Sweat-absorbing cosmetic product and method for the production thereof

1. A sweat-absorbing cosmetic product, said product comprising

i) a base formulation, and

ii) a sweat-absorbing complex comprising

(a) 0.1 to 90% of at least one water-absorbing component,

(b) 0.1 to 80% of at least one surface-active agent,

(c) 0.001 to 20% of at least one electrolyte, and

(d) 0 to 50% of at least one solvent and/or at least one vehicle, wherein the sweat-absorbing complex is in the form of a three-dimensional polymer network of said at least one water-absorbing component, capable of swelling in contact with water, encapsulated by a coating of said at least one surface-active agent such that the at least one water-absorbing component is protected from absorption of water from the base formulation and further wherein the sweat-absorbing complex is emulsified in the base formulation, wherein the sweat-absorbing complex is obtained by premixing the at least one water-absorbing component, the at least one surface-active agent, the at least one electrolyte, and, optionally, the at least one solvent and/or at least one vehicle, with stirring, until a substantially uniform or homogeneous mixture is obtained, and further wherein the premixed sweat-absorbing complex is subsequently mixed with the base formulation to produce the sweat-absorbing cosmetic product.

2. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrolyte has a weight percentage in the sweat-absorbing complex of 0.01 to 20 wt.-%.

3. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the sweat-absorbing complex comprises

(a) 10 to 80 wt.-% of said at least one water-absorbing component,

(b) 10 to 70 wt.-% of said at least one surface-active agent,

(c) 0.05 to 15 wt.-% of said at least one electrolyte, and

(d) 0 to 50 wt.-% of said at least one solvent and/or said at least one vehicle.

4. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of said at least one electrolyte is incorporated in the interstices of the polymer network of said at least one water-absorbing component.

5. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one water-absorbing component forms particles of a three-dimensional polymeric network when in contact with water.

6. The cosmetic product according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one water-absorbing component forms particles with a mean particle size ranging from 0.1 to 450 μm.

7. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one water-absorbing component has a water absorption capacity of at least 20% based on the dry weight thereof.

8. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one water-absorbing component is essentially insoluble in said at least one solvent and/or vehicle.

9. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one water-absorbing component is selected from gums from vegetable or microbial biosynthesis.

10. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one water-absorbing component is selected from polysaccharides of vegetable origin.

11. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one water-absorbing component is selected from chemically modified polysaccharides.

12. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one water-absorbing component is selected from polyacrylate-based synthetic polymers.

13. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one water-absorbing component is selected from silicic acids and derivatives and modifications Thereof.

14. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface-active agent has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) ranging from 2 to 13.

15. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the complex has a mixture of surface-active agents having an effective weighted average hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) ranging from 2 to 13.

16. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface-active agent is a non-ionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric compound or a mixture thereof.

17. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts, ammonia, low-molecular weight amines, salts of di- or trivalent cations, phosphate salts, stone extracts, and mixtures thereof.

18. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one solvent and/or said at least one vehicle is selected from the group consisting of polar and non-polar oils, hydrocarbons, ethers, esters, medium-and long-chain alcohols, alkoxylated alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, polyols, and mixtures thereof.

19. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of deodorizing preparations, sprays, aerosols, creams, sunscreens, after-shaves, lotions, foundation creams, and make-ups.

20. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the product has a water content of from 3 to 40 wt.-%.

21. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the sweat-absorbing complex has a weight percentage in the product of from 0.05 to 99 wt.-%.

22. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , further comprising auxiliary substances and/or active agents selected from the group consisting of pigments, colorants, antioxidants, preservatives, moisture-retaining substances, softeners, fragrances, stabilizers, cell turn-over promoters, cell proliferation stimulators, anti-inflammatory agents, antimicrobial agents, hormone regulators, enzyme inhibitors, UV absorbers, sunscreens, and mixtures thereof.

23. The cosmetic product according to claim 1 , wherein the product is a deodorant containing 0.1 to 10 wt.-% of said sweat-absorbing complex in a deodorant base formulation.

24. The cosmetic product according to claim 23 , wherein the deodorant base formulation includes 60 to 90% of at least one solvent, 5 to 30% water, and 1 to 20% of at least one gelling agent.

25. A method for the production of a cosmetic product comprising

i) a base formulation, and

ii) a sweat-absorbing complex comprising

(a) 0.1 to 90% of at least one water-absorbing component,

(b) 0.1 to 80% of at least one surface-active agent,

(c) 0.001 to 20% of at least one electrolyte, and

(d) 0 to 50% of at least one solvent and/or at least one vehicle, wherein the sweat-absorbing complex is in the form of a three-dimensional polymer network of said at least one water-absorbing component, capable of swelling in contact with water, encapsulated by a coating of said at least one surface-active agent, such that the at least one water absorbing component is protected from absorption of water from the base formulation, the method comprising the steps of:

1) producing a sweat-absorbing complex by

(a) pre-mixing at least one water-absorbing component and at least one electrolyte, and

(b) adding at least one surface-active agent with stirring and heat supply until a substantially uniform or homogeneous mixture is obtained; and

2) mixing the sweat-absorbing complex with a base formulation.

26. The method according to claim 25 , further comprising the substep of (c) adding at least one solvent and/or at least one vehicle to the mixture of substep (b) and stirring until a substantially uniform or homogeneous mixture is obtained.

27. The method according to claim 26 , wherein the substeps (a), (b) and/or (c) are performed at a temperature between 50 and 100° C.