Cosmetic compositions

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided composition in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion having a viscosity of between 15,000 cP (15 Pa-s) and 45,000 cP (45 Pa-s) at 23° C., having a pH of between 2 and 6 and comprising: (i) at least 1.6 wt. % of at least one cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte resulting from the polymerisation of partially or completely salified 2-methyl 2-[(1-oxo 2-propenyl)amino]1-propane sulfonic acid, with at least one neutral monomer chosen from the N,N-dialkyl acrylamides, wherein each of the alkyl groups comprises between one and four carbon atoms, and at least one monomer of formula (B): wherein R represents a linear or branched alkyl radical comprising eight to twenty carbon atoms and n represents a number greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to twenty, in the presence of at least one cross-linking agent; (ii) at least 4 wt. % of at least one polysorbate; (iii) at least 0.1 wt. % of at least one polysaccharide gum; and (iv) between 6 wt. % and 30 wt. % water. The present invention also provides a composition as defined above obtainable by a process comprising the following steps: (a) in one vessel, homogenising the polysaccharide gum (iii) into the aqueous phase comprising the water at a temperature of between 60° C. and 90° C.; (b) in a vessel separate from that in (a), homogenising the cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte (i) and the polysorbate (ii) into the oil phase at a temperature of between 60° C. and 90° C.; and (c) combining the ingredients of (a) with the ingredients of (b) through homogenisation at a temperature of between 60° C. and 90° C.