Abstract: The present invention provides a microgel having a mean particle size of 0.1-1,000 ?m, the microgel being produced from a gel which is formed by use of a hydrophilic compound capable of forming a gel. An external composition containing the microgel provides an excellent sensation during use; i.e., the composition provides neither sticky sensation during use nor frictional sensation. Furthermore, even when a large amount of a pharmaceutical ingredient, such as a whitening ingredient, or a salt is incorporated into the composition, the viscosity of the composition is not lowered, and the composition exhibits excellent viscosity increasing property. In addition, the composition exhibits long-term stability, without inviting separation of water.

Abstract: A production method of dry water containing an aqueous ingredient coated with a hydrophobic powder to form a powder state capable of liquefying upon embrocation at the time of use, wherein the dry water is produced by charging a hydrophobic powder and an aqueous ingredient into a hollow container forming a hydrophobic enclosed space in the inside thereof, followed by agitating at a high speed in the enclosed hydrophobic hollow container to form the aqueous ingredient to fine aqueous droplets, and then allowing the surfaces of the fine aqueous droplets to be uniformly adsorbed with the hydrophobic powder, whereby the dry water in the form of a powder state, but is capable of being liquefied upon embrocation at the time of use to be simply produced in a large scale.

Abstract: The present invention is a thickener consisting of a microgel obtained by radical polymerization of water soluble ethylene-type unsaturated monomers dissolved in the dispersion phase in a composition having an organic solvent or an oil component as the dispersion medium and water as the dispersion phase, as well as a cosmetic containing said thickener.

Abstract: A method for measuring skin absorbability of a substance, which includes measuring the amount of the substance which is penetrated into hair follicles; and using the resultant data as an index representing the amount of the substance which is absorbed through skin pores, to thereby determine the amount of the substance absorbed through skin pores and a method for measuring skin absorbability of a substance, which includes bringing the substance into contact with a first surface of a thin film that mimics the skin surface layer, a second surface of the film being brought into contact with artificial sebum; and evaluating the sebum transferability of the substance by using the degree of transfer of the substance to the artificial sebum as an index, are disclosed. A kit for performing the measurement method of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a thickener consisting of a microgel obtained by radical polymerization of water soluble ethylene-type unsaturated monomers dissolved in the dispersion phase in a composition having an organic solvent or an oil component as the dispersion medium and water as the dispersion phase, as well as a cosmetic containing said thickener.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microgel having a mean particle size of 0.1-1,000 ?m, the microgel being produced from a gel which is formed by use of a hydrophilic compound capable of forming a gel. An external composition containing the microgel provides an excellent sensation during use; i.e., the composition provides neither sticky sensation during use nor frictional sensation. Furthermore, even when a large amount of a pharmaceutical ingredient, such as a whitening ingredient, or a salt is incorporated into the composition, the viscosity of the composition is not lowered, and the composition exhibits excellent viscosity increasing property. In addition, the composition exhibits long-term stability, without inviting separation of water.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing a phosphorylcholine group-containing polysaccharide wherein the aldehyde derivative-containing compound obtained by the oxidative ring-opening reaction of glycerophosphorylcholine is added to a polysaccharide containing amino groups as well as a new polysaccharide having phosphorylcholine groups obtained from this manufacturing method. The object of the present invention is to provide a phosphorylcholine group-containing polysaccharide that is superior in biocompatibility and moisture retention, and is useful as a polymer material for medical use, as well as a simple method of manufacturing it. The polysaccharide of the present invention is utilized, for example, in artificial organs, biomembranes, coating agents for medical tools, drug delivery, and in cosmetics.

Abstract: The first objective of the present invention is to provide a water-based polymer emulsion having a satisfactory storage stability and giving a coating film whose water resistance and adhesiveness are excellent. The second objective of the present invention is to provide the water-based polymer emulsion described above which has furthermore excellent characteristics for being used in a hair cosmetics. For the purpose of accomplishing the first objective described above, a water-based polymer emulsion according to the present invention is a water-based polymer emulsion obtained by emulsion polymerization of one or more silane coupling monomer, one or more lipophilic radical polymerizable monomer, and one or more hydrophilic radical polymerizable monomer, in which the polymer having said silane coupling monomer-derived reactive silyl group remaining therein is dispersed at a concentration or lower allowing the crosslinking between said silyl groups to be formed in a water-based dispersion medium.

Abstract: A hair treatment agent composition characteristically comprising a specific hydrophobically modified polyether urethane and cationic surfactant. The hair treatment agent composition of the present invention provides has good temperature stability in terms of the viscosity, exhibits superior fluid flow characteristics, achieves smoothness and ease of arranging the hair after drying, and gives a superior sensation during use. A cleaning agent composition characteristically comprising a specific hydrophobically modified polyether urethane and anionic surfactant and/or ampholytic surfactant. The cleaning agent composition of the present invention has superior viscosity and is superior in terms of foam formation as well as foam durability and feels refreshing without a slimy sensation after rinsing-off.

Abstract: A method for measuring skin absorbability of a substance, which includes measuring the amount of the substance which is penetrated into hair follicles; and using the resultant data as an index representing the amount of the substance which is absorbed through skin pores, to thereby determine the amount of the substance absorbed through skin pores and a method for measuring skin absorbability of a substance, which includes bringing the substance into contact with a first surface of a thin film that mimics the skin surface layer, a second surface of the film being brought into contact with artificial sebum; and evaluating the sebum transferability of the substance by using the degree of transfer of the substance to the artificial sebum as an index, are disclosed. A kit for performing the measurement method of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring skin absorbability of a substance, which includes measuring the amount of the substance which is penetrated into hair follicles; and using the resultant data as an index representing the amount of the substance which is absorbed through skin pores, to thereby determine the amount of the substance absorbed through skin pores and a method for measuring skin absorbability of a substance, which includes bringing the substance into contact with a first surface of a thin film that mimics the skin surface layer, a second surface of the film being brought into contact with artificial sebum; and evaluating the sebum transferability of the substance by using the degree of transfer of the substance to the artificial sebum as an index, are disclosed. A kit for performing the measurement method of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing a phosphorylcholine group-containing polysaccharide wherein the aldehyde derivative-containing compound obtained by the oxidative ring-opening reaction of glycerophosphorylcholine is added to a polysaccharide containing amino groups as well as a new polysaccharide having phosphorylcholine groups obtained from this manufacturing method. The object of the present invention is to provide a phosphorylcholine group-containing polysaccharide that is superior in biocompatibility and moisture retention, and is useful as a polymer material for medical use, as well as a simple method of manufacturing it. The polysaccharide of the present invention is utilized, for example, in artificial organs, biomembranes, coating agents for medical tools, drug delivery, and in cosmetics.

Abstract: The present invention is a thickener consisting of a microgel obtained by radical polymerization of water soluble ethylene-type unsaturated monomers dissolved in the dispersion phase in a composition having an organic solvent or an oil component as the dispersion medium and water as the dispersion phase, as well as a cosmetic containing said thickener.

Abstract: A production method of dry water containing an aqueous ingredient coated with a hydrophobic powder to form a powder state capable of liquefying upon embrocation at the time of use, wherein the dry water is produced by charging a hydrophobic powder and an aqueous ingredient into a hollow container forming a hydrophobic enclosed space in the inside thereof, followed by agitating at a high speed in the enclosed hydrophobic hollow container to form the aqueous ingredient to fine aqueous droplets, and then allowing the surfaces of the fine aqueous droplets to be uniformly adsorbed with the hydrophobic powder, whereby the dry water in the form of a powder state, but is capable of being liquefied upon embrocation at the time of use to be simply produced in a large scale.

Abstract: A high internal aqueous phase water-in-oil type emulsion composition including (a) a high molecular weight polyether-modified silicone having a number average molecular weight of 30,000 or more, (b) a polyether-modified silicone having a number-average molecular weight of 10,000 or less, or a sucrose fatty acid ester and/or polyglyceryl fatty acid ester in the state of liquid at ordinary temperature and having an HLB of 4 or less, (c) a silicone-based oil and (d) an inorganic salt and/or organic salt, having a fresh, sharp feeling in use, and exhibiting an excellent emulsified state, as well as an emulsion cosmetic composition using the same.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a film composition which is solidified in water of which a painted film is rapidly solidified and also has proper usabilities for use as a manicure. To accomplish the object a film composition of the present invention comprises water insoluble film materials, and a solvent which dissolves the water insoluble film materials and soluble with water, wherein the solvent contains specified alkylene glycol ethers and ketones, and characterized by that the film materials are precipitated from the mixture of the remaining solvent and penetrating water in a painted film of the composition when the painted film is dipped in water.

Abstract: The hairdressing cosmetic preparation of the present invention is characterized by comprising a heat-gelling polymer which becomes to gel upon heating. The gelling temperature of the heat-gelling polymer is preferably 60° C. or higher. Preferable heat-gelling polymer is polysaccharides such as &bgr;-1,3-glucan, &bgr;-1,3-xylan, curdlan and the like. The hair dressing preparation of the present invention, due to using such heat-gelling polymer, can give excellent hairdressing effect and hair-setting power when hair applied with the hairdressing preparation is treated with heating.

Abstract: A powder composition such as a powder cosmetic composition, powder paint, or the like containing (a) a fluorine-treated powder (or a powder treated with a metal, followed by treated with fluorine) and (b) an oily component having a surface tension value (average) of at least 2.0×10−2 N/m, without substantially containing water, which is capable of liquifying by friction of an application thereof, of which composition is a superior powder composition liquifies upon friction of an application thereof at the time of use, which is free from the separation and sticky feeling of the oil, enables a good feeling in use and suppresses dryness of the skin, and will not adhere to the container in spite of an oil-rich preparation.

Abstract: The first objective of the present invention is to provide a water-based polymer emulsion having a satisfactory storage stability and giving a coating film whose water resistance and adhesiveness are excellent. The second objective of the present invention is to provide the water-based polymer emulsion described above which has furthermore excellent characteristics for being used in a hair cosmetics. For the purpose of accomplishing the first objective described above, a water-based polymer emulsion according to the present invention is a water-based polymer emulsion obtained by emulsion polymerization of one or more silane coupling monomer, one or more lipophilic radical polymerizable monomer, and one or more hydrophilic radical polymerizable monomer, in which the polymer having said silane coupling monomer-derived reactive silyl group remaining therein is dispersed at a concentration or lower allowing the crosslinking between said silyl groups to be formed in a water-based dispersion medium.

Abstract: A method for measuring skin absorbability of a substance, which includes measuring the amount of the substance which is penetrated into hair follicles; and using the resultant data as an index representing the amount of the substance which is absorbed through skin pores, to thereby determine the amount of the substance absorbed through skin pores and a method for measuring skin absorbability of a substance, which includes bringing the substance into contact with a first surface of a thin film that mimics the skin surface layer, a second surface of the film being brought into contact with artificial sebum; and evaluating the sebum transferability of the substance by using the degree of transfer of the substance to the artificial sebum as an index, are disclosed. A kit for performing the measurement method of the present invention is also disclosed.