Stable cosmetic emulsion with polyamide gelling agent

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gelled cosmetic emulsion comprising an oil phase, an aqueous phase and a gelling system which contains a polyamide resin containing a linking hetero-atom with a certain electronegativity in a sufficient amount to gel the emulsion, and a resin stabilizer containing an atom with a certain electronegativity. The polyamide has a tertiary amide as the terminal end group. The emulsions of the present invention are substantially transparent and when colorants are added the color are especially bright and clear. In addition, the gelled emulsions are substantially non-sweating. The emulsions are used in lipstick and mascara products as well as other gel and stick products.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A cosmetic emulsion composition comprising at least two phases, a gelling system of 
 a) at least one polyamide resin having a moiety containing at least one linking hetero-atom of tertiary amide having an electronegativity between 2.5 and 4.0, and b) at least one resin stabilizer containing an atom having an electronegativity between 2.5 and 4.0.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the moiety is a terminal end group.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the linking hetero-atom is grafted at the end of the polyamide resin.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a color component present in an amount greater than 2.0 percent by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the color component is present in an amount greater than 5.0 percent by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said polyamide resin is present in a gelling sufficient amount.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein said polyamide resin is present in an amount of about 1 to 90 percent by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said resin stabilizer has 1 to 18 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said emulsion further comprises about 0.01 to about 10 percent surfactant by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9  wherein said surfactant has an HLB greater than 8.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9  wherein said surfactant is a solid.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said phases is non-aqueous and further comprises at least one volatile solvent.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  further comprising an alkanolamide of a fatty acid.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13  in the form of a mascara or a lipstick.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein said emulsion is wax-free.  
     
     
         16 . A substantially non-sweating cosmetic emulsion comprising a colorant component present in an amount greater than about 2.0 percent by weight of the composition, an aqueous phase, and an oil phase wherein the oil phase contains at least a gelling sufficient amount of at least one polyamide resin having a terminal end group of tertiary amide with at least one linking hetero-atom with an electronegativity between 2.5 and 4.0, and at least one resin stabilizer having an atom with electronegativity between 2.5 and 4.0.  
     
     
         17 . The emulsion of  claim 16  Wherein said emulsion is wax-free.  
     
     
         18 . The emulsion of  claim 17  further comprising a colorant component present in an amount greater than about 5.0 percent.  
     
     
         19 . The emulsion of  claim 18  further comprising one or more active ingredients.  
     
     
         20 . A cosmetic emulsion composition comprising at least two phases, a gelling sufficient amount of a polyamide resin having a terminal end group of tertiary amide containing at least one linking hetero-atom with an electronegativity between 2.5 and 4.0 grafted thereon, and at least one resin stabilizer having an atom with an electronegativity between 2.5 and 4.0, a colorant component present in an amount greater than about 2.0 percent, and about 0.01 to about 20 percent of a solid surfactant at ambient temperature.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20  wherein at least one of the phases is an aqueous phase.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21  wherein the emulsion is wax-free.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein the composition is a mascara or a lipstick.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 20  wherein the resin stabilizer contains 1 to 18 carbon atoms.