Abstract: Provided are lip-based compositions such as lipsticks, lip balms, and lip glosses that have favorable transparency, haze, temperature stability, hardness, taste, payoff, moisturizing effect, feel, and/or resistance to droop and/or shear. In certain embodiments, the lip-based compositions are for use with a container that exposes a substantial percentage of the surface area of the lip-based composition. Also provided are processes for production of such lip-based compositions.

Abstract: Provided are lip-based compositions such as lipsticks, lip balms, and lip glosses that have favorable transparency, haze, temperature stability, hardness, taste, payoff, moisturizing effect, feel, and/or resistance to droop and/or shear. In certain embodiments, the lip-based compositions are for use with a container that exposes a substantial percentage of the surface area of the lip-based composition. Also provided are processes for production of such lip-based compositions.

Abstract: Leucocytes can be quickly and selectively separated from erythrocytes by subjecting a whole blood sample to a series of steps including lysing the erythrocytes and washing the remaining leucocytes with a solution containing ammonium chloride and a carboxylic acid or a metal carboxylate. The resulting white blood cells can be readily lysed and subjected to polymerase chain reaction to amplify and detect a target nucleic acid. The test kit useful in practicing the amplification method includes a labeled primer, a PCR reagent and a reagent mixture containing ammonium chloride and a carboxylic acid or a metal carboxylate for sample preparation.