P&G’s latest patent focuses on a common problem faced by many consumers: poor performance of personal care products in hard water. It is estimated that more than 85% of U.S. households use hard water, so this new formulation aims to address the pressing needs of the majority of hair care consumers.
Here are CosmeticsDesigns’ key takeaways about this new patent, including a discussion of the growing consumer demand for innovation in this area and the potential impact on the industry.
Addressing the effects of hard water on cleansing
Hard water is high in minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which can greatly impact the performance of personal care products such as shampoo and body wash. Dissolved minerals form metal ions that combine with surfactants, reducing their ability to lather and clean effectively.
As stated in this patent, “Personal care compositions such as shampoos, conditioners, and body washes tend to produce less foam when used in hard water than in soft water.” is commonly associated with, leading to an unsatisfactory experience for consumers.
P&G’s new formulation addresses this issue by incorporating acyl taurate surfactants and N-alkylacyl taurate surfactants, which provide “improved foaming in hard water” and lower mineral content. This allows the product to maintain its performance even in high-temperature environments. This is a breakthrough for consumers living in hard water areas and promises to provide a superior experience without compromising effectiveness.
Consumers prefer sulfate-free products
The patent also highlights the growing consumer demand for sulfate-free products that are perceived to be milder and gentler on hair and skin. However, these formulations often have drawbacks.
As explained in the patent, “recent trends indicate a desire among consumers to replace sulfate-containing cleansing compositions with milder sulfate-free versions.” Traditional sulfate-free products are “often perceived as less effective due to inferior foaming and foaming properties” to their sulfated counterparts. ”
This challenge is even greater in hard water conditions, where a lack of sulfate further reduces the product’s ability to produce foam. The patent states that the combination of acyl taurate and N-alkyl acyl taurate surfactants in P&G’s formulations provides desirable “foaming and foaming properties even in hard water” and that consumer preference and practical It emphasizes that it is a solution that responds to both of these issues.
Focus on improving formulation stability
Beyond the foaming issue, P&G’s patent also addresses several other formulation challenges. For example, one common problem with sulfate-free shampoos is their inability to maintain proper viscosity.
The patent explains that “the alkylmethyl group attached to the amide nitrogen of SMCT and SMLT can make it difficult to increase the viscosity of aqueous personal care compositions.” Without sufficient viscosity, the product will be difficult to dispense and may be perceived by consumers as being of lower quality.
P&G’s formulation overcomes this challenge by adding electrolytes, such as inorganic salts, to thicken the composition. According to the patent, this allows the product to be easily dispensed and applied in a controlled manner, further improving the consumer experience.
The patent explains that this new formulation provides “adequate solubility, stability, foaming and cleaning properties” important for personal care products.
Combines mildness and conditioning in one product
In addition to improving lather and viscosity, P&G’s new formulations also allow for the inclusion of conditioning agents that are difficult to achieve with sulfate-free products. Conditioning shampoos typically combine anionic detersive surfactants and cationic conditioning polymers to texture and detangle the hair.
However, as the patent points out, “When coacervates form within the product prior to use, some of the surfactant binds, reducing the amount of surfactant available for lathering and cleaning.” Therefore, this can be a drawback of sulfate-free systems. .
P&G addressed this issue by designing formulations that can combine surfactants and conditioning polymers with minimal impact on lathering. The patent states, “It has further been found that combinations of these surfactants can be combined with cationic polymers with little or no undesirable effect on foam properties.”
This advancement means P&G’s new products can offer the benefits of both cleansing and conditioning while delivering a rich lather that consumers associate with quality.
Industry impacts and opportunities
For manufacturers and suppliers in the cosmetics and personal care industry, this patent could have major implications for future product development. P&G’s innovation not only meets the demand for sulfate-free formulations, but also solves performance issues related to hard water, a factor that affects a large portion of the world’s population.
By overcoming the lather, viscosity, and conditioning limitations of traditional sulfate-free products, this patent reveals that this new formulation has the potential to set a new standard for high-performance sulfate-free hair care products. It suggests something.
Although there is already a trend in the industry toward sulfate-free and more natural formulations, these products have historically suffered from performance issues, especially under hard water conditions. P&G’s new formulation could encourage competitors to develop similar high-performance products that can be sold to consumers living in hard-water areas.
Additionally, this innovation creates opportunities for new product lines specifically targeting hard water challenges, a key differentiator in an increasingly competitive market.
