Cosmestic Compositions Containing a Cationic Polymer and an Anionic Polymer as Thickening Agent

The present invention relates to a new gelling or thickening agent, new thickened or gelled cosmetic compositions containing such an agent and a process enabling such compositions to be gelled and/or thickened.

A general requirement existing in the cosmetics industry is for compositions for hair or for the skin which do not flow too quickly; such is the case, in particular, with the compositions employed in processes which involve periods of application or of contact of the composition with the hair or the skin. It is very advantageous, in this case, to employ compositions which have a viscosity index higher than a certain limit enabling the products to be properly localized with the aid of thickened solutions.

In previous patents such as French Patents 2,383,660, 2,505,179 and 2,542,997, the applicant has already described compositions containing cationic polymers and anionic polymers in an aqueous medium and capable of being presented in the form of thickened or gelled compositions. The polymers are employed in these compositions in order to impart to hair advantageous shape-retention, sheen and disentangling properties. These compositions are optionally thickened with a gelling or thickening agent which is added to the polymers.

Such gelled or thickened compositions of the prior state of the art have the disadvantage, however, resulting from the presence of the gelling or thickening agents, of excessively loading the hair or of leaving an unattractive powdery deposit or, yet again, of imparting to it an unpleasant feel or a dull appearance, particularly when involving compositions whose application is not followed by a rinse.

These compositions, which contain a gelling or thickening agent in addition to the polymers, are sometimes cloudy or opaque, and this can prevent their use in certain applications such as, for example, hair-shaping compositions which are generally clear.

Because of this, the applicant has investigated the possibility of preparing gelled or thickened aqueous cosmetic compositions conferring onto hair the advantageous shape-retention and sheen properties of the compositions containing cationic and anionic polymers, while avoiding the abovementioned disadvantages due to the addition of gelling agents or thickeners.

It has, furthermore, already been recommended to form gels from a polymer derived from a quarternary ammonium of cellulose ether as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,840 and from an anionic polymer chosen from alginic acid or a polysulphonic acid such as 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid. The gelled compositions produced in this manner result, on the one hand, from the use of anionic polymers which themselves have thickening or gelling properties and, furthermore, require relatively high solids concentrations. Furthermore, such compositions are not completely satisfactory when they are employed for conditioning hair damaged by physical or chemical treatments or by atmospheric agents.

The applicant has now found that it is possible to prepare aqueous cosmetic compositions which are gelled or thickened merely by the presence in these compositions of a copolymer of cellulose or of a cellulose derivative which are grafted preferably by a radical route with a quaternary ammonium salt of a water-soluble monomer and certain carboxylic anionic polymers. A synergistic effect is obtained which appears to be due, though this is merely a hypothesis, to the formation of an interpolymer by ionic interaction in an aqueous medium. To make the definition easier, the term "thickness" is employed in the remainder of the description to denote the product having thickening and/or gelling properties resulting from this interaction. The thickener obtained in this manner should have an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 3, measured diluted with water to a concentration of 1%, which is equal to or higher than 0.450 Pa s, while the absolute capillary viscosity of the anionic polymer containing carboxylic groups, measured at 30.degree. C. in solution in dimethylformamide or methanol at a concentration of 5%, is lower than or equal to 0.030 Pa s and while the cationic copolymer has an absolute capillary viscosity at 1% in water at 30.degree. C. which is also lower than 0.025 Pa s. The formation of a thickening agent is particularly surprising insofar as it results from polymers which do not individually have such thickening properties under these conditions of use. This capacity is markedly superior to that of gels known previously, some of which have been produced using anionic polymers which themselves have gelling properties. This is particularly advantageous within the scope of the present invention because the thickening characteristics make it possible not only to achieve a saving in the use of the polymers to obtain an identical gelling but at the same time make it possible to impart to the hair or to the skin which are treated with these compositions certain improved cosmetic properties without loading the hair excessively.

Furthermore, the new cosmetic compositions have the advantage of not loading the hair, even when the applications are repeated, especially in the case of compositions which are applied using methods which do not involve a rinsing stage, and of imparting a pleasant feel and a gleaming appearance to the hair. They impart good shape retention and good liveliness to hair, and more particularly to fine hair, in the case of the compositions whose application is followed by a water rinse. Lastly, these compositions make it possible to improve the treatment of damaged hair, especially insofar as its disentangling, its softness and its feel are concerned.

The subject of the present invention is consequently a thickener resulting from an ionic interaction in an aqueous medium of a copolymer of cellulose or of cellulose derivatives grafted by a radical route with a quaternary ammonium salt of a water-soluble monomer and a particular group of carboxylic anionic polymers and its use for thickening or gelliing cosmetic compositions.

Another object of the invention consists of the cosmetic compositions intended for the treatment of hair or of the skin containing this new thickening agent.

Another subject of the invention is a process for the treatment of hair or of the skin making use of this thickener or the compositions containing it.

Another subject of the invention consists of a process for gelling or increasing the viscosity of a cosmetic composition by making use of the thickener defined above.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from reading the description and the examples which follow.

The thickening agent according to the present invention is essentially characterized in that it results from the ionic interaction in an aqueous medium between a copolymer of cellulose or of a cellulose derivative which is grafted by a radial route with a quaternary ammonium water-soluble monomer and a carboxylic anionic polymer having an absolute capillary viscosity when diluted to a concentration of 5% in dimethylformamide or methanol and at a temperature of 30.degree. C. which is lower than or equal to 0.030 Pa s, this thickener having an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 3, measured diluted to a concentration of 1% in water, which is equal to or higher than 0.0450 Pa s.

The cationic polymer employed for the preparation of the thickener is chosen more particularly from polymers of cellulose or of cellulose derivatives consisting of hydroxyalkyl celluloses such as hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose or hydroxypropyl cellulose which are grafted by a radical route with a quaternary ammonium salt of a water-soluble monomer chosen from methacryloylethyltrimethylammonium, methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium and dimethyldiallylammonium salts, and more particularly the halides such as the chlorides, or the methosulphates.

Particularly preferred products consist of the hydroxyethyl cellulose copolymer grafted by a radical route with diallyldimethylammonium chloride sold under the trade name "Celquat L 200" or "Celquat H 100" by National Starch, which are also called "Polyquaternium 4" in the CFTA dictionary. When diluted to a concentration of 1% in water and at a temperature of 30.degree. C., these polymers have an absolute capillary viscosity of the order of 0.01 Pa s in the case of the product marketed under the trade name "Celquat L 200" and 0.021 Pa s in the case of the product marketed under the trade name "Celquat H 100".

The anionic polymers employed in accordance with the invention are carboxylic anionic polymers having a molecular weight of between 500 and 3,000,000 and more particularly between 1,000 and 3,000,000. These are preferably film-forming polymers.

Particularly preferred polymers are chosen from:

(a) methacrylic acid homopolymers which have a molecular weight greater than 20,000, as determined by light scattering,

(b) copolymers of methacrylic acid with one of the following monomers:

C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl acrylate or methacrylate;

an acrylamide derivative such as, more particularly, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, diacetoneacrylamide or N-tert-butylacrylamide;

maleic acid;

C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 monoalkyl maleate; and

N-vinylpyrrolidine,

(c) copolymers of ethylene with maleic anhydride, such as the products sold under the trade name EMA 31 by Monsanto Cie.

Particularly preferred anionic polymers are methacrylic acid copolymers which have an absolute capillary viscosity measured at a concentration of 5% in solution in dimethylformamide or methanol, at 30.degree. C., of between 0.003 and 0.030 Pa s, and more particularly the copolymer of methacrylic acid with methyl methacrylate whose absolute capillary viscosity, measured at a concentration of 5% in solution in a dimethylformamide, is of the order of 0.015 Pa s or a copolymer of methacrylic acid with monoethyl maleate which has an absolute capillary viscosity, measured at a concentration of 5% in solution in dimethylformamide, of the order of 0.013 Pa s, a copolymer of methacrylic acid with butyl methacrylate whose absolute capillary viscosity, measured at a concentration of 5% in solution in methanol, is of the order of 0.010 Pa s, or a copolymer of methacrylic acid with maleic acid whose absolute capillary viscosity, measured at a concentration of 5% in solution in dimethylformamide, is of the order of 0.016 Pa s.

The thickener may be prepared under the following conditions:

a quantity of water required to dissolve it is added to the copolymer of cellulose or of cellulose derivatives grafted by a radical route with a quaternary ammonium salt of a water-soluble monomer (solution I).

Separately, a quantity of water required to dissolve it is added to the carboxylic anionic polymer, the dissolution being promoted by neutralization with a conventional alkalifying agent such as aqueous ammonia or the alkanolamines (solution II).

The thickener is then formed by adding solution I to solution II or vice versa, with stirring, at ambient temperature. When the gel has formed it can then, if desired, be diluted with water or with a mixture of water and alcohol, the proportion of alcohol being that required to produce the required alcoholic strength for the formulation.

According to an alternative form of this process, it is equally possible, without recourse to neutralization, to dissolve the carboxylic anionic polymer in alcohol, preferably ethanol, at a concentration such as to bring the final formulation to the alcoholic strength required. The thickener may also be formed in the aqueous cosmetic medium itself.

The copolymer of cellulose or of a cellulose derivative which is grafted by a radical route with a quaternary ammonium is present preferably in the aqueous medium in proportions of between 0.01 and 6% by weight, particularly between 0.1 and 1.5%, based on the weight of the medium; the carboxylic anionic polymer is present in the aqueous medium in a proportion preferably of 0.01 to 6%, particularly from 0.1 et 1.5%, by weight based on the weight of the medium, and the weight ratio of the cationic polymer to the carboxylic anionic polymer is between 1/5 and 5/1; it is preferably between 1/2 and 2/1 and more particularly equal to about 1.

The thickened or gelled cosmetic compositions intended for the treatment of hair and of the skin, according to the invention, are essentially characterized in that they contain at least one copolymer of cellulose or of a cellulose derivative which is grafted by a radical route with a quaternary ammonium salt of a water-soluble monomer and a carboxylic anionic polymer and in sufficient proportions to form the thickener by ionic interaction, so that a composition containing 1% of this thickener in water has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 3, which is equal to or higher than 0.450 Pa s.

The thickener is present in the cosmetic composition according to the invention in concentrations which vary between 0.02 and 12%, preferably between 0.2 and 3%, by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

This composition is presented in aqueous form, but it may contain other cosmetically acceptable solvents such as, for example, lower alcohols such as ethanol or isopropanol, glycerol, glycols or glycol ethers such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and monomethyl ether, and in proportions which do not affect the formation of the thickener.

These compositions have a pH which is generally between 6 and 12 and preferably between 6.5 and 9 and, more particularly, is close to neutrality and is of the order of 7 to 8.

It may be adjusted with an alkalifying or acidifying agent which is usually employed in the field of cosmetics.

The gelled or thickened cosmetic compositions containing a thickener such as defined above may be employed as a shampoo, after-shampoo compositions, products for rinsing to be applied before or after shampooing, before or after dyeing or bleaching, before or after permanent-waving or hair straightening, as a hair-setting or blow-drying composition, as a restructuring composition, or as a support for permanent-waving or for dyeing or bleaching hair. These thickened or gelled compositions may also contain a dermatological active principle such as antidandruff, antiseborrhoeic, antiacne, antifungal, bactericidal, keratolytic or antipsoriatic agents.

When the compositions according to the invention are employed in the form of thickened lotions or gels for hair-setting or for blow-drying, they may optionally contain other polymers which are usually employed in a composition of this type, and more particularly nonionic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidones, copolymers of polyvinylpyrrolidone with vinyl acetate, or anionic polymers which do not have the abovementioned properties of gelling or thickening with the cationic polymer. As an example, there may be mentioned copolymers of vinyl acetate with an unsaturated carboxylic acid such as crotonic acid, copolymers resulting from the copolymerization of vinyl acetate with crotonic acid and an acrylic or methacrylic ester, copolymers resulting from the copolymerization of vinyl acetate with an alkyl vinyl ether and an unsaturated carboxylic acid and copolymers resulting from the copolymerization of vinyl acetate with crotonic acid and a vinyl ester of an acid containing a long carbon chain or an allyl or methallyl ester of an acid containing a long carbon chain. These polymers are employed in concentrations of between 0.1 and 5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

When employed as rinsing compositions, they may contain various conditioning agents such as quaternary proteins, cationic silicone polymers, cationic surfactants and cationic polymers other than polymers of cellulose or of cellulose derivatives grafted by a radial route with a quaternary ammonium water-soluble monomer, of the polyamine, polyaminoamide or quaternary polyammonium type.

When the compositions are employed as shampoos, they contain surface-active agents with detergent properties which are known per se, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic or amphoteric surface-active agents or mixtures thereof.

In general, these surface-active agents are present in proportions of between 0.1 and 30% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

When the compositions are employed for dyeing hair, they contain direct dyes or oxidation dye precursors which are well known in the art.

The compositions according to the invention may also be employed as products for conditioning skin and nails.

A particularly preferred cosmetic composition is a hair-shaping composition which is not rinsed off. This composition contains, in aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic solution, a thickener resulting from the ionic interaction of 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of a hydroxyethyl cellulose copolymer grafted by a radical route with diallyldimethylammonium chloride and from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of a copolymer of methacrylic acid with

(a) methyl methacrylate, or

(b) monomethyl maleate, or

(c) butyl methacrylate, whose absolute capillary viscosity, measured at 30.degree. C. at a concentration of 5% in solution in dimethylformamide or methanol, is between 0.010 and 0.015 Pa s, the Epprecht-Drage viscosity of the thickener, measured at 21.degree. C., module 3, diluted to a concentration of 1% in water, being higher than 0.0450 Pa s, the pH of the composition being between 6.5 and 9.

The compositions according to the invention may contain any other ingredient which is usually employed in cosmetics, such as perfumes, colourants, preservatives, sequestering agents, softeners or silicones.

The process for thickening or gelling cosmetic compositions which forms another subject of the invention consists essentially in introducing into a cosmetic composition, in aqueous form, at least one thickener such as defined above or a composition containing the polymers forming the thickener in proportions of 0.02 to 12% by weight based on the total weight of the composition so as to give an Epprecht-Drage viscosity of the composition which is equal to or higher than 0.450 Pa s.

Aqueous gels or thickened compositions containing the thickener may be prepared separately, and the cosmetic composition may be prepared in a different step, if desired at the time of use.

The process for the treatment of hair, of the skin and of the nails consists in applying to them a composition such as defined above, it being possible for this composition to be rinsed off with water, or not, according to the nature of the treatment desired.

The applicant has found that this composition for the treatment of hair not only made it possible to localize the product on hair properly without flowing onto the face but that the hair trated in this manner also had a pleasant feel and a shiny appearance. Furthermore, the thickened or gelled composition has the advantage of being clear.

The examples which follow are intended to illustrate the invention without, however, being limiting in nature.

Aqueous gels were prepared according to the information which appears in Table 1 which follows. For this purpose, 50 cm.sup.3 of an aqueous solution containing 1% of active substance of the product marketed under the trade name of "Celquat L 200", which is a copolymer of hydroxyethyl cellulose grafted by a radical route with diallyldimethylammonium chloride, were added at ambient temperature and with mechanical stirring to 50 cm.sup.3 of an ethanolic solution at an alcohol strength of 20.degree. containing 1% as active substance of the previously neutralized anionic polymer defined in the table.

In Table A below, the measurement of the absolute capillary viscosity of the anionic polymers is carried out in dimethylformamide (DMF) and/or in methanol.

The following gelled compositions for hair styling are prepared (Tables B and C).

When these various compositions are applied to clean wet hair, they impart shape retention to it without leaving a powdery deposit. When they are applied to dried hair it is found that the composition makes styling easier without loading the hair and that, once dried, the latter is soft and has a pleasant feel.

An after-shampoo of the following composition is prepared:

This composition is applied to clean, roughly dried hair. After being left in place for a few minutes it is rinsed off with water. The wet hair is smooth and slippery. After drying it is lively and has body.

The gel obtained by interaction of the two polymers A and B has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 3, of 1.7 Pa s at a concentration of 1.4% in water.

An after-shampoo of the following composition is prepared:

This gelled composition is applied to clean, roughly dried hair. After being left in place for a few minutes it is rinsed off with water.

The dried hair is lively and has body.

The gel obtained by interaction of the polymers A and B has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 3, of 1.8 Pa s at a concentration of 1.4% in water.

The following shampoo is prepared:

This shampoo has the appearance of a clear gel.

The gel obtained by interaction of the polymers A and B has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 3, of 1.65 Pa s at a concentration of 1% in water.

The following shampoo is prepared:

This shampoo has the appearance of a clear gel.

The gel obtained by interaction of the polymers A and B has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree., module 3, of 1.7 Pa s at a concentration of 1.4% in water.

The following lotion is prepared:

This hair-setting lotion is slightly gelled and does not require rinsing.

The gel obtained by interaction of the polymers A and B has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 2, of 0.095 Pa s at a concentration of 0.2% in water.

The following antidandruff composition is prepared:

This antidandruff composition has the appearance of a clear gel and it does not require rinsing.

The gel obtained by interaction of the polymers A and B has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 3, of about 1.8 Pa s at a concentration of 2.7% in water.

The following antiseborrhoeic composition is prepared:

This antiseborrhoeic composition which can be applied to the skin or to hair has the appearance of a clear gel and does not require rinsing.

The gel obtained by interaction of the polymers A and B has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 3, of about 1.2 Pa s at a concentration of 1% in water.

The support gel for permanent-waving, of the following composition, is prepared:

The two compositions 1 and 2 are mixed ad hoc in proportions of 32 g of composition 1 to 87 g of composition 2.

This mixture is applied to hair which is wound onto rollers, for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes in place, it is rinsed off and an oxidizing solution consisting of 8-volume hydrogen peroxide, pH 3, is applied for 10 minutes.

The hair is then rinsed.

The following direct-dyeing composition is prepared:

This dyeing composition is applied to wet brown hair, washed beforehand. After drying, the hair acquires an ashen brown colour.

The antipsoriatic composition is prepared by adding 0.5 g of anthraline at the time of use to the gel of the following composition:

The antipsoriatic composition is applied to the skin and does not require rinsing.

The gel obtained by interaction of the polymers A and B has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 3, of about 1.2 Pa s at a concentration of 1% in water.

The following antiacne composition is prepared by adding 5 g of benzoyl peroxide at the time of use to the gel whose composition is given in Example 21.

This composition is applied to the skin.

The following bactericidal composition is prepared by adding 1 g of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol or triclosan (DCI) sold under the name of "Irgasan DP 300" at the time of use to the gel whose composition is given in Example 21.

This composition is applied to the skin.

A hair-conditioning composition is prepared by adding 18 g of iris powder diluted with 36 g of water to 46 g of a gel of the following composition:

The composition is applied to washed hair. After rinsing, the hair has a soft feel.

The gel obtained by interaction of the polymers A and B has an Epprecht-Drage viscosity at 21.degree. C., module 4, of 11.7 Pa s at a concentration of 9% in water.

The following restructuring rinsing lotion is prepared by adding 1.5 g of dimethylolethylenethiourea at the time of use to the gel of Example 21 at pH 6.

This composition is applied to damaged hair.