1,2-Alkanediol derivatives in cosmetic compositions as an excipient therefor

Claim 1

In a cosmetic composition for application to living human skin comprising a lip rouge, an eyelid shadow, a cream, a liquid dye foundation, a cheek rouge, or a hygiene spray and containing an excipient in an amount sufficient to impart to said cosmetic composition unctuousness, ease of application, and good spreadability on the skin, without an oily or greasy feel or touch, wherein the improvement comprises as said excipient at least one 1,2-alkanediol derivative selected from the group consisting of: (1) a derivative having the formula ##STR18## wherein X represents a member selected from the group consisting of oxygen and carbonyloxy of the formula ##STR19## linked to R' through the free bond of the carbon atom of the carbonyloxy group, R' represents alkyl having 5-21 carbon atoms, said alkyl being the hydrocarbon residue of a member selected from the group consisting of R'OH and R'COOH wherein R' is defined above or where X represents ##STR20## R' represents the hydrocarbon residue of lanolic acid, one of R 1 and R 2 represents linear alkyl having 8 to 16 carbon atoms and the other represents hydrogen; and (2) a mixture consisting of (1), said excipient present in an amount sufficient to impart to said cosmetic composition unctuousness, ease of application and good spreadability on the skin, without an oily or greasy feel or touch.