Abstract: A formulation is described for straightening hair comprising alkanoic acids and a diluent, wherein the diluent is advantageously present at greater than 5% by volume, and more preferably greater than 20% by volume. The inventive formulation is acidic and does not use an effective amount of an alkaline hair-straightening agent to perform the hair straightening function. Instead, the step of hair straightening is accomplished by applying the non-alkaline formulation to the hair and then either leaving the formulation in the hair without rinsing or rinsing the formulation out of the hair followed by optional shampooing and/or conditioning. Consequently, a safe and surprisingly effective solution is provided for hair-straightening including hair-straightening maintenance, relaxation of curl, and reduction of frizziness (e.g., in humid weather).

Abstract: An effective barrier function for the lips is restored and maintained by the topical administration of various formulations, including mixtures of ceramides and essential and nonessential free fatty acids, and mixtures of a &bgr;-glucocerebrosidase and a phospholipase A2.

Abstract: A composition in the form of an emulsion comprising an oily phase which is dispersed, with the aid of a surfactant system, in a glycerol phase containing an oxidation-sensitive hydrophilic compound and optionally comprising at least one glycol in addition to the glycerol, characterized in that the surfactant system contains at least one surfactant capable of forming a lamellar phase on contact with the glycerol phase and having a melting point of greater than or equal to 35° C. The composition obtained has the appearance of a gel in which the hydrophilic compound is stabilized with respect to oxidation, this stabilization also being achieved under aerobic conditions. The invention also relates to the use of the said composition in order to tone the skin and/or to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines on the skin and/or to combat the harmful effects of UV radiation and pollution and/or to depigment the skin.

Abstract: A mascara composition for curling and thickening eyelashes comprising: a waxes-in-water emulsion of at least one mixture of hard waxes (I), the mixture of waxes (I) containing at least three waxes having melting points ranging from 77° C. to 110° C., the mixture of waxes (I) is present in a content of at least 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, and the mixture of waxes (I) is in the form of particles of at least 1 &mgr;m in size, and at least 0.1% by weight of a polymer system containing at least one film-forming polymer, where the polymer system is capable of forming a film which produces, at a concentration of 7% in water, a greater than 1% retraction of isolated stratum corneum at 30° C. and under a relative humidity of 40%.

Abstract: Aromatic, substituted pyrimidine compounds, methods for the preparation thereof, and use thereofCompounds having a pyrimidine ring, of the formula (I) ##STR1## are suitable for nonlinear-optical applications, e.g. for fabricating components for frequency-doubling of light. In the formula, AX is ##STR2## An.sup.- is an anion, B is the pyrimidine(1,4) radical, D is --NH.sub.2, --NH--NH.sub.2, --OR.sup.6, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.p OH, --OH, --NR.sup.5 R.sup.6, --NHR.sup.6, --N.dbd.CH--R.sup.4, --HN--N.dbd.CH--R.sup.4, --NO.sub.2,the radicals R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 are an alkyl radical having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or a radical CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.m (CH.sub.2).sub.n, R.sup.4 is a phenyl radical which may be substituted, R.sup.6 is an alkyl radical having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or the radical CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.m (CH.sub.2).sub.n, where m is an integer of at least 5, n is an integer of at least zero, and (n+m) is at most 22, or the group (CH.sub.2).sub.

Abstract: A hinge lock mechanism (a joint fastener) for lockingly joining at least two panels together at any angle comprising two arms. One of the arms has threads thereon and screws into a floating nut that is located in one of the panels and the other arm has a conical V shaped depression thereon that communicates with a clamping device that has a set screw thereon that is urged against the conical V shaped surface of the arm for tightening the panels together. This hinge lock mechanism forms a continuous edge at the junction of the two panels and cannot be seen from the desired side of the panels.