Elizabeth Arden Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Unilever Patent Holdings B.v.

Elizabeth Arden Co.

Peter Critchley

Ian Richard Scott

Anthony V Rawlings

Susan E Kirsch

Desmond B Hagan

Anthony P Taylor

Barry V McCleary

David T Parrot

Paul V Bulpin

David T Parrott

Cosmetic composition

Novel pseudoceramides are defined, together with their synthesis and compositions comprising them for topical application to human skin, hair and nails.

The invention provides a process for reducing the galactose content of galactomannan by means of a substantially specific galactosidase enzyme preparation in which the galactomannan is incubated in the form of a hydrated preparation containing 2-70 percent by weight of galactomannan. Preferable this preparation contains 8-50 percent by weight of galactommanan. The process yields galactomannans with a reduced content of galactose of which those containing 15 to 19 percent of galactose are novel compound. These latter products are used with advantage in foodstuffs and cosmetic preparations.

Process of polysaccharides

Novel pseudoceramides are compounds with a general structure (2): ##STR1## In this formula a is 0 or 1, b is 0 or 1 but if a is 0, b is also 0 and R has 1 to 8 carbon atoms. The substituents R and R.sup.1 are a range of substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon substituents. R.sup.2 is hydrogen, a sugar residue, a sulphate residue or a phosphate residue. R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a fairly short chain hydrocarbon substituent which in turn may be substituted. All of the substituents R--R.sup.3 are more fully defined in claim 1. These novel compounds are effective to improve water barrier function of the stratum corneum. They may be incorporated into compositions for topical application to human skin, hair and nails. A synthetic route for obtaining the novel compounds is described.

Synthetic pseudoceramide and cosmetic compositions thereof

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Bedford, United Kingdom

Peter Critchley