Abstract: There is provided an improved insect repellent emulsion composition. The composition has an inner discontinuous phase and an outer continuous phase. The inner discontinuous phase and/or outer continuous phase has an insect repellent active therein. The inner discontinuous phase is generally dispersed in the outer continuous phase and is in the form of discrete droplets having a multimodal droplet size distribution. There is also provided a method of protecting skin from being bitten by insects in which the above composition is applied topically to the skin. There is also provided a method of enhancing the performance of a insect repellent emulsion by forming the inner discontinuous phase as a multiplicity of droplets having a multimodal droplet size distribution. There is also provided a method of preparing an emulsifier-free insect repellent composition.

Abstract: There is provided a photostable and synergistically enhanced topical sunscreen composition. There is further provided a method of enhancing the photostability of a sunscreen active in a topical sunscreen composition. There is further still provided a method of synergistically enhancing the UV absorbance of a sunscreen active in a topical sunscreen composition. The preferred compositions and methods of the present invention use a dibenzoylmethane sunscreen active, a Kaempferia galanga extract, and a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel aryl benzimidazole sulfonic acid esters and cosmetic compositions that employ the novel aryl benzimidazole sulfonic acid esters as sunscreens. The cosmetic compositions can be water, organic solvent or emulsion based. Also provided are methods of using the compositions to protect skin from exposure to the sun, and optionally, repel insects.

Abstract: There is provided a photostable and synergistically enhanced topical sunscreen composition that provides increased substantivity, waterproofness, sweat resistance and rub off resistance. There is further provided methods of enhancing the photostability of a sunscreen active in a topical sunscreen composition, synergistically enhancing the UV absorbance of a topical sunscreen composition having a sunscreen active, and enhancing the substantivity, waterproofness, sweat resistance and rub off resistance in a topical sunscreen composition.