Abstract: By incorporating cationic guar gums in combination with nonionic guar gums in a single gel composition, a highly effective, hair straightening/smoothing composition is realized which achieves the temporary straightening and/or smoothing of hair fibers, without chemically interacting with the hair fiber itself. By employing the present invention, a temporary hair straightening effect is realized which enables a wide variety of hair styles or fashions to be attained, while still enabling the hair change effect to be easily reversed by merely washing the hair to remove the chemical formulation. In addition, the physical properties of the hair fibers, such as feel, shine, luster, softness and manageability are retained without adverse effect. In the preferred embodiment, in addition to employing a cationic guar gum, in combination with a nonionic guar gum, the present invention also incorporates additives such as humidity protectors, fragrances, preservatives, pH controllers, and water.

Abstract: Cosmetic compositions comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one specific amphoteric starch and at least one cationic conditioner. This combination can provide cosmetic properties such as smoothness, lightness, and suppleness without certain cosmetic effects considered undesirable. These compositions can be used for washing and/or conditioning keratin materials such as the hair or the skin.

Abstract: This invention relates to water-soluble/dispersible reactive functionalized imido and polyimido compounds, wherein the polyimido compounds may be selected from the group consisting of polysuccinimide compounds, polyglutimide compounds, and copolymers of thereof. The polyimido compound comprises a functionalizing moiety F that provides functionality to the polyimido compound and is preferably derived from a nucleophilic moiety selected from the group consisting of amines, alcohols, phenols, thiols, and carboxylates; and a water-solubilizing/dispersing moiety that provides water-solubility and/or water-dispersibility to the polyimido compound and is preferably derived from a nucleophilic moiety selected from the group consisting of amines, alcohols, phenols, thiols, and carboxylates. The invention also pertains to a proteinaceous substrate to which the imido or polyimido compound has been covalently bonded and to a method for treating a proteinaceous substrate with the imido or polyimido compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel vesicle-free composition for the first stage of a process of permanent reshaping of keratin fibres, this composition comprising, in a suitable cosmetic support, at least one compound of ceramide type in a specific amount and at least one reducing agent. The invention also relates to a novel process of permanent reshaping of keratin fibres using the composition defined above.

Abstract: This invention relates to water-soluble/dispersible reactive imido and polyimido compounds, wherein the polyimido compounds may be selected from the group consisting of polysuccinimide compounds, polyglutimide compounds, and copolymers of thereof. The polyimido compounds comprise a water-solubilizing/dispersing moiety that provides water-solubility and/or water-dispersibility to the polyimido compound and preferably is derived from a nucleophilic moiety selected from the group consisting of amines, alcohols, phenols, thiols, and carboxylates. The present invention also pertains to a proteinaceous substrate to which the imido or polyimido compound has been covalently bonded and to a method for treating a proteinaceous substrate with the imido or polyimido compound.

Abstract: Derivatized Arabinogalactan can be utilized in a variety of compositions to impart functionality without imparting negative rheological affects when the amount of the derivatized Arabinogalactan is increased in the composition. This is particularly important in the personal care industry, where it is desirable to have the flexibility to adjust the amount of derivatized Arabinogalactan depending upon the results it is desired to deliver to the user without negatively impacting the overall viscosity of the personal care composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved and useful bar soap composition for the transdermal delivery of skin nourishing components, for the alleviation and treatment of dermatitis, eczema, and lupus skin conditions, including dry, sensitive, chapped, flaking, and itching skin infirmities, said skin nourishing components including, safflower oil, flaxseed oil, tincture of benzoin, vitamin A, and tocopheral linoleate, in a glycerin soap base.

Abstract: An improved and useful organic oil-based foot cleansing composition and topical transdermal delivery system for hydrating and nourishing dry, cracked, itching, dermatitic, and eczemic skin infirmities, as well as the treatment and alleviation of fungal conditions of the foot, which has as its main constituents, safflower oil, flaxseed oil, boric acid, tincture of benzoin, and borax, in a glycerin base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanoemulsion, that includes: an oily phase dispersed in an aqueous phase; and at least one anionic surfactant selected from the group including phosphoric acid fatty esters and oxyethylenated derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof; wherein the oily phase includes oil globules having a number-average size of less than 100 nm; wherein the oily phase includes at least one oil having a molecular weight of greater than 400; and wherein a weight ratio of the oily phase to the surfactant ranges from 2 to 10. The invention also provides a process for making the nanoemulsion, and methods for its use. The nanoemulsion is ideally transparent and stable on storage. It can ideally contain large amounts of oil while retaining good transparency and good cosmetic properties. The nanoemulsion is particularly useful in compositions, including topical, pharmaceutical, dermatological, cosmetic, opthalmic, and opthalmologic.

Abstract: The aqueous ready-to-apply composition for permanent waving of hair has a pH of 4 to 8.5 and from 3 to 28% by weight of at least one N-alkylmercaptoacetamide of formula (I): wherein R represents a straight-chain alkyl group having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms or a straight-chain hydroxyalkyl group having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms; or a salt thereof; and at least one standard cosmetic additive ingredient, such as thickeners, wetting agents and emulsifiers, perfume oils, conditioners and buffer substances. The ready-to-apply composition can be made by mixing two or more components, one of which contains the N-alkylmercaptoacetamide. A method for permanent waving of hair using the ready-to-apply composition is also described. A process for making the N-alkylmercapto-acetamides includes reacting a suitable amine with methylthioglycolate under a protective gas atmosphere at temperatures that are not greater than 30° C.

Abstract: The cosmetic composition includes hydrophobic lipophilic materials as the principle vehicle carrying the active ingredients in a continuous solid phase, the composition is formed into a hairstick by locating the composition in a container having means to mechanically extrude the composition out of the open end of the container. A unique process is provided for forming the composition and locating the composition in the container. In one embodiment the composition is layered alternately between removably impermeable membranes in the container such that when the top layer of composition is used, the next lower membrane may be removed to allow the next layer of composition to be used.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel polymers containing at least some units of formula (I): in which: A1⊕ and A2⊕; which may be identical or different, denote: a) a quaternary unsaturated heterocycle; or b) a quaternary ammonium and at least one of the groups A1⊕ and A2⊕ denotes a quaternary unsaturated heterocycle; p denotes an integer or fraction from 0 to 50; B1 denotes an &agr;, &ohgr;-bis(alkyl)polysiloxane group or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon-based chain containing upto 6 consecutive carbon atoms, which can contain one or more hydroxyl groups and can be interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms and/or several aromatic rings; B2 denotes a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon-based chain containing upto 6 consecutive carbon atoms, which can contain one or more hydroxyl groups and can be interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms and/or several aromatic rings; R1, R2, R3 and R4, which may be identical or different, de

Abstract: An aqueous peroxide composition for coloring or lightening hair comprising (a) 1-99% of an aqueous phase containing (ii) 1-55% by weight of the total composition of water, (ii) 1-45% hydrogen peroxide, and (iii) a water soluble cosolvent; and (b) 0.1-60% of an oil phase; and (c) 1-65% of an organic, amphiphilic, surface active ingredient capable of interacting with the water phase and the oil phase to form lyotropic liquid crystals containing said water phase ingredients; a method for coloring or lightening hair using the peroxide composition, and a method for reducing the amount of time necessary to permanently color hair using the peroxide composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxidizing agent for use in a process for permanently reshaping the hair, this agent comprising: a first component comprising a composition containing at least one oxidizing agent in aqueous medium, a second component comprising a composition containing one thickening polymer in aqueous medium, as an aqueous or oily dispersion or as a reverse emulsion, with the proviso that said thickening polymer is not quaternary hydroxyethylcellulose; the first and the second component are mixed with each other at the time of use in order to obtain a ready-to-use oxidizing composition to be applied to the hair in order to reform the hair's disulfide linkages.

Abstract: Hair treatment compositions, such as depilatory products and hair straightening and permanent waving products, containing reducing sulphur species, particularly thioglycolates, additionally incorporate zinc compounds, particularly zinc oxide, to reduce malodor.

Abstract: A cosmetic composition comprising water-soluble copolymer, which as characteristic structural elements comprises a) vinylcarboxamide units of the general formula I where R1 and R2 independently of one another are H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, and b) units of the general formula II where A is a chemical bond or an alkylene group, the radicals R3 independently of one another are H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, or together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form an unsubstituted, mono- or polysubstituted, five- to seven-membered, heterocyclic, aromatic or nonaromatic ring, which if appropriate contains one or two further heteroatoms, selected from among O, N and S, it being possible for the heterocyclic ring to be fused to a further five- or six-membered, aromatic or nonaromatic ring, R4 is H, alkyl or aralkyl.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hair treatment composition (I) comprising the following components (a) and (b), or a hair treatment composition (II) comprising the following components (c) and (b), and a method for imparting elasticity to the hair using the composition: (a) an organic solvent; (b) at least one aromatic sulfonic acid selected from naphthalenesulfonic acids, azulenesulfonic acids, tetralin-sulfonic acids, indansulfonic acids and benzophenonesulfonic acids or salts thereof; and (c) a reducing agent.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a cosmetic preparation containing Ilex resin which is isolated from leaves of Ilex aquifolium or Ilex paraguariensis, a method for isolating Ilex resin, and the Ilex resin obtained by this method. Skin treatment preparations containing Ilex resin produce a stable protective film on the skin. Hair treatment preparations containing Ilex resin intensify the color, increase luster, contribute to good wet combability, and improve the elasticity of the hair treated with the preparation.

Abstract: A composition comprising a dry cationic pectin salt which when suspended in water swells to heat stable particles having a mean equivalent diameter greater than 100 micrometers. Food, cosmetic, superabsorbent and skin adhesive compositions containing the dry cationic pectin salt. A process for making the dry cationic pectin salt having the steps: a) converting a pectin starting material into a pectinate in a liquid medium, b) drying the pectinate, and c) selecting conditions in steps (a) and/or (b) that allow for the production of pectinate which when suspended in water swells to heat stable particles having a mean equivalent diameter greater than 100 micrometers.

Abstract: The hair treatment composition for increasing the formability and luster of hair contains from 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of a copolymer formed from at least one ethylenic unsaturated monomer of the formula (I): CH2═CR1R2  (I), wherein R1 is A—(CH2CH2O)x—R3 or COOH group and A is C(═O)O, C(═O)NH or CH2O, x is a number from 1 to 100, R3 is a C8- to C30-alkyl group, R2 is H, a C1- to C30-alkyl group or a CH2—R1 group, with the proviso that at least one of the groups, R1 and R2, contain the A—(CH2CH2O)x—R3 group; and from at least one ethylenic unsaturated monomer of the formula (II): CH2═CR4COOR5  (II), wherein R4 and R5 are, independently of each other, H or an alkyl group with 1 to 30 carbon atoms; from 0.01 to 50 percent by weight of a polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight over 500 g/mol and from 0.01 to 20 percent by weight of a nonionic surfactant having an HLB-value under 20.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reducing agent intended to be used in a process for permanently reshaping the hair, this agent comprising: a first component comprising at least one thiol-bearing reducing agent in aqueous medium, and a second component comprising at least one thickening polymer in aqueous medium, said thickening polymer being in the form of an aqueous dispersion, an oily dispersion, or a reverse emulsion, with the proviso that said thickening polymer is not vinylpyrollidone-styrol, carboxymethylcellulose, acrylic acid homopolymers, quaternary hydroxyethylcellulose, and cross-linked polymers of polymethacrylic acid; wherein the first and second components are to be mixed with each other at the time of initiating the permanently reshaping of the hair to obtain a ready-to-use reducing composition.

Abstract: A cosmetic or dermatological composition for treating keratinous material, particularly hair, including a cosmetically or dermatologically acceptable medium containing at least one silicone-grafted polymer with a polysiloxane backbone grafted by non-silicone organic monomers and at least one silicone selected from silicones which comprise at least one optionally quaternary amine function, silicone resins, and silicone gums, is disclosed. Such compositions are particularly suitable for use as rinsable or non-rinsable products for washing and conditioning hair, hair setting, or hair styling.