Abstract: The present invention is an emulsion-type pack cosmetic containing polyvinyl alcohol, oil, and water which characteristically contains the oil in the amount of 20-80 wt % or 15-50 wt % of the total emulsion-type pack cosmetic. A fast-drying peel-off type pack cosmetic with a short drying time and superior usability can be provided.

Abstract: A gelation agent or an emulsifying agent is provided which is obtained by mixing a water swelling clay mineral with a quarternary ammonium salt type cation surfactant and a fatty acid or a higher alcohol which is liquid at normal temperatures. The present invention can provide a gelation agent or an emulsifying agent which can be added and mixed to a wide range of oils to produce a gel composition or an emulsified composition with superior stability, safety and usability. The gelation agent or the emulsifying agent of the present invention or the gel composition or the emulsified composition using this agent is preferably used as the base agent of cosmetics and quasi-drugs, for example. Also, the sunscreen cosmetic prepared by adding ultraviolet light protection powder to the aforementioned emulsified composition exhibits superior usability, i.e.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microgel having a mean particle size of 0.1-1,000 &mgr;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 first subject of the present invention is a whipped O/W type emulsion cosmetic, which comprises a gel-forming amount of a polymer which forms a gel having no fluidity, in an aqueous phase. The second subject of the present invention is a process for preparing a whipped O/W type emulsion cosmetic, which whipping an O/W type emulsion containing a polymer which forms a gel having no fluidity, which is filled in the whipped state. In addition, the present invention is a process for preparing a whipped O/W type emulsion cosmetic, which whips an O/W type emulsion containing no polymer which forms a gel having no fluidity, then mixes a polymer which forms a gel having no fluidity, in a whipped base, which is filled.

Abstract: A hair treatment agent composition characteristically comprising a specific hydrophobically modified polyether urethane and cationic surfactant.

Abstract: In order to provide a cosmetic composition which is excellent in stability of viscosity and usability, the cosmetic composition of the present invention comprises an associative thickener, which is composed of a compound shown in Formula (1), and the cosmetic composition is an oil-in-water emulsion composition, which further comprises a water-soluble polymer: R1—{(O—R2)k—OCONH—R3[—NHCOO—(R4—O)n—R5]h}m  (1) wherein R1, R2, and R4 each is a hydrocarbon group, which may be the same or different each other; R3 is a hydrocarbon group, which may have urethane bond; R5 is a straight chain, branched chain or secondary hydrocarbon group; m is an integer of 2 or more; h is an integer of 1 or more; and k and n each is an integer within the range of 0 to 1000, respectively.

Abstract: A microcapsule of the present invention is characterized in that it encapsulate oil droplets having average particle size of 0.01 to 3 &mgr;m and its capsulating agent is a hydrophilic polymer gelling agent. The main component of the capsulating agent is preferably a hydrophilic polymer gelling agent which hardens by heating and cooling, and, in particular, agar or carrageenan. In the making method of the present invention, a microcapsule can be made efficiently due to no loss in the inner oil phase, and its particle size can easily be controlled. The microcapsule is excellent in shearing-resistance, store stability. Also, if the fracture strength of the microcapsule is within a specific range, a microcapsule which releasing characteristic of encapsulated oil droplets when applied is immediately-, gradually- or non-releasing can be obtained.

Abstract: In order to provide a liquid crystal composition and a cosmetic preparation, which is favorable in adaptation to skin and gives smooth feeling in case of using as a skin care product, and which is favorable in adaptation to makeup and has high makeup removing effect in case of using as a make-up remover, and which is favorable in adaptation to hair and has favorable feeling of use to provide glossiness to hair in case of using as a hair care product, a cosmetic preparation of the present invention comprises (A) 10 to 60 wt % of a nonionic surfactant, (B) 1 to 50 wt % in all of one or more of a water-soluble substance having a hydroxyl group, (C) 1 to 70 wt % of a silicone oil, and (D) 10 to 60 wt % of water and has a liquid crystal phase and/or an isotropic surfactant continuous phase.

Abstract: A copolymer having silyl groups with at least one reactive functional group bonded thereto. The copolymer comprises a monomer (A) shown by the following Formula (I): wherein R1 is hydrogen atom or methyl; R2 is alkylene group having 1-6 carbon atoms; and R3, R4 and R5 each is a reactive functional group which can cross-link molecules of the copolymer by hydrolyzing. Further, the copolymer preferably comprises, as a constituent monomer, an alkyl (meth)acrylate and a siloxane-containing (meth)acrylate. A coating-forming method comprises hydrolyzing the composition on a material to be treated to cross-link molecules of the copolymer when on the material. A coating of the cross-linked copolymer has resistance to washing. This coating can modify the nature of hair, improve make-up retention, and provide skin-protecting. It can impart water-repellency, resistance to fouling, suitability as a sizing and crease resistance to fibers.

Abstract: A gelation agent or an emulsifying agent is provided which is obtained by mixing a water swelling clay mineral with a quarternary ammonium salt type cation surfactant and a fatty acid or a higher alcohol which is liquid at normal temperatures. The present invention can provide a gelation agent or an emulsifying agent which can be added and mixed to a wide range of oils to produce a gel composition or an emulsified composition with superior stability, safety and usability.

Abstract: The present invention is an emulsion-type pack cosmetic containing polyvinyl alcohol, oil, and water which characteristically contains the oil in the amount of 20-80 wt % or 15-50 wt % of the total emulsion-type pack cosmetic. A fast-drying peel-off type pack cosmetic with a short drying time and superior usability can be provided.

Abstract: An O/W/O type multiple emulsion in which an O/W type emulsion is dispersed in the outer phase oil wherein the O/W type emulsion in the inner phase contains water, an oil based ingredient, a surfactant and an amphiphilic substance chosen from those which can form a gel at ordinal temperature or higher in an amphiphilic substance-surfactant-oil-water system or N-long chain acyl acidic amino acid monosalt and an amphiphilic substance chosen from those which can form a gel at ordinal temperature or higher in an amphiphilic substance-N-long chain acyl acidic amino acid monosalt-oil-water system, said outer phase oil contains organophilic modified clay minerals and an emulsifying agent with a HLB of 7 or lower, and the weight ratio of the O/W type emulsion and the outer phase oil is 2:3-19:1. An O/W/O type multiple emulsion with superior stability over time and good usability.

Abstract: There is provided a .beta.-1,3 glucan obtained by applying ultrasonic treatment in a mixed solution of an organic solvent containing at least dimethyl sulfoxide to remove the contaminant proteins and there is provided a coupling medium for a probe of an ultrasonograph comprised of a gel composed of a .beta.-1,3 glucan, as a main component, from which contaminant proteins have been removed as a coupling medium for a probe of an ultrasonograph superior in physical properties and safety.

Abstract: This invention relates to an oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) type multiple emulsion which contains an inner oil phase, a water phase, and an outer oil phase. The inner oil phase is first dispersed in water to form an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. Then, the O/W emulsion is further dispersed in the outer oil phase to form the O/W/O type multiple emulsion. The outer oil phase contains an organophilic clay mineral, which can effectively prevent the inter-mixing of the inner oil phase with the outer oil phase, thus, producing an O/W/O type multiple emulsion with excellent storage stability. Upon the using of an oil-soluble compound in the inner oil phase, this multiple emulsion system can prevent the oil-soluble compound from being oxidized.

Abstract: A W/O type emulsified composition comprising an oil phase containing ethyl cellulose and a solvent capable of swelling ethyl cellulose and a water phase containing a water soluble polymer(s) emulsified as a water-in-oil type (W/O type) emulsion. A W/O type emulsified composition comprising an oil phase containing ethyl cellulose and a solvent capable of swelling ethyl cellulose and a water phase containing a polyion complex comprising cationized cellulose and sodium hyaluronate emulsified as a water-in-oil type (W/O type) emulsion.

Abstract: An emulsion for hair treatment is provided which is characterized by the following: the formulation (I) is composed of a W/O type emulsion, which allows the main agent to be stable, and contains preferably an oil soluble polymer compound for the emulsifier; the formulation (I), upon being mixed with formulation (II), can easily undergo demulsification and a phase inversion into an O/W type emulsion; and the emulsion has adequate viscosity to prevent dripping from the hair and a superior dyeing capability. Also, 2-formulation type oxidation hair dye with an excellent hair dyeing effect is provided by adding isostearyl alcohol.

Abstract: Low molecular weight acetylhyaluronate has the following characteristics:intrinsic viscosity: 50 to 200 cm.sup.3 /gsubstitution degree of acetyl group: 2.6 to 3.6 (excluding N-acetyl group)A skin-softening composition is mainly composed of this low molecular weight acetylhyaluronate. It can exhibit excellent skin-softening effect and moisturizing effect, while appropriately suppressing the thread-forming ability inherent in hyaluronic acid. A method of manufacturing acetylhyaluronate comprises the steps of suspending hyaluronic acid powder in an acetic anhydride solvent and then adding concentrated sulfuric acid thereto to effect acetylation. A method of purifying acetylhyaluronate comprises the steps of adding raw acetylhyaluronate to an aqueous acetone solution, adding and dissolving sodium lactate therein, and then adding highly concentrated acetone thereto to precipitate highly pure acetylhyaluronate. Acetylhyaluronate having highly purity can be obtained inexpensively.

Abstract: A coupling medium for a probe of an ultrasonograph comprising a gel composed of .beta.-1,3 glucan as the main component, or a gel obtained by high pressure treatment or chemical cross-linking of the same, or a gel containing .beta.-1,3 glucan and a complex forming compound capable of forming a complex with .beta.-1,3 glucan.

Abstract: A complex material of a hydrophilic polymer-silicate mineral comprising a carboxyl group containing hydrophilic polymer and a water swellable silicate mineral, and having a new absorption spectrum not existing in both starting materials in the IR-ray absorption spectrum within the range of 1000 to 1300 cm.sup.-1, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions comprising same.