Water Soluble, Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for Skin Care, Hair Care and Cosmetic Applications

1. A skin care composition comprising: (1) of from about 0.1% w/w to about 50.0% w/w of a polymeric material of the formula I: ##STR13## said polymeric material having a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 200,000 daltons, wherein A is a water soluble, biodegradable polymeric hydrocolloid containing a radical selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, amino, imino, thio and carboxy; said hydrocolloid is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, whey protein, casein, plant protein, whey protein hydrolyzate, casein hydrolyzate and plant protein hydrolyzate; X is ##STR14## R.sup.1 is H, --OH, --CN(=nitrile), halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; R.sup.2 is a saturated or unsaturated, at least bivalent hydrocarbon radical optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-, amino-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy- and hydroxyalkyl groups which may be optionally substituted with one or more moieties selected from the group consisting of --CO--, --O--C(O)--O--, --C(O)--O--, --O--, --O--C(O)--, --S--, --NR.sup.4 --, --NH--C(O)--and --NH--C(O)--NH--; Y is a connecting link to the main chain of the hydrocolloid A selected from the group consisting of --O--, --O--C(O)-- and --C(O)--O--; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently H or alkyl; and n is 0 to 5; 2) of from about 0.1% w/w to about 45.0% w/w of a cosmetically acceptable excipient selected from the group consisting of a nonionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, an emollient, a colorant, a preservative and a perfume; and 3) of from about 49.9% w/w to about 54.9% w/w water.

2. A hair care composition comprising: (1) of from about 0.5% w/w to about 35.0% w/w of a polymeric material of the formula I ##STR15## said polymeric material having a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 2,000,000 daltons, wherein A is a water soluble, biodegradable polymeric hydrocolloid containing a radical selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, amino, imino, thio and carboxy, said hydrocolloid is selected from the group consisting of of gelatin, whey protein, casein, plant protein, whey protein hydrolyzate, casein hydrolyzate and plant protein hydrolyzate; X is ##STR16## R.sup.1 is H, --OH, --CN(=nitrile), halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; R.sup.2 is a saturated or unsaturated, at least bivalent hydrocarbon radical optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxy-, amino-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy- and hydroxyalkyl groups which may be optionally substituted with one or more moieties selected from the group consisting of --CO--, --O--C(O)--O--, --C(O)--O--, --O--, --O--C(O)--, --S--, --NR.sup.4 --, --NH--C(O)--and --NH--C(O)--NH--; Y is a connecting link to the main chain of the hydrocolloid A selected from the group consisting of --O--, --O--C(O)-- and --C(O)--O--; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently H or alkyl; and n is 0 to 5; 2) of from about 2.0% w/w to about 35.0% w/w of a cosmetically acceptable excipient selected from the group consisting of a nonionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, an emollient, a colorant, a preservative and a perfume; and 3) of from about 62.5% w/w to about 64.5% w/w water.