Abstract: An applicator includes a barrel portion, a nose portion, a pivoting joint, a threaded screw, a cup, and a flexible driveshaft. The nose portion is connected to the barrel portion at the pivoting joint. The threaded screw is disposed in the barrel portion and threadably engages a plurality of threads. The cup is disposed in the nose portion and is adapted to carry a mass or instrument. The cup is rotationally fixed to the nose portion and the threaded screw such that rotation of the nose portion relative to the barrel portion causes axial displacement of the cup and the screw relative to the barrel portion. The flexible driveshaft extends between and is rotationally fixed to the threaded screw and the cup. The flexible shaft extends across the pivoting joint disposed at the connection between the nose portion and the barrel portion.

Abstract: The subject articles include a housing including a cellulose ester (for example propionic acid esters and mixed esters), optionally encasing a marking mass, such as a cosmetic mass, and methods for making the same, such as by molding such as injection molding, extruding, and fabricating (e.g., by turning and drilling).

Abstract: A temperature-stable cosmetic composition including a polyamide resin, a solvent for the polyamide resin, and a gelling agent selected from the group consisting of N-acyl amino acid amides, N-acyl amino acid esters, and mixtures thereof, is disclosed. A composition of the invention can be made translucent or transparent, need not require specialized packaging and containers, is not subject to hardening caused by evaporation of volatile alcohols, is temperature-stable over a period of several weeks, and exhibits excellent esthetic and functional properties, including sensory properties, for consumer acceptance.

Abstract: A plasticized high water content cosmetic gel that will be sharpenable when used as a core inside of a sharpenable pencil barrel. The gel essentially comprises, by weight, about 25-42% water; about 25-35% of a polyol or aliphatic diol vehicle such as a butylene glycol; about 4-12% sodium stearate; about 0.1-2% of a carboxylated acid ester plasticizer; about 4-28% of a colorant; and about 0.1-1% of a surfactant. To reduce syneresis, adding about 1 percent or less a viscosity increasing agent is effective. For water resistance when the cosmetic gel is applied to a user's skin, adding about 5-10% of a styrene acrylic polymer waterproofing agent is effective, and does not increase irritation levels out of the mild range.

Abstract: A sharpener for lead pencils, colored pencils, cosmetic pencils and the like with an essentially cuboid shaped sharpener housing, in which the longitudinal lateral sides of the sharpener housing are provided with complementary protrusions or recesses that allow fitting together of two sharpeners.

Abstract: A water-based nail polish, which comprises 12 to 50 percent by weight of polyurethane and/or a polyurethane copolymer in dispersed form as a binder, 0.1 to 1 percent by weight of a thickener and water as well as further additives, as required.

Abstract: A cosmetic applicator of the type comprising a longitudinally elongated cap that contains a cosmetic cake, a longitudinally elongated barrel holder with a first end supporting a resilient applicator is improved by a longitudinally elongated godet that encloses the cosmetic cake and presents only a substantially transverse exposed surface for contact with said applicator, and an applicator tip that is resilient and expands transversely into a substantial wiping contact with the godet interior wall upon compression against the exposed cake surface. The invention further is characterized by a mounting to rotatably and removably mount the cap upon the barrel at a substantially fixed longitudinal mounting position, and resiliently to maintain a substantially constant pressure during contact between the applicator and the exposed cosmetic surface as the barrel and cap longitudinally are moved into and out of the fixed mounting position.