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Antiperspirant

A wide variety of cosmetic compositions for application to human skin make use of a structured liquid carrier to deliver an active material to the surface of the skin, including in particular antiperspirant or deodorant compositions which are widely used in order to enable their users to avoid or minimise wet patches on their skin, especially in axillary regions or to control or prevent the emission of malodours, which could otherwise arise when the user perspires. The primary benefit of antiperspirant products is their ability to suppress perspiration and related odors on the body of the user. Antiperspirant products are applied to the skin and generally comprise an antiperspirant active which acts to inhibit excretion of perspiration from the eccrine glands. Most antiperspirant products are formulated to provide a good skin cosmetics and skin feel, in balance with antiperspirant efficacy in controlling under wetness and malodor. Many ingredients used in antiperspirant products have at least some negative impact on antiperspirant efficacy, but are nonetheless formulated into the products to provide the consumer with desirable application cosmetics, product substantivity, and skin feel. Typical antiperspirant products comprise topically acceptable compositions containing a metal salt, such as an astringent aluminium or aluminium/zirconium salt, in combination with a cosmetically suitable vehicle. Typical deodorant products comprise topically acceptable compositions containing one or more agents that mask or inhibit the formation of unpleasant body odours; antimicrobial agents are widely used for this purpose. Such cosmetic antiperspirant and deodorant products may be available in a variety of product forms, for example as sticks, creams, soft-solids, roll-on lotions, aerosols, pump sprays and squeeze sprays. Typical antiperspirant products use aluminum and aluminum-zirconium salts to prevent perspiration or reduce underarm sweat production. The degree of sweat reduction is directly related to the effectiveness of the antiperspirant salts. In general, aluminum and aluminum-zirconium antiperspirants of enhanced efficacy are those salts that reduce perspiration to a greater extent than do the analogous conventional salts. The antiperspirant and deodorant market offers a wide diversity of products to meet consumer needs. The physical forms of antiperspirants vary greatly. They include aerosols, pump sprays, squeeze sprays, creams, roll-ons, suspension roll-ons, deodorant sticks, clear gels, soft solids, etc. Antiperspirant formulations are available for application via several different types of dispenser. These include non-contact dispensers such as aerosols or squeeze spray dispensers or contact dispensers such a roll-on or cream or firm stick dispenser. The formulations dispensed include both hydrous or anhydrous compositions.

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