Cosmetic composition

Claim 2

An aqueous composition for topical application to human skin which comprises: (i) from 0.01 to 99% by weight of an ester of pyroglutamic acid having the structure: where R is a linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alcohol group having from 1 to 12 atoms, or the group: - - -OR˝ where R′ and R˝ are the same or different and are each represented by H or the group: [(CH₃) u ,(CH₂OH) v ,(CH₂) w ,(CHCH₃) x ,(CHOH) y ,(CH=CH) z ] -      (2) where u is zero, or 1 v is zero, or 1 w is zero, or an integer of from 1 to 21 x is zero, or an integer of from 1 to 4 y is zero, or an integer of from 1 to 2 z is zero, or an integer of from 1 to 4; and u + v + w + x + y + z is an integer of from 1 to 22; the subgroups within the group (2) being in any sequence; provided that when the subgroup (CH=CH) is present, then the total number of carbon atoms in said group (2) will be from 10 to 20; (ii) from 1 to 99.99% by weight of a cosmetically acceptable aqueous buffer having an effective pH of from 2 to <7; and (iii) from 0 to 98.99% by weight of cosmetic adjuncts.

Claim 3

A composition according to claim 1, in which the ester of pyroglutamic acid is chosen from those where R in Structure (1) is a C₁ to C₁₂ linear or branched chain alkyl group.

Claim 4

A composition according to claim 1 or 2, in which the ester of pyroglutamic acid is chosen from: pyroglutamic acid methyl ester pyroglutamic acid ethyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-propyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-butyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-hexyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-heptyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-octyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-nonyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-decyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-undecyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-dodecyl ester pyroglutamic acid iso-propyl ester pyroglutamic acid 2-methylhexyl ester pyroglutamic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester pyroglutamic acid 3,7-dimethyloctyl ester pyroglutamic acid 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentane ester pyroglutamic acid methyloctyl ester.

Claim 5

A composition according to claim 1, in which the R group in structure (1) is respresented by group (2).

Claim 6

A composition according to claim 4, in which the group (2) is chosen from straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic groups having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, or from alkenyl groups having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms.

Claim 7

A composition according to claims, 1 4 or 5, in which the ester of pyroglutamic acid is chosen from: 2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-propionic acid methyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-acetate ethyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-propionate ethyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-butyrate ethyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-iso-butyrate ethyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-valerate ethyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-caproate ethyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-heptylate ethyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-caprylate ethyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-pelargonate ethyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-3-hydroxybutyrate iso-propyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-propionate iso-propyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-caprylate n-propyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-propionate n-propyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-caprylate stearyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-propionate 12-hydroxystearyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-propionate stearyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-stearate palmityl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-propionate linoleyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-propionate linoleyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-caprylate lauryl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-caprylate stearyl-2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-caprylate glyceryl mono(2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-propionate) glyceryl mono(2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-caprylate), and glyceryl di(2-[pyroglutamoyloxy]-n-propionate).

Claim 8

A composition according to any preceding claim, in which the amount of the ester of pyroglutamic acid is from 0.01 to 20% by weight of the composition.

Claim 9

A composition according to any preceding claim, in which the buffer is chosen from: a citric acid - sodium citrate buffer having a pH of 4.0 a lactic acid - sodium lactate buffer having a pH of 4.0, and an acetic acid - sodium acetate buffer having a pH of 4.0

Claim 10

A composition according to any preceding claim, in which the vehicle is chosen from: petrolatum lanolin lanolin alcohols mineral oil sunflower seed oil evening primrose oil sesame oil ethyl alcohol glycerin, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

A composition according to any preceding claim which additionally comprises from 0.01 to 10% by weight of a perfume.

Claim 12

A composition according to any preceding claim, which further comprises an activity enhancer.

Claim 13

A composition according to claim 11, in which the activity enhancer is chosen from penetration enhancers, surface active agents and cationic polymers.

Claim 14

An aqueous composition for topical application to human hair and/or the scalp for inducing, maintaining or increasing hair growth, which comprises: (i) from 0.01 to 20% by weight of an ester of pyroglutamic acid having the structure (1), as defined in claim 1; (ii) from 1 to 99.99% by weight of a cosmetically acceptable aqueous buffer having an effective pH of from 2 to <7; and (iii) from 0 to 98.99% by weight of cosmetic adjuncts.

Claim 15

A composition according to claim 13, in which the ester of pyroglutamic acid is chosen from those where R in structure (1) is a C₂ to C₁₂ alkyl group.

Claim 16

A composition according to claim 13 or 14, in which the ester of pyroglutamic acid is chosen from: pyroglutamic acid n-butyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-pentyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-hexyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-heptyl ester, and pyroglutamic acid n-octyl ester.