, and behenyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

Still other types of cationic surfactants that may be used are the various ethoxylated quaternary amines and ester quats. Examples include PEG-5 stearyl ammonium lactate (e.g., Genamin KSL manufactured by Clariant), PEG-2 coco ammonium chloride, PEG- 15 hydrogenated tallow ammonium chloride, PEG 15 stearyl ammonium chloride, dipalmitoyl ethyl methyl ammonium chloride, dipalmitoyl hydroxyethyl methyl sulfate, and strearyl amidopropyl dimethylamine lactate.

Still other useful cationic surfactants include quaternized hydrolysates of silk, wheat, and keratin proteins, and it is within the scope of the invention to use mixtures of the aforementioned cationic surfactants.

If used, cationic surfactants will make up no more than 1.0% by weight of the cleansing composition. When present, cationic surfactants typically make up from 0.01 to 0.7%, and more typically, from 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of the cleansing composition, including all ranges subsumed therein.

The cleansing composition disclosed herein can further include a thickening agent in an amount of 0.5 to 2.5% by weight, preferably 0.75 to 2.0% by weight, more preferably 1.0 to 1.5% by weight. Particularly useful are the polysaccharides. Examples include fibers, starches, natural/synthetic gums and cellulosics. Representative of the starches are chemically modified starches such as sodium hydroxypropyl starch phosphate and aluminum starch octenylsuccinate. Tapioca starch is often preferred, as is maltodextrin. Suitable gums include xanthan, sclerotium, pectin, karaya, arabic, agar, guar (including Acacia Senegal guar), carrageenan, alginate and combinations thereof. Suitable cellulosics include hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, sodium carboxy methylcellulose (cellulose gum/carboxymethyl cellulose) and cellulose (e.g. cellulose microfibrils, cellulose nanocrystals or microcrystalline cellulose).

Sources of cellulose microfibrils include secondary cell wall materials (e.g. wood pulp, cotton), bacterial cellulose, and primary cell wall materials. Preferably the source of primary cell wall material is selected from parenchymal tissue from fruits, roots, bulbs, tubers, seeds, leaves and combination thereof; more preferably is selected from citrus fruit, tomato fruit, peach fruit, pumpkin fruit, kiwi fruit, apple fruit, mango fruit, sugar beet, beet root, turnip, parsnip, maize, oat, wheat, peas and combinations thereof; and even more preferably is selected from citrus fruit, tomato fruit and combinations thereof. A most preferred source of primary cell wall material is parenchymal tissue from citrus fruit. Citrus fibers, such as those made available by Herbacel® as AQ Plus can also be used as source for cellulose microfibrils. The cellulose sources can be surface modified by any of the known methods including those described in Colloidal Polymer Science, Kalia et al., “Nanofibrillated cellulose: surface modification and potential applications” (2014), Vol 292, Pages 5-31.

Synthetic polymers are yet another class of effective thickening agent. This category includes crosslinked polyacrylates such as the Carbomers, polyacrylamides such as Sepigel® 305 and taurate copolymers such as Simulgel® EG and Aristoflex® AVC, the copolymers being identified by respective I NCI nomenclature as Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate and Acryloyl Dimethyltaurate/Vinyl Pyrrolidone Copolymer. Another preferred synthetic polymer suitable for thickening is an acrylate-based polymer made commercially available by Seppic and sold under the name Simulgel INS100. Calcium carbonate, fumed silica, and magnesium-aluminum- silicate may also be used.

Particularly preferred thickening agents include sodium hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, tapioca starch, maltodextrin, xanthan gum, agar gum, guar gum, carrageenan gum, alginate gum, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, sodium carboxy methylcellulose, cellulose, polyethylene glycol (e.g., polyethylene glycol diester stearic acid), or a combination thereof. Such thickening agents are commercially available from the Dow Chemical Company or the Hallstar Company.

The cleansing composition can further optionally include an anti-static agent. The anti static agent can include imidazolinium salt, pyridinium salt, piperidinium salt, morpholinium salts, quaternary ammonium salt, or a combination thereof. For example, the anti-static agent can be a polyquaternium salt. One such polyquaternium salt is polyquaternium 10 available from various suppliers including KCL Limited and the Dow Chemical Company. When present, the anti-static agent can be present in an amount of less than 1% by weight, preferably, less than 0.5% by weight, more preferably, less than 0.25% by weight. For example, the anti-static agent can be present in an amount of 0.01 to 0.2% by weight, for example, 0.1% by weight.

A conditioning agent can optionally be included in the cleansing composition. Conditioning agents can include occlusives, e.g., petrolatum, dimethicone, and the like; humectants, e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and the like; emollients and oils, e.g., trigylcerides, natural oils, lanolin, synthetic esters, and the like; proteins; silicones, e.g., dimethicone, cyclomethicone, amodimethicone, and the like; cationic surfactants, e.g., cetrimonium chloride, stearalkonium chloride, and the like; and polymers, e.g., cationic polymers such as polyquarterniums. When present, the conditioning agent can be present in an amount of 2% by weight to 7% by weight, preferably, 3% by weight to 6% by weight, more preferably, 3.5% by weight to 5% by weight. Water preferably makes up 10 to 99% by weight of the liquid and composition, preferably 65 to 95% by weight of the liquid and composition, and more preferably, from 70 to 90% by weight water based on total weight of the liquid and composition, including all ranges subsumed therein.

Preservatives can desirably be incorporated into the foam precursor liquid and foam cleansing composition to protect against the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms. Cosmetic chemists are familiar with appropriate preservatives and routinely choose them to satisfy the preservative challenge test and to provide product stability. Traditional preservatives for use include hydantoin derivatives and propionate salts. Preservatives for use are iodopropynyl butyl carbamate, phenoxyethanol, 1,2- octanediol, hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerine, hexylene glycol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, imidazolidinyl urea, sodium dehydroacetate, dimethyl-dimethyl (DM DM) hydantoin and benzyl alcohol and mixtures thereof. Other preservatives include sodium benzoate, sodium dehydroacetate, chlorophenesin and decylene glycol. The preservatives should be selected having regard for the use of the composition and possible incompatibilities between the preservatives and other ingredients in the emulsion. Preservatives are preferably employed in amounts ranging from 0.01% to 2% by weight of the total weight of the composition, including all ranges subsumed therein. Also preferred is a preservative system with hydroxyacetophenone alone or in a mixture with other preservatives. Particularly preferred is sodium benzoate.

The cleansing composition can additionally include various additives including, but not limited to, colorants, emollients, anti-dandruff agents, skin feel agents, hair dyes, styling polymer, silicon oil, cationic polymers, or a combination thereof. Each of these substances may range from about 0.03 to about 5%, for example, 0.03 to 5%, preferably between 0.1 and 3% by weight of the total weight of the liquid and composition, including all ranges subsumed therein. For example, colorants can be present in an amount of 5 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm, for example, about 15 ppm, for example, 15 ppm.

Fragrances, fixatives, chelators (like EDTA) salts (like NaCI) and exfoliants may optionally be included in the liquid and composition of the present invention. Each of these substances may range from about 0.03 to about 5%, for example, 0.03 to 5%, preferably between 0.1 and 3% by weight of the total weight of the liquid and composition, including all ranges subsumed therein. For example, a chelating agent such as disodium EDTA can be present in an amount of 0.05% by weight.

Other additives that can optionally be present in the cleansing composition including pH adjusting agents and viscosity adjusting agents. Viscosity adjusting agents, when present, can be present in an amount of 0.5 to 2.5% by weight, preferably, 0.75 to 1.5% by weight, more preferably 1.25 to 1.4% by weight. Viscosity adjusting agents can include those commonly known such as sodium chloride powder or glycols such as polypropylene glycol, e.g., PPG-9. pH adjusting agents, when present, can be present in an amount of less than 1% by weight, for example, less than 0.75% by weight, for example, less than 0.5% by weight. For example, the pH adjusting agents can be present in an amount of 0.25 to 0.5% by weight, for example, 0.35 to 0.48% by weight, for example, 0.45% by weight, for example, 0.48% by weight.

The cleansing composition can have a dissolution time of 10 to 5000 seconds when used in a typical cleansing amount. The compositions can include dissolution rates suitable for use as a personal wash or hair cleansing product.

Cleansing and/or conditioning hair can be accomplished with the cleansing composition disclosed herein. Cleansing skin can be accomplished with the cleansing composition disclosed herein. The cleansing composition of the present application can be used to cleanse a body and/or can be used to b and/or condition hair by applying the cleansing composition to hair or skin. The cleansing composition of the present application can be used in a cleansing product, including, but not limited to, body wash, shampoo, and/or conditioner.

The cleansing composition disclosed herein can be poured into the hands of the person using it. The cleansing composition can be dissolved in water to form a thick and rich lather for the skin and hair. The cleansing composition can come in different colors to appeal to children. The cleansing composition can also contain glitter, pearlescing agents, or beads so as to interest children. The cleansing composition can dissolve in bath water. The cleansing composition can also contain an amount of a harmless but bitter tasting ingredient, such as about 0.1 to about 0.2% bitrex, for example, 0.1 to 0.2% bitrex, so as to prevent children from eating the cleansing composition. The Examples provided are to facilitate an understanding of the cleansing composition. The Examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Example I

The cleansing composition are prepared by mixing the amounts of the components as indicated in Table 1. Measurements were made by a Rheometric ARES rheometer with a 25 millimeter (mm) cone and plate geometry. The cone angle was 0.1 radians and the gap was 0.051 mm. The measurement was made a temperature of 25°C. An angular frequency range of 0.01 to 125 radians per second (rad/s) was applied to the surfactant solutions at 10% strain, which is in the linear viscoelastic region. G’ at 63 rad/s was measured to compare the compositions disclosed herein to other non-Maxwell behavior surfactant system and crossover frequency (oo_h) was measured in rad/s and elastic modulus was measure in Pa.

Table 1

All amounts in Table 1 refer to the active % in the formula in weight percent. Samples 1 and 2 contained the following ingredients: polyquaternium 10 as the anti-static agent, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (0.45), PEG-150 distearate (0.35), and xanthan gum (0.25) as the thickening agents, sodium laureth sulfate 3EO (6.02) as the anionic surfactant, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (4.00) cocamidopropyl betaine (2.80) as the zwitterionic surfactant, and dimethiconol as the conditioning agent. The compositions also contained water, a pH adjusting agent (citric acid, 0.48), colorant (red and blue dye in amounts of 7.8 ppm and 6.52 ppm respectively), preservative (sodium benzoate (0.5), fragrance (coconut) (0.35), viscosity adjusting agents in an amount of 1.3462 (PPG-9 0.0001 and sodium chloride powder 1.3461), and a chelating agent in an amount of 0.05.

Samples 3 and 4 contained the following ingredients: polyquaternium 10 as the anti- static agent, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (0.45), PEG-150 distearate (0.35), and xanthan gum (0.25) as the thickening agents, sodium laureth sulfate 3EO (6.02) as the anionic surfactant, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (4.00) cocamidopropyl betaine (2.80) as the zwitterionic surfactant, and dimethiconol as the conditioning agent. The compositions also contained water, a pH adjusting agent (citric acid, 0.48), colorant (yellow and blue dye in amounts of 0.04 and 0.006 respectively), preservative (sodium benzoate (0.5), fragrance (All about apple 9) (0.50), viscosity adjusting agents in an amount of 1.3462 (PPG-90.0001 and sodium chloride powder 1.3461), and a chelating agent in an amount of 0.05. Table 2 lists the amounts for the rheological parameters tested.

Table 2

It is noted with respect to the cleansing compositions disclosed herein that except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about.” All amounts are by weight of the final composition, unless otherwise specified.

It should be noted that in specifying any range of concentration or amount, any particular upper concentration can be associated with any particular lower concentration or amount. In that regard, it is noted that all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other (e.g., ranges of “up to 25% by weight, or, more specifically, 5% by weight to 20% by weight, in inclusive of the endpoints and all intermediate values of the ranges of 5% by weight to 25% by weight, etc.). “Combination is inclusive of blends, mixtures, alloys, reaction products, and the like. Furthermore, the terms “first”, “second”, and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “a” and “an” and “the” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity and are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The suffix “(s)” as used herein is intended to include both the singular and the plural of the term if modifies, thereby including one or more of the term (e.g., the film(s) includes one or more films). Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment”, “another embodiment”, “an embodiment” and so forth means that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, and/or characteristic) described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment described herein and may or may not be present in other embodiments. In addition, it is to be understood that the described elements may be combined in any suitable manner in the various embodiments.

All cited patents, patent applications, and other references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. However, if a term in the present application contradicts or conflicts with a term in the incorporated reference, the term from the present application takes precedence over the conflicting term from the incorporated reference. While particular embodiments have been described, alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents that are or may be presently unforeseen may arise to applicants or others skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims as filed and as they may be amended are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents.

For the avoidance of doubt the word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of’ or “composed of.” In other words, the listed steps, options, or alternatives need not be exhaustive.

The disclosure of the invention as found herein is to be considered to cover all embodiments as found in the claims as being multiply dependent upon each other irrespective of the fact that claims may be found without multiple dependency or redundancy.

Claims

1. A cleansing composition, comprising: 5 to 25% by weight of an anionic surfactant;

3 to 10% by weight of a zwitterionic surfactant; and 0.5 to 2.5% by weight of a thickening agent; wherein a ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant is about 0.75 to about 1.25, preferably wherein the ratio is about 0.85 to about 1.0, more preferably wherein the ratio is about 0.9 to about 1.0.

2. The cleansing composition of Claim 1 , wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium perfluorononanoate, potassium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium laurate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium stearate, sodium sulfosuccinate esters, or a combination thereof.

3. The cleansing composition of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the zwitterionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of lauryl betaine, betaine citrate, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, carboxymethyl)dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) amino] propylammonium hydroxide, coco alkyldimethyl betaines, (carboxymethyl) dimethyloleylammonium hydroxide, cocoamidopropyl betaine, (carboxylatomethyl) dimethyl(octadecyl)ammonium, or a combination thereof.

4. The cleansing composition of Claim 3, wherein the zwitterionic surfactant is selected from cocodimethyl carboxymethyl betaine, cocoamidopropyl betaine, laurylamidopropyl betaine, cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, or a combination thereof.

5. The cleansing composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, tapioca starch, maltodextrin, xanthan gum, agar gum, guar gum, carrageenan gum, alginate gum, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, sodium carboxy methylcellulose, cellulose, polyethylene glycol, or a combination thereof.

6. The cleansing composition of any of the preceding claims further comprising an anti-static agent.

7. The cleansing composition of Claim 6, wherein the anti-static agent is selected from the group consisting of imidazolinium salt, pyridinium salt, piperidinium salt, morpholinium salts, quaternary ammonium salt, or a combination thereof.

8. The cleansing composition of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a conditioning agent.

9. The cleansing composition of any the preceding claims, wherein the zwitterionic surfactant is present in an amount of greater than 5% by weight.

10. The cleansing composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition has a oo_h of greater than 3 radians per second, preferably wherein the oo_h is greater than 3.1 radians per second, more preferably wherein the oo_h is greater than 3.2 radians per second.

11. The cleansing composition of any of the preceding claims further comprising emollients, anti-dandruff agents, skin feel agents, hair dyes, styling polymer, silicone oil, cationic polymers, or a combination thereof.

12. A method of cleansing and/or conditioning hair comprising applying the cleansing composition of any of the preceding claims to hair.

13. A method of cleansing skin comprising applying the cleansing composition of any of the preceding claims to skin.

14. Use of the composition of any of Claims 1-11 in a body cleansing or hair cleansing application.