Pigment mixtures

1. A pigment mixture comprising at least two components, where component A comprises:

i) optionally coated bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) or optionally coated boron nitride (BN) in the particle size range of 1-40 μm and

component B comprises:

ii) synthetic flakes or mineral flakes in the particle size range of 1-100 μm, wherein a metal soap has been intimately deposited onto the surface of said synthetic flakes or mineral flakes, wherein said metal soap is an alkaline earth metal stearate or branched or non-linear isostearate, zinc stearate, aluminum stearate or a mixture thereof, and wherein component B excludes optionally coated bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) and optionally coated boron nitride (BN) and,

wherein i) and ii) have been blended in a ratio of 10:90 to 90:10 by weight and form an intimate comingling, and

wherein the amount of metal soap on the surface of the mineral or synthetic flakes is 0.1-10 wt. % based on the total weight of mineral or synthetic flakes.

2. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , wherein component A is bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl).

3. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , wherein component B comprises synthetic flakes which are mica, silica, alumina, borosilicate, and/or aluminosilicate.

4. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , wherein component B comprises mineral flakes which are of mica, clay, talc and/or kaolin.

5. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , wherein component B comprises natural or synthetic mica flakes treated with a metal soap wherein said metal soap is an alkaline earth metal stearate or branched or non-linear isostearate, zinc stearate, aluminum stearate or a mixture thereof.

6. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , wherein the synthetic or mineral flakes are wet ground natural muscovite mica with particle size 2-19 μm, or synthetic mica with particle size 5-25 μm.

7. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , wherein the metal soap is an alkaline earth metal branched or non-linear isostearate.

8. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , wherein metal soap is an alkaline earth metal stearate which is magnesium stearate, barium stearate, or calcium stearate or a mixture thereof.

9. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , wherein component B comprises natural or synthetic mica flakes treated with magnesium stearate or zinc stearate.

10. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , wherein i) and ii) are mixed in a ratio of 30:70 to 70:30 by weight.

11. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , further comprising another powder, a cosmetic grade of zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, ultramarine pigments, manganese violet, carmine, chromium oxide green, iron blue or organic pigments, a FD&C or D&C colorant.

12. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , comprising by weight %

68.6% synthetic or natural mica and 1.4% magnesium stearate as component B, and 30% BiOCl as component A;

or

68.6% synthetic or natural mica and 1.4% magnesium stearate as component B, and 15% BiOCl as component A, and 15% zinc oxide;

or

68.6% synthetic or natural mica and 1.4% magnesium stearate as component B, and 25% BiOCl as component A, and 5% zinc oxide;

or

49% synthetic or natural mica and 1% magnesium stearate as component B, and 50% BiOCl as component A;

or

49% synthetic or natural mica and 1% magnesium stearate as component B, and 45% BiOCl as component A, and 5% zinc oxide.

13. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of absorbents, astringents, antimicrobial substances, antioxidants, antiperspirants, antifoaming agents, antidandruff active ingredients, antistatics, binders, biological additives, bleaching agents, chelating agents, deodorants, emollients, emulsifiers, emulsion stabilisers, dyes, humectants, film formers, fillers, odour substances, flavour substances, insect repellents, preservatives, anticorrosion agents, cosmetic oils, solvents, oxidants, vegetable constituents, buffer substances, reducing agents, surfactants, propellant gases, opacifiers, UV filters and UV absorbers, denaturing agents, viscosity regulators, perfume and vitamins.

14. A process for preparing a pigment mixture according to claim 1 , comprising blending component A and component B and optionally further constituents, or mixing component A and mineral or synthetic flakes and the metal soap and optionally further constituents as a suspension in water and then dewatering and drying the suspension.

15. A cosmetic composition comprising a pigment mixture according to claim 1 and a cosmetically acceptable carrier.

16. A pigment mixture comprising at least two components, where component A comprises:

i) optionally coated bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) or optionally coated boron nitride (BN) and

component B comprises:

ii) synthetic flakes or mineral flakes in the particle size range of 1-100 μm, wherein a metal soap has been intimately deposited onto the surface of said synthetic flakes or mineral flakes, which metal soap is an alkaline earth metal stearate or branched or non-linear isostearate, zinc stearate, aluminum stearate or a mixture thereof,

wherein i) and ii) are mixed in a ratio of 10:90 to 90:10 by weight, and wherein said synthetic flakes or mineral flakes are wet ground mica, and

wherein the amount of metal soap on the surface of the mineral or synthetic flakes is 0.1-10 wt. % based on the total weight of mineral or synthetic flakes.

17. A pigment mixture according to claim 1 , which contains uncoated bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) or uncoated boron nitride (BN).

18. A pigment mixture consisting of two components, where

component A consists of bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) or boron nitride (BN) and

component B consists of synthetic flakes or mineral flakes in the particle size range of 1-100 μm, wherein a metal soap has been intimately deposited onto the surface of said synthetic flakes or mineral flakes, which metal soap is an alkaline earth metal stearate or branched or non-linear isostearate, zinc stearate, aluminum stearate or a mixture thereof,

wherein component A and component B are mixed in a ratio of 10:90 to 90:10 by weight, and

wherein the amount of metal soap on the surface of the mineral or synthetic flakes is 0.1-10 wt. % based on the total weight of mineral or synthetic flakes.