Skin cosmetic composition

Abstract

A skin cosmetic composition comprising: a hydrogel particle comprising a non-crosslinked hydrogel containing an oil component therein dispersed in an aqueous medium; a hydrogel particle comprising a non-crosslinked hydrogel containing an oil component therein; and a process for preparing a hydrogel particle comprising the steps of discharging an oil component-emulsified or dispersed solution prepared by dissolving a non-crosslinked hydrogel in an aqueous solution, with vibration from an orifice to form droplets; and cooling the droplets to solidify.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A skin cosmetic composition comprising: 
 (B) a hydrogel particle comprising a non-crosslinked hydrogel containing an oil component therein dispersed in    (B) an aqueous medium.    
     
     
         2 . The skin cosmetic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel particle (A) further comprises an emulsifying agent or dispersing agent.  
     
     
         3 . The skin cosmetic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel is made of agar or gelatin.  
     
     
         4 . A hydrogel particle comprising a non-crosslinked hydrogel containing an oil component therein.  
     
     
         5 . The hydrogel particle according to  claim 4 , wherein the oil component is emulsified or dispersed with an emulsifying agent or dispersing agent.  
     
     
         6 . The hydrogel particle according to  claim 5 , wherein the emulsifying agent or dispersing agent comprises a macromolecular emulsifying or dispersing agent.  
     
     
         7 . The hydrogel particle according to  claim 4 , wherein the oil component comprises a solid fat, and the melting point of the oil component is not less than 35° C.  
     
     
         8 . The hydrogel particle according to  claim 4 , wherein the oil component comprises a solid ceramide or an analog thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The hydrogel particle according to  claim 4 , wherein not less than 80% by weight of the hydrogel particle is composed of a hydrogel particle having a ratio of a longest diameter to a shortest diameter (longest diameter/shortest diameter) of not more than 1.7.  
     
     
         10 . The hydrogel particle according to  claim 4 , wherein the hydrogel particle has a breaking intensity of 2 to 40 kPa and a Young's modulus of 10 to 150 kPa.  
     
     
         11 . The hydrogel particle according to  claim 4 , wherein the non-crosslinked hydrogel is made of agar or gelatin.  
     
     
         12 . The hydrogel particle according to  claim 4 , wherein the non-crosslinked hydrogel is made of agar having a gel strength of not more than 68.6 kPa.  
     
     
         13 . A process for preparing a hydrogel particle comprising the steps of: 
 discharging an oil component-emulsified or dispersed solution prepared by dissolving a non-crosslinked hydrogel in an aqueous solution, with vibration from an orifice to form droplets; and    cooling the droplets to solidify.    
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the oil component is emulsified or dispersed in the aqueous component solution with at least one of an emulsifying agent and a dispersing agent.  
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the non-crosslinked hydrogel is made of agar or gelatin.  
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the non-crosslinked hydrogel is made of agar having a gel strength of not more than 68.6 kPa.  
     
     
         17 . A skin cosmetic composition comprising visibly recognizable particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 5 mm and an aqueous medium having a viscosity of 300 to 5000 mPa·s at 25° C. and a specific gravity of 0.7 to 2.0, said visibly recognizable particles being dispersed in the aqueous medium.  
     
     
         18 . The skin cosmetic composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the particle comprises a conditioning component.  
     
     
         19 . The skin cosmetic composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the skin cosmetic composition is a lotion.