Preservatives for Cosmetic, Toiletry and Pharmaceutical Compositions

Abstract

A composition for and methods of preserving a topical cosmetic, toiletry or pharmaceutical formulation against microbiological contamination or growth are described in which the compositions used herein include at least one hydroxamic acid, salt or complex thereof, and the methods include addition of an effective amount of such compounds to a cosmetic, toiletry or pharmaceutical formulation. Compositions further including alkanediols and/or solubilizing agents in blends with hydroxamic acid are also described.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A composition useful for the preservation of topical cosmetic, toiletry and pharmaceutical formulations, wherein the composition is substantially free of parabens, comprising at least one hydroxamic acid, or a salt and/or a complex thereof, and at least one alcohol. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the hydroxamic acid is an alkylhydroxamic acid comprising a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, carbon chain of two to about twenty-two carbon atoms. 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the alkylhydroxamic acid comprises a linear carbon chain of about six to about twelve carbon atoms. 
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the hydroxamic acid is an alkylhydroxamic acid selected from the group consisting of hexanohydroxamic acid, caprylohydroxamic acid, caprohydroxamic acid, laurohydroxamic acid and mixtures and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one alkylhydroxamic acid is caprylohydroxamic acid. 
     
     
         21 . The composition according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one alcohol is a vicinal diol. 
     
     
         22 . The composition according to  claim 21 , wherein a blend of the at least one hydroxamic acid, salt or complex thereof with the at least one alcohol comprises about 0.001% by weight to about 99.999% by weight of the at least one vicinal diol based on the weight of the blend. 
     
     
         23 . The composition according to  claim 16 , wherein a blend of the at least one hydroxamic acid, salt or complex thereof with the at least one alcohol comprises about 0.001% to about 99.999% by weight of the hydroxamic acid, salt or complex thereof based on the weight of the blend. 
     
     
         24 . The composition according to  claim 16 , further comprising at least one solubilizing agent. 
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein a blend of the hydroxamic acid, salt or complex thereof with the at least one alcohol and the solubilizing agent comprises about 1% to about 70% by weight of the at least one solubilizing agent based on the weight of the blend. 
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the solubilizing agent is at least one additional diol or water. 
     
     
         27 . A personal care product comprising a composition useful for the preservation thereof, wherein the composition is substantially free of parabens and comprises at least one hydroxamic acid, or a salt and/or a complex thereof, and at least one alcohol. 
     
     
         28 . The personal care product according to  claim 27 , wherein the personal care product comprises about 0.01 to about 10.00% by weight of the composition based on the weight of the personal care product. 
     
     
         29 . A pharmaceutical product comprising a composition useful for the preservation thereof, wherein the composition is substantially free of parabens and comprises at least one hydroxamic acid, or a salt and/or a complex thereof, and at least one alcohol. 
     
     
         30 . The pharmaceutical product according to  claim 29 , wherein the pharmaceutical product comprises the at least one hydroxamic acid, the salt or the complex thereof in an amount of about 0.01 to about 10.00% by weight based on the weight of the pharmaceutical product.