Stable and efficacious soft solid product

1. A low residue soft solid antiperspirant and/or deodorant composition in the form of an anhydrous, surfactant-free and antiseptic alcohol-free suspension exhibiting a syneresis of less than 8% and comprising:

(a) 45–60% of a volatile silicone;

(b) 5–15% of an emollient as a single emollient or a mixture of emollients;

(c) 0.5–6% (on a solids basis) of a dimethicone/vinyldimethicone crosspolymer made by reacting a polymethylhydrogensiloxane with an alpha, omega-divinylpolydimethyl siloxane;

(d) 0.1–20% of an antiperspirant active based on an anhydrous, buffer-free basis;

(e) 2–8% of polyethylene beads having a particle size in the range of 5–40 microns and a density in the range of 0.91–0.98 g/cm 3 ;

(f) 0–5% antimicrobial agent; and

(g) 0–5% fragrance;

wherein all percents are in percents by weight based on the total weight of the composition unless otherwise indicated and wherein the composition is subjected to a homogenizing process after the ingredients are combined.

2. The antiperspirant and/or deodorant composition according to claim 1 wherein the volatile silicone is cyclomethicone.

3. The antiperspirant and/or deodorant composition according to claim 1 wherein the emollient comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of:

(a) fats and oils which are the glyceryl esters of fatty acids or triglycerides of Formula III:

 wherein each of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 may be the same or different and have a carbon chain length (saturated or unsaturated) of 7 to 30;

(b) hydrocarbons;

(c) esters of formula R 4 CO—OR 5 , wherein the carbon chain length for each of R 4 and R 5 is from 7 to 30 and can be saturated or unsaturated, straight chained or branched;

(d) saturated and unsaturated fatty acids having a formula R 6 COOH wherein R 6 has a carbon chain length of 7 to 30 and can be straight or branched chain;

(e) saturated and unsaturated fatty alcohols having a formula R 7 CH 2 OH wherein R 7 has a carbon chain length of 7 to 30 and can be straight or branched chain;

(f) lanolin and its derivatives;

(g) alkoxylated alcohols wherein the alcohol portion is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic alcohols having a carbon chain length of 2 to 18, and the alkylene portion is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, and propylene oxide having a number of alkylene oxide units of 2 to 53;

(h) silicones and silanes which are members of the group consisting of polymers of silicon/oxygen having general structures:

(1) (R 10 ) 3 SiO(Si(R 11 ) 2 O) x Si(R 12 ) 3 where R 10 , R 11 and R 12 can be the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl and C1–C60 alkyl;

(2) HO(R 14 ) 2 SiO(Si(R 15 ) x Si(R 16 ) 2 OH, where R 14 , R 15 and R 16 can be the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl and C1–C60 alkyl; or

(3) organo substituted silicon compounds of formula R 17 Si(R 18 )OSiR 19 which are not polymeric where R 17 , R 18 and R 19 can be the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl and C1–C60 alkyl optionally with one or both of the terminal R groups also containing an hydroxyl group; and

(i) mixtures and blends of two or more of (a)–(h).

4. The antiperspirant and/or deodorant composition according to claim 3 wherein the emollient is one or more members selected from the group consisting of dimethicone, dimethiconol behenate, C 30-45 alkyl methicone, stearoxytrimethylsilane, phenyl trimethicone and stearyl dimethicone.

5. The antiperspirant/deodorant composition according to claim 1 comprising 1–6 weight % of the dimethicone/vinyldimethicone crosspolymer composition.

6. The antiperspirant and/or deodorant composition according to claim 1 comprising 2–5 weight % of the dimethicone/vinyldimethicone crosspolymer composition.

7. The antiperspirant and/or deodorant composition according to claim 1 comprising 10–20% of an antiperspirant active.

8. The antiperspirant/deodorant composition according to claim 1 which is made as a soft solid wherein the emollient comprises a member selected from the group consisting of 1–8% of C12–15 alkyl benzoate; 0.5–5% neopentyl glycol diheptanoate; 0.5–2% isopropyl myristate; and 0.4–1.5% phenyltrimethicone.

9. The antiperspirant/deodorant composition according to claim 1 which is made as a soft solid wherein the emollient comprises a member selected from the group consisting of 1–8% of 12–15 alkyl benzoate; 0.3–5% neopentyl glycol diheptanoate; 0.3–2% isopropyl myristate; and 0.3–1.5% phenyltrimethicone.

10. The antiperspirant and/or deodorant composition according to any one of claims 1 – 9 wherein the amount of syneresis does not exceed 5%.