Abstract: Provided are a silica-coated mixed crystal oxide particle which has high dispersibility, excellent visible light transparency and superior ultraviolet-shielding capability and which is sufficiently reduced in the photocatalytic activity; an economical production process thereof; and an ultraviolet-shielding cosmetic material containing the silica-coated mixed crystal oxide particle, which is particularly excellent in the visible light transparency. The surface of a mixed crystal oxide particle having a BET specific surface area of 10 to 200 m2/g and containing primary particles in a mixed crystal is covered with a dense and thin film silica.

Abstract: To provide a cosmetic composition having excellent ultraviolet protection against both UVB and UVA, causing neither unpleasant whitening to the applied skin nor skin irritation, and ensuring good feeling on use and high safety and high stability without causing decomposition of the ingredients blended in the cosmetic material, such as organic ultraviolet absorber. A cosmetic composition obtained by using fine particulate titanium oxide and fine particulate zinc oxide each surface-treated with silica, alumina or alumina/silica and having a primary particle size of 0.01 to 0.2 ?m in combination and blending titanium oxide and zinc oxide at a mass ratio of 1:4 to 2:3, wherein SPF is maintained as compared with the case where the mass ratio of titanium oxide to zinc oxide is 1:0, and when applied to a thickness of 10 ?m, the whiteness W value measured using the CIE color specification system is 20 or less.

Abstract: Provided are a silica-coated mixed crystal oxide particle which has high dispersibility, excellent visible light transparency and superior ultraviolet-shielding capability and which is sufficiently reduced in the photocatalytic activity; an economical production process thereof; and an ultraviolet-shielding cosmetic material containing the silica-coated mixed crystal oxide particle, which is particularly excellent in the visible light transparency. The surface of a mixed crystal oxide particle having a BET specific surface area of 10 to 200 m2/g and containing primary particles in a mixed crystal is covered with a dense and thin film silica.

Abstract: To provide a cosmetic composition having excellent ultraviolet protection against both UVB and UVA, causing neither unpleasant whitening to the applied skin nor skin irritation, and ensuring good feeling on use and high safety and high stability without causing decomposition of the ingredients blended in the cosmetic material, such as organic ultraviolet absorber. A cosmetic composition obtained by using fine particulate titanium oxide and fine particulate zinc oxide each surface-treated with silica, alumina or alumina/silica and having a primary particle size of 0.01 to 0.2 &mgr;m in combination and blending titanium oxide and zinc oxide at a mass ratio of 1:4 to 2:3, wherein SPF is maintained as compared with the case where the mass ratio of titanium oxide to zinc oxide is 1:0, and when applied to a thickness of 10 &mgr;m, the whiteness W value measured using the CIE color specification system is 20 or less.

Abstract: The invention relates to (1) a cosmetic material comprising silica-coated metal oxide particles further surface-treated with a hydrophobicizing agent, and (2) metal oxide particles having a specified infrared absorption spectrum intensity ratio and refractive index which are further treated with a hydrophobicizing agent, and to a process for their production. The invention further relates to a silica-coated metal oxide sol which gives such particles, and to a process for its production. The invention can give ultraviolet-screening cosmetic materials with an excellent transparent feel, wherein the particles are satisfactorily dispersed.

Abstract: A cosmetic composition comprising titanium oxide coated with one or both of silica and alumina or zinc oxide coated with one or both of silica and alumina, and a thickening polymer having a carboxyl group in the side chain, preferably a carboxyvinyl polymer, wherein when 10% by mass of silica- and/or alumina-coated titanium oxide or silica- and/or alumina-coated zinc oxide is dispersed in an aqueous solution containing 0.133% by mass of a carboxyvinyl polymer, the viscosity after the passing of 100 hours is 50% or more of the initial viscosity. A cosmetic composition comprising titanium oxide coated with one or both silica and alumina or zinc oxide coated with one or both of silica and alumina, and a thickening polymer having a carboxyl group in the side chain of the invention, can maintain emulsion stability by thickening of polymer for a long period of time and can be widely and suitably used for ultraviolet shielding cosmetic materials or the like having preparation form stability.

Abstract: A cosmetic composition comprising titanium oxide coated with one or both of silica and alumina or zinc oxide coated with one or both of silica and alumina, and a thickening polymer having a carboxyl group in the side chain, preferably a carboxyvinyl polymer, wherein when 10% by mass of silica- and/or alumina-coated titanium oxide or silica- and/or alumina-coated zinc oxide is dispersed in an aqueous solution containing 0.133% by mass of a carboxyvinyl polymer, the viscosity after the passing of 100 hours is 50% or more of the initial viscosity. A cosmetic composition comprising titanium oxide coated with one or both silica and alumina or zinc oxide coated with one or both of silica and alumina, and a thickening polymer having a carboxyl group in the side chain of the invention, can maintain emulsion stability by thickening of polymer for a long period of time and can be widely and suitably used for ultraviolet shielding cosmetic materials or the like having preparation form stability.

Abstract: Cosmetics comprising silica-coated metal oxide powder having a thickness of the silica coating of 0.1 to 100 nm, and a photocatalytic activity as measured by tetralin auto-oxidation method of 6 mmH2O/min or less. Silica-coated metal oxide powder coated with a silica coating having an absorption peak intensity ratio I (I=I1/I2, wherein I1 is an absorption peak intensity at 1,150 to 1,250 cm−1 and I2 is an absorption peak intensity at 1,000 to 1,100 cm−1) between the infrared absorption spectra in the region of 1,150 to 1,250 cm−1 and the region of 1,000 to 1,100 cm−1 of 0.2 or more, and having a refractive index of 1.435 or more.

Abstract: A microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas; an alkaline lipase produced by the microorganism or its mutants; a method of producing the alkaline lipase; and detergents containing the alkaline lipase as an aid, the alkaline lipase having (1) an operative pH of from 4 to 11.5, and an optimum pH of from 7.0 to 9.5, as measured using triolein emulsion as a substrate; (2) an operative temperature of from 10.degree. to 80.degree. C., and an optimum temperature of from 55.degree. to 65.degree. C., as measured using triolein emulsion as a substrate; (3) a molecular weight of 28,000 .+-.2,000 as measured by electrophoresis using SDS polyacrylamide; (4) isoelectric point of 4.5 .+-.1.5 as measured by isoelectric focusing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; and (5) an inhibition of lipase activity by a detergent component of not higher than 50% as measured using sodium linear-alkylbenzenesulfonate as said detergent component.