Cosmetic Emulsions Containing Copolymers of Alkyl (Meth) Acrylates and Mono- Or Polyhydroxyalkyl (Meth) Acrylates

The invention relates to cosmetic emulsions of the water-in-oil type having a content of copolymers of alkyl(meth)acrylates and mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylates as emulsifiers. The invention includes the emulsions themselves and methods for the preparation thereof.

In contrast to the production of oil-in-water emulsions, only a limited number of emulsifying agents are available for producing cosmetic emulsions of the water-in-oil type and, moreover, the best of these emulsifying agents are becoming increasingly scarce. Even nowadays, wool fat and its derivatives are still some of the most important bases for emulsifying agents for producing creams of the water-in-oil type. However, despite their uncontested advantages, wool fat and its derivatives, such as lanolin, have certain disadvantages. Thus, conventional water-in-oil emulsifying agents based on wool fat and its derivatives impart a strong characteristic odor to the creams prepared with these substances. This, in turn, requires strong perfuming which frequently cannot be tolerated by persons having sensitive skin. However, this influencing of the quality of the cream by a strong characteristic odor is not only peculiar to wool fat and its derivatives, but also extends to lanolin-free water-in-oil emulsifying agents based on animal sterols, particularly such emulsifying agents based on cholesterol. Furthermore, low-molecular weight emulsifying agents, together with the effective substances of the cream can be absorbed by the skin, which is not desirable in all cases.

In addition to the said emulsifying agents based on wool fat, wax alcohols and sterols, the most widely-known water-in-oil emulsifiers for cosmetic purposes include the oleic acid esters of various polyols, such as glycerin, pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane and sorbitol. However, due to the unsaturation in their acid component, the oleic acid esters have various disadvantages with respect to their technical use, so that there is a genuine need for new and suitable water-in-oil emulsifying agents.

One object of the present invention is the development of a cosmetic emulsion or cream of the water-in-oil type which can be prepared easily and safely from inexpensive materials without need for costly emulsifying equipment.

Another object of the invention is the development of a cosmetic emulsion of the above type which is substantially odorless and which, therefore, can find general acceptance when containing only a small and harmless amount of perfume.

A particular object of the invention is the production of a cosmetic emulsion of the above type comprising (1) from 2% to 20% by weight of a polymeric emulsifier capable of forming water-in-oil creams composed of units of the general formulae ##STR2## in the molar ratio of (I) to (II) of 2:1 to 20:1, wherein X is hydrogen or methyl, R.sub.1 is alkyl having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 is --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH) --CH.sub.2 OH or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH; 20 to 75% by weight of water; and the remainder to 100% by weight of conventional oily substances used in cosmetic emulsions.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

It has now been discovered that the objectionable features of the prior art emulsifiers have been overcome and the above objects have been achieved by the discovery of cosmetic emulsions of the water-in-oil type containing (1) from 2% to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the emulsion, of statistical copolymers which are composed, in the molar ratio of (I) to (II) of 2:1 to 20:1, of units of the general formulae ##STR3## wherein X is hydrogen or a methyl radical, R.sub.1 is an alkyl radical having 6 to 24 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is a radical selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.2 OH and --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH,

(2) from 20% to 75% by weight of water, relative to the total weight of the emulsion, and (3) the remainder to 100% by weight of conventional oily substances used in cosmetic emulsions, such as vegetable and animal fats, waxes, fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons and other auxiliary substances normally used in cosmetic emulsions.

The preparation of the copolymers of alkyl(meth) acrylates and hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates used as emulsifiers in the cosmetic emulsions of the invention can be effected in known manner in one step under the usual conditions of radical polymerization. The polymerization can be carried out with nonpolar solvents, such as benzene or toluene, or in polar solvents, such as methanol, methyl ethyl ketone or tetrahydrofuran, by means of peroxides, such as dibenzoyl peroxide or lauroyl peroxide, and azo compounds, such as azobisisobutyronitrile as a catalyst.

The technical production is preferably effected in the form of a solution polymerization, in those solvents which dissolve only the monomers, but not the polymer (precipitation polymerization), particularly since this results in satisfactorily precipitable polymers which are practically free of monomers (J. Scheiber, Chemie and Technologie der Kunstlichen Harze, Vol. I, pages 362 ff, 1961.

The monomeric starting compounds from which the polymer units (II) of the copolymers of the invention are derived are the esters of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, glycerin or diethylene glycol. In part, these monomers are commercially available products, such as 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, or products known in the literature, such as 2,3-dihydroxypropyl acrylate (C.A. 72, p. 56, 787r; U.S. Pat. No. 3,488,327) and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate (J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 9,3162/63). They are prepared by methods known in the art.

The monomeric starting compounds from which the polymer units (I) of the copolymers of the invention are derived have the formula ##STR4## wherein X is hydrogen or methyl, and R.sub.1 is an alkyl radical having 6 to 24, more preferably 8 to 14, carbon atoms.

Among the monomeric starting compounds of the formula (III) above may be mentioned hexyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, nonyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, myristyl acrylate, cetyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, behenyl acrylate, hexyl methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, nonyl methacrylate, decyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, myristyl methacrylate, cetyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate and behenyl methacrylate.

Among the preferred monomers of the formula (III) having 8 to 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical are octyl acrylate, nonyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, myristyl acrylate, octyl methacrylate, nonyl methacrylate, decyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, and myristyl methacrylate.

In the copolymers of the invention, the molar ratios of the mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate monomer: alkyl (meth) acrylate monomer are from 1:2 to 1:20; preferably from 1:2 to 1:8 in the copolymers containing monohydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate units and preferably from 1:4 to 1:12 in the copolymers containing polyhydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate units.

Among the copolymers of the invention may be mentioned 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate (1:6 molar ratio), 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate/decyl methacrylate (1:8 molar ratio), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate (1:12 molar ratio), 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate/myristyl acrylate (1:6 molar ratio) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/octyl methacrylate (1:8 molar ratio). Very satisfactory results have been obtained using 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate (1:6 molar ratio).

The copolymers of the invention have average molecular weights between 2,000 and 100,000. Those having average molecular weights between 3,000 and 20,000 are particularly suitable in view of their easy processability and the quality of the emulsions obtained. These molecular weights can be adjusted in a known manner by the amount of catalyst, the nature and amount of the solvent, and by the addition of polymerization regulators.

The emulsions in accordance with the invention are produced in a simple and known manner by dissolving the copolymers, acting as the emulsifying agents, in the oil phase at a temperature of approximately 60.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. Subsequently, the desired quantity of water, heated to approximately 60.degree. C. to 65.degree. C., is added, and the emulsion obtained is stirred while cooling.

Cosmetically effective amounts of further constituents of the cosmetic emulsions being manufactured, such as skin moisture regulators, vegetable extracts of effective substances, vitamins, hormones, pigments, salts, perfume oils, UV filtering substances, dyestuffs, etc., are advantageously dissolved or distributed in the phase which absorbs these substances to best advantage. The quantity of emulsifying agent required is 2% to 20% by weight, preferably 5% to 10% by weight, relative to the total cosmetic emulsion. The amount of water to be incorporated can be 20% to 75% by weight, preferably 45% to 65% by weight, relative to the total cosmetic emulsion.

Products conventionally used, such as animal and vegetable oils and fats, synthetic esters of fatty acids with aliphatic alcohols, higher fatty alcohols, waxes, so-called mineral fats and oils, such as paraffin oil, "Vaseline.RTM.", ceresin, silicone oils and silicone fats are suitable as the oil phase of the cosmetic emulsions in accordance with the invention.

The invention thus also includes a composition which when agitated with water forms a cosmetic emulsion of the water-in-oil type, comprising (1) from 2% to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of said composition, of a polymeric emulsifier which is a copolymer composed, in the molar ratio of (I) to (II) of 2:1 to 20:1, of units of the general formulae ##STR5## wherein X is hydrogen or a methyl radical, R.sub.1 is an alkyl radical having 6 to 24 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is a radical selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.2 OH and --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH, and (2) the remainder to 100% by weight of the composition of conventional oily substances used in cosmetic emulsions. Such conventional oily substances include animal and vegetable oils, and fats, synthetic esters of fatty acids with aliphatic alcohols, higher fatty alcohols, waxes, so-called mineral fats and oils, such as paraffin oil, "Vaseline.RTM.", ceresin, silicone oils and silicone fats. In addition, the cosmetic emulsions or creams can contain, if desired, other auxiliary substances normally used in cosmetic emulsions. Examples of such auxiliary substances are skin moisture regulators, vegetable extracts of effective substances, vitamins, hormones, pigments, salts, perfume oils, UV filtering substances, dyestuffs, etc.

German Offenlegungsschrift (DOS) 2,116,787 has already described the use of water-in-oil emulsifying agents in the form of sequence polymers which at the same time have at least one lipophilic sequence and one hydrophilic sequence. Each sequence should have the properties of the corresponding homopolymer. These sequence polymers are obtained by anionic polymerization, which places high demands on the purity of the substances used, and requires working at low temperatures under protective gas and increased safety precautions when handling spontaneously combustible catalysts. In contrast to this, the emulsifying agents required for producing the emulsions in accordance with the present invention can be manufactured in a simple manner.

According to German Offenlegungsschrift (DOS) No. 1,745,216, copolymers of a monomer with a lipophilic chain and a monomer with a carboxylic acid anhydride function are suggested as emulsifiers for water-in-oil emulsions. But these products are sensitive to hydrolysis, and, to avoid this disadvantage, a further processing step in addition to the polymerization is required in order to convert them into a more stable form.

In general, the emulsions in accordance with the present invention can also be used by persons having a sensitive skin. Since they do not have any appreciable characteristic odor, they do not require heavy perfuming, which in turn, has an advantageous effect upon the compatibility and also reduces costs.

Furthermore, the emulsions according to the invention are characterized by low sensitivity to acid, thus rendering it possible to incorporate acidic raw materials therein, such as organic acids. Another very favorable property of the emulsions according to the invention is their high temperature stability, which enables them to withstand a thermal stress of 50.degree. C. for 6 weeks without any detrimental effects.

In the specification and Claims the terms "alkyl(meth)acrylate(s)" and "mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate(s)" are used to designate ester(s) of acrylic acid and ester(s) of methacrylic acid.

The following examples further illustrate the invention, but without limiting the invention to these examples.

The following example illustrates the preparation of a copolymer for use in the cosmetic emulsions of the present invention.

11.6 gm (0.1 mole) of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and 144 gm (0.6 mole) of dodecyl acrylate were dissolved in 360 gm of methyl ethyl ketone. To the solution obtained were added 3.1 gm of dibenzoyl peroxide as a catalyst. The reaction mixture was maintained for 5 hours under stirring at a temperature of 80.degree. C. After the reaction was completed, the solvent was distilled off and the reaction product was washed several times with methanol. 148 gm, (95% of theory) of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate copolymer (1:6 molar ratio) were obtained.

The other copolymers, used in the examples given below, were obtained in an analogous manner to the above method.

A mixture of 10 gm of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate-copolymer (1:6 molar ratio) and 40 gm of Vaseline.RTM. was melted together by heating to 65.degree. C. To the melt were added 50 gm of water, which had been heated to 65.degree. C., and the mass was allowed to cool under constant stirring. The emulsion can be easily produced by manual stirring. The cream obtained is stable for several months and showed no change even after 6 weeks at 50.degree. C. By adding various conventional cosmetic agents and perfume oils, this basic cream can be used to produce various skin creams.

The following copolymers can also be used in the foregoing example with equally good results instead of the 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate-dodecyl acrylate copolymer (1:6 molar ratio).

A mixture of 4 gm of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate copolymer (1:6 molar ratio), 40 gm of a hardened peanut oil/decyl oleate mixture (90:10 by weight), 3 gm of beeswax, and 3 gm of glyceryl monooleate was melted together by heating to 70.degree. C. To the melt were added under constant stirring 50 gm of water, which had been heated to 65.degree. C., and the paste was allowed to cool under constant stirring. A cream was obtained which was to a great extent similar in its stability properties to the cream of Example 2. By incorporating additional cosmetically effective amounts of conventional cosmetically effective substances, such as skin moisture regulators, vegetable extracts, and perfume oils, various skin creams can be prepared from this basic cream.

The following copolymers can be used with equally good results instead of the hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate copolymer (1:6 molar ratio) used above:

A mixture of 7 gm of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate copolymer (1:6 molar ratio), 10 gm of Vaseline.RTM., 15 gm of decyl oleate, 3 gm of beeswax, and 2 gm calcium stearate was melted together by heating to 65.degree. C. Into this mixture were stirred 63 gm of water, heated to 65.degree. C., and the stirring was continued until the emulsion became cold. A cream was obtained which was very similar in its stability properties to the other two creams described above. By incorporating conventional cosmetically effective substances and perfume oils, a large number of cosmetic creams based on this basic cream can be produced.

The 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate copolymer (1:6 molar ratio), used as an emulsifier, can be replaced with equally good results by the same amount of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/octyl acrylate copolymer (1:8 molar ratio), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl acrylate/octyl acrylate copolymer (1:12 molar ratio), and the other copolymers mentioned above.

A mixture of 6 gm of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate copolymer (1:6 molar ratio), and 44 gm of hardened peanut oil was melted together by heating to 65.degree. C. Into this mixture were stirred 50 gm of water, which has been heated to 65.degree. C. After stirring until the emulsion was cold, a cream was obtained which resembled to a great extent the previously mentioned creams in its stability properties. The cream can be used as a basic cream for various cosmetic preparations, such as described above.

The preceding specific embodiments are illustrative of the practice of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that other expedients known to those skilled in the art or disclosed herein, may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.