Color ink set for cosmetic application

Abstract

A cosmetic ink set, method for printing and printer containing the ink set. The ink set includes at least two of a) a cyan ink that includes a cosmetically approved cyan dye; b) a magenta ink that includes a cosmetically approved magenta dye; and c) a yellow ink that includes a cosmetically approved yellow dye. Each of the cyan ink, magenta ink and yellow ink contains 1) a cosmetically approved humectant; 2) a cosmetically approved surfactant; and 3) water in an amount sufficient to provide 100 wt. % for each of the cyan, magenta and yellow inks based on a total weight of the ink.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cosmetic ink set for thermal ink jet printing comprising at least two of:
 a) a cyan ink comprising:
 a cosmetically approved cyan dye in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 6 wt. % based on a total weight of the cyan ink; 
   b) a magenta ink comprising:
 a cosmetically approved magenta dye in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 6 wt. % based on a total weight of the magenta ink; and 
   c) a yellow ink comprising:
 a cosmetically approved yellow dye in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 6 wt. % based on a total weight of the yellow ink; 
   wherein each of the cyan ink, magenta ink and yellow ink contains:
 1) a cosmetically approved humectant in an amount ranging from about 7 to about 30 wt. % base on a total weight of the ink; 
 2) a cosmetically approved surfactant in an amount ranging from about 0.05 to about 5.0 wt. % based on a total weight of the ink; and 
 3) water in an amount sufficient to provide 100 wt. % for each of the cyan, magenta and yellow inks based on a total weight of the ink. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cosmetic ink set of  claim 1 , wherein the humectants are selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propandiol, dipropylene glycol, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polybutylene glycol and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing. 
     
     
         3 . The cosmetic ink set of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, N-(coconut oil acyl)-N-methyltaurine sodium salt, 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-sodium sulfosuccinate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The cosmetic ink set of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of water in each of cyan, magenta and yellow inks ranges from about 50 to about 90 wt. % based on a total weight of the ink. 
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic ink set of  claim 1 , wherein the cosmetically approved cyan dye is selected from the group consisting of FOOD BLUE 2; ACID BLUE 5, ACID BLUE 9, and BRILLIANT BLUE. 
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic ink set of  claim 1 , wherein the cosmetically approved magenta dye is selected from the group consisting of ACID RED 26, ACID RED 27, ACID RED 33, ACID RED 52, ACID RED 87, ACID RED 92 ACID RED 94, and ACID VIOLET 9. 
     
     
         7 . The cosmetic ink set of  claim 1 , wherein the cosmetically approved yellow dye is selected from the group consisting of ACID YELLOW 1, ACID YELLOW 11, ACID YELLOW 23, ACID YELLOW 40, and ACID YELLOW 73. 
     
     
         8 . A cosmetic ink comprising a mixture of two or more of the cyan ink, magenta ink and yellow inks of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The cosmetic ink of  claim 8 , further comprising a penetrant, wherein the penetrant is selected from the group consisting of 1,2 alkyl diols containing from 4 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. 
     
     
         10 . A method of printing with cosmetic inks on human nails and skin comprising providing an ink jet pen and an ink set for full color thermal ink jet printing, the ink set comprising:
 a) a cyan ink comprising a cosmetically approved cyan dye in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 6 wt. % based on a total weight of the cyan ink;   b) a magenta ink comprising a cosmetically approved magenta dye in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 6 wt. % based on the total weight of the magenta ink; and   c) a yellow ink comprising a cosmetically approved yellow dye in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 6 wt. % based on a total weight of the yellow ink;   wherein each of the cyan ink, magenta ink and yellow ink contains:
 1) a cosmetically approved humectant in an amount ranging from about 7 to about 30 wt. % based on a total weight of the ink; 
 2) a cosmetically approved surfactant in an amount ranging from about 0.08 to about 5.0 wt. % based on a total weight of the ink; and 
 3) water in an amount sufficient to provide 100 wt. % for each of the cyan, magenta and yellow inks based on a total weight of the ink; and 
   ejecting the ink set in a predetermined amount onto the skin, finger nails or toe nails of a person.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising pre-coating nails with an ink receptive layer prior to printing on the finger nails or toe nails. 
     
     
         12 . An ink jet pen comprising a cyan, magenta and yellow ink set for full color printing on humans comprising:
 a) a cyan ink comprising a cosmetically approved cyan dye in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 6 wt. % based on a total weight of the cyan ink;   b) a magenta ink comprising a cosmetically approved magenta dye in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 6 wt. % based on a total weight of the magenta ink; and   c) a yellow ink comprising a cosmetically approved yellow dye in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 6 wt. % based on a total weight of the yellow ink;   wherein each of the cyan ink, magenta ink and yellow ink contains:
 1) a cosmetically approved humectant in an amount ranging from about 7 to about 30 wt. % based on a total weight of the ink; 
 2) a cosmetically approved surfactant in an amount ranging from about 0.05 to about 5.0 wt. % based on a total weight of the ink; and 
 3) water in an amount sufficient to provide 100 wt. % for each of the cyan, magenta and yellow inks based on a total weight of the ink. 
   
     
     
         13 . The ink jet pen of  claim 12 , wherein a printed image from the ink jet pen has a banding score of less than about 0.09. 
     
     
         14 . The ink jet pen of  claim 12 , wherein a printed image from the ink jet pen has a graininess score of less than about 1.2. 
     
     
         15 . The ink jet pen of  claim 12 , wherein the humectant comprises a mixture of two or more cosmetically approved humectants. 
     
     
         16 . The ink jet pen of  claim 12 , wherein each of the cyan, magenta and yellow inks further comprises a cosmetically approved penetrant. 
     
     
         17 . The ink jet pen of  claim 12 , wherein the magenta ink comprises a mixture of cosmetically approved dyes.