Oil- And Talc-Free Cosmetic Powder Composition

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oil- and talc-free cosmetic powder composition. This loose powder composition provides good adhesion to the skin without the use of oil or talc. The composition is useful as a foundation, blush, lipstick, eye shadow, mascara, or other cosmetic powder.

2. Prior Art

The prior art has disclosed various loose cosmetic powders employing microspheres of silica and/or polymeric materials to give a smooth, silky feel to the cosmetic powder. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,011 shows spherical silica particles having a particle size of 6-20 microns. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,246,257 and 4,294,823 show microspheres of polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate or polyethylene having a particle size of 5-15 microns being used in a cosmetic for greasy or oily skin. However, these patents do not show a cosmetic product free of oil.

The prior art has also shown that these same microspheres of silica or polymeric material can be coated with a polymer (polyethylene), titanium dioxide, or other material. This is shown by published Japanese Patent Application 95395/1985 filed May 7, 1985. However, this published application does not show a cosmetic which is oil-free and talc-free. Another published Japanese Patent Application 81512/1981 discloses porous lipophilic silica having a particle size of 0.5-20 microns being used in a cosmetic powder. This published application also does not show an oil-free cosmetic powder.

It would be desirable if a combination of the spherical powders disclosed above could be used in oil-free and talc-free cosmetic powder. Talc is undesirable since it is drying to the skin. Oil is also undesirable since certain people are allergic to cosmetic oils and others have oily skin and thus would prefer an oil-free cosmetic which can still cling to the skin.

It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide cosmetic powder compositions which are devoid of oils and talc.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic powder composition which can be used for a wide variety of applications.

It has now been found that an oil-free and talc-free cosmetic powder can be prepared by combining small particles of cosmetic coloring agents, silica, nylon, polymethylmethacrylate and mica if at least the coloring agents are coated with a polyolefin resin, such as polyethylene, and the cosmetic powder has an average particle size of about 1 to 20 microns.

The powdery cosmetic product which is free of oils and/or talc comprises, in weight %,

a) about 0.01 to 90.00%, and preferably about 1 to 20%, of one or more treated cosmetic coloring agents,

b) about 1.00 to 90.00%, and preferably about 10 to 30%, of silica,

c) about 1.00 to 90.00%, and preferably about 10 to 30% of nylon,

d) about 1.00 to 90.00%, and preferably about 5 to 15%, of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and

e) about 1.00 to 90.00%, and preferably about 10 to 30%, of mica.

Each of such a) to e) components is in the form of small particles, preferably of spherical shape, which have an average particle size of about 1 to 20 microns and preferably of about 1 to 15 microns and most preferably of about 2 to 5 microns.

At least the a) component is also treated with a thermoplastic polyolefin resin, such as polyethylene. Preferably, the c), d) and e) components are also treated with the resin coating. By being treated with the thermoplastic resin, it is meant that the particles of such a), c) and e) components of the composition of the present invention are coated with the polyethylene to the extent that the polyethylene comprises about 1 to 3 weight % of the thereby coated component, preferably 1 to 1.5 weight %.

The d) component, PMMA, may be titanated or treated with nylon. By being titanated, it is meant that the PMMA particles are coated with a titanating agent to the extent that the titanating agent comprises about 1 to 3 weight % of the coated component. The titanating agent is isopropyl triisostearoyl titantate. By being treated with nylon, it is meant that the PMMA particles are coated with a thermoplastic nylon polymer to the extent that the nylon comprises about 1 to 3 weight % of the coated component.

By being "oil-free", it is meant that the cosmetic powder has no mineral, vegetable, or animal-derived ingredients.

The combination of the a) to e) components of the present invention help the powdery product cling to the skin without the use of oils while providing a smooth feel when on the skin.

The compositions of the present invention may also contain, in weight percent,

about 0.1 to 2%, and preferably about 0.2 to 1.5%, of one or more preservatives such as methyl paraben, butyl paraben, propyl paraben, phenoxyethanol, benzoic acid, imidazolidinyl urea, and other conventional preservatives, and preferably about 0.05 to 0.1%, of one or more antioxidants such as BHA,

about 0.01 to 10% of other optional filler components, such as polyethylene, magnesium carbonate, and methylcellulose.

The total weight percent of the compositions of the present invention is 100%.

The components of the compositions of the present invention are dry blended together using conventional cosmetic powder blending apparatus and procedures.

The following examples are merely illustrative of the scope of the present invention and are not intended as a limitation thereon.

The following formulations were used to prepare two of the cosmetic powder compositions of the present invention which adhered well to the skin and provided a smooth feel.

The compositions of the present invention may be used in the form of loose powders or in the form of pressed articles such as compacts, tablets, sticks, and pellets.

Furthermore, the compositions may be used as matte or frosted products.