Cosmetic composition

Claim 2

An non-aqueous drug-free 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 30 carbon 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; and (ii) from 1 to 99.99% by weight of a cosmetically acceptable non-aqueous vehicle.

Claim 3

A non-aqueous 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 C₃₀ linear or branched chain alkyl group.

Claim 4

A non-aqueous composition according to claim 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 n-tridecyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-tetradecyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-hexadecyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-octadecyl ester pyroglutamic acid n-eicosyl 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-hexyldecyl ester pyroglutamic acid 2-octyldodecyl ester pyroglutamic acid 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentane ester pyroglutamic acid methyloctyl ester.

Claim 5

A non-aqueous composition according to claims 1, in which the R group in structure (1) is represented by the group (2).

Claim 6

A non-aqueous 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 non-aqueous composition according to claim 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 non-aqueous 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 non-aqueous composition according to any preceding claim, in which the non-aqueous 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 10

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

Claim 11

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

Claim 12

A non-aqueous composition according to claim 10, in which the activity enhancer is chosen from penetration enhancers, surface active agents and cationic polymers.

Claim 13

A non-aqueous composition according to claim 10 or 11, in which the activity enhancer forms from 0.1 to 50% by weight of the composition.

Claim 14

A non-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; and (ii) from 1 to 99.99% by weight of a cosmetically acceptable non-aqueous vehicle.

Claim 15

A non-aqueous 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 non-aqueous 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.