WO2014009153A2

WO2014009153A2 - A sunscreen composition

Info

Publication number: WO2014009153A2
Application number: PCT/EP2013/063348
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mohan Vijaykumar Chavan; Ashish Anant Vaidya
Original assignee: Unilever NV; Conopco Inc
Current assignee: Unilever NV; Conopco Inc
Priority date: 2012-07-12
Filing date: 2013-06-26
Publication date: 2014-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-12
Also published as: WO2014009153A3; AR091728A1

Description

A SUNSCREEN COMPOSITION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a sunscreen composition, especially to a composition that gives good Sun Protection Factor (SPF).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Solar radiation includes about 5% ultraviolet (UV) radiation, wavelength of which is between 200 nm and 400 nm. It is further classified into three regions: from 320 to 400 nm (UV-A), 290 to 320 nm (UV-B) and from 200 to 290 nm (UV-C). A large part of UV-C radiation is absorbed by the ozone layer. Scientific studies have indicated that exposure to UV-A and UV-B radiation for short period causes reddening of the skin and localized irritation, whereas continued and prolonged exposure can lead to sunburn, melanoma and formation of wrinkles. It is also reported that UV radiation causes significant damage to hair. Therefore, it is desirable to protect the skin and other keratinous substrates of the human body from the harmful effects of both, UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Various cosmetic preparations have been reported for preventing and/or protecting the skin from harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. Numerous organic sunscreen agents capable of absorbing UV-A rays are reported in the field of cosmetics amongst which a particularly useful sunscreen is of the dibenzoylmethane class. Many UV-B sunscreens are also known and approved for safe use in personal care compositions for protection from UV-B radiation. Many cosmetic manufacturers prefer to include both UV-A and UV- B sunscreens in photoprotective compositions so as to provide protection over the entire range of UV radiation. Organic sunscreens act by absorbing the UV radiation from the sun and undergo chemical transformation leading to emitting radiation at a different wavelength. Due to the chemical nature of the mode of action, many organic sunscreen are unstable and protection over skin is often achieved only for a few minutes or hours. Another approach is to include inorganic particles like zinc oxide or titanium di oxide which act as sun blocks that prevent the sun's rays from reaching the skin and/ or scatter the incident solar radiation. Inorganic particles, due to their mode of action act across the radiation spectrum but have the inherent disadvantage of giving the skin an artificially whitish look. Sun protection Factor (SPF) and UV-A protection factor (UVAPF) are commonly measured attributes of photoprotective compositions which indicate the protection that the skin gets from exposure to both UV-B and UV-A radiation. Cosmetic manufacturers try to provide consumers with products having higher and higher SPF/ UVAPF. One of the ways of achieving this is to incorporate high levels of UV-A and UV-B sunscreens. One disadvantage of this approach is the high cost associated with incorporation of high levels of sunscreens which are expensive. Further, there may be safety and regulatory limitations on the upper limit of incorporation of these sunscreens, in some countries. Sensory properties are also reported to get affected on incorporation of high levels of sunscreens. Hence, there is a problem of achieving high SPF/ UVAPF while keeping the total amount of sunscreens in the compositions relatively low.

To achieve high SPF from sunscreen compositions, it has been necessary in the past to include high amounts of organic sunscreens. Organic sunscreens at higher than 8% are generally included in order to get an in-vitro SPF of higher than 15. The present inventors have been working on alternative approaches to provide high SPF at low sunscreen concentrations and with their knowledge of synthesizing modified silicone polymers approached the problems of high SPF from this angle. They have found that a specific class of silicone polymer comprising two attached functional groups- one a hydrophilic polymer or segment and another a hydrophobic polymer or segment when used in a sunscreen composition comprising a filter (may be a UVA, UVB or visible light filter) in a cosmetically acceptable base comprising fatty acid, provides enhanced sun protection (and in preferred cases enhanced SPF values). Composition comprising silicone compounds to enhance SPF are reported. EP 0 995 429 (Beiersdorf AG, 2000) discloses a light protection cosmetic composition in water-in-oil emulsion containing (a) one or more compatible inorganic pigments and optionally (b) up to 0.1 weight percent of certain light filters is increased by incorporation of a composition comprising (c) a specified surface active compound, (d) a silicone emulsifier and optionally (e) tocopherol derivative(s).

US 7 790 146 (Lott et al, 2010) discloses a stable water-in-oil sunscreen emulsion that provides high sunscreen efficiency comprising a sunscreen active, an alkyl dimethicone copolyol emulsifier in which the water-soluble, alkyl-soluble and silicone soluble groups of the dimethicone copolyol are in specific ratios to each other. US2009232751 (Tanning Research Laboratories) relates to a stable water-in-oil sunscreen emulsion that provides a high sunscreen efficiency ("SE") having a sun protection factor ("SPF") of X, where X is at least about 15, and having a sunscreen efficiency ("SE") of at least 2, preferably at least 3, where SE is the ratio of SPF over the total weight percentage of sunscreen actives based on the total weight of the

composition. The emulsion comprises (i) at least one sunscreen active and (ii) an alkyl dimethicone copolyol emulsifier in which the water-soluble, alkyl-soluble and silicone- soluble groups of the dimethicone copolyol are in specific ratios to each other. W01 1 147738 (Unilever) relates to a sunscreen composition which provides a high SPF (equal to or greater than 15) or high UVAPF (equal to or higher than 4) without compromising on the desired skin sensorial properties while using relatively low amounts of sunscreen agents. The composition comprises a UVA sunscreen of the

dibenzoylmethane group; a non-ionic surfactant selected from the class of ethoxylates of fatty alcohol/ fatty acid with saturated carbon chain and having HLB greater than 15.5 or from the class of ethoxylates of fatty alcohol / fatty acid with unsaturated carbon chain with HLB greater than 12; and a specific polymer of the class of acrylate / R- methacrylate copolymer or crosspolymer, or an acrylate / R-alkyl acrylate crosspolymer; or from the class of copolymers of acryloyldimethyltaurate with vinyl pyrrolidone, methacrylate or R- alkyl acrylate, and and a cosmetically acceptable base.

The difference between the present invention and the above referenced publication is that in the published document above, the high SPF is achieved via the interaction of a high HLB (higher than 12 or 15.5) non-ionic surfactant and the sunscreen used. The present invention on the other hand involves the achievement of high SPF through use of specific silicone polymers (having low HLB from 3.2 to 9.6) which interacts with the sunscreens in the presence of a fatty acid containing cosmetic base to provide the enhanced sun- protection.

The above publications disclose methods of providing sun protection in water-in-oil emulsion compositions and do not disclose how this can be achieved in oil-in-water emulsion compositions.

Therefore there exists a need for a sunscreen composition comprising sunscreen agents (also known as UV or visible light filters) preferably in low concentrations that are able to provide much higher sun protection (SPF / UVAPF values) as compared to known sunscreen compositions comprising such low levels of sunscreen agents in oil-in-water emulsions.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate at least some drawbacks of the prior art and provide high SPF/ UVAPF photo-protective oil-in-water emulsion

composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a sunscreen composition comprising:

a) 0.1 % to 10 % by weight UV or visible light absorbing filter;

b) 0.1 to 5% by weight a silicone polymer having following structure

where R1 is a group selected from alkyl, branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, polycycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, alkaryl, alkoxy, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or fluorocarbon groups containing 1 to 50 carbon atom(s),

R2 is R1 or an organofunctional segment comprising a Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus or Sulphur atom or an organic moiety (or spacer) comprising a carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, oxygen or silicon atom capable of crosslinking to another or same polymer via spacer elements;

"X" is a hydrophilic polymer or segment thereof having a surface energy at least 40 mJ/m²,

"Y" is a hydrophobic polymer or segment thereof having a surface energy less than 40 mJ/m²;

Units A and F are the terminal moieties; Blocks B, C, D and E are non terminal moieties independently positioned between A and F in any order;

a, b & c are integers ranging from about 1 -10,000;

d is an integer ranging from about 0-10,000; and

c) 1 to 25% fatty acid.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing protection from UV-vis radiation comprising applying a composition of the invention to a desired external surface of the body.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided use of a composition of the invention for providing an SPF higher than 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

These and other aspects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims. For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilized in any other aspect of the invention. The word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of" or "composed of." In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Similarly, all percentages are weight/weight percentages unless otherwise indicated. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description and claims indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about". Numerical ranges expressed in the format "from x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "from x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated.

"Sunscreen composition" as used herein, is meant to include a composition for topical application to skin and/or hair of mammals, especially humans particularly for sunscreen benefits. Such a composition may be generally classified as leave-on or rinse off, and includes any product applied to a human body primarily for sun protection but may be used also for improving appearance, cleansing, odor control or general aesthetics. The composition of the present invention can be in the form of a liquid, lotion, cream, foam, scrub, gel, soap bar or toner, or applied with an implement or via a face mask, pad or patch. Non-limiting examples of personal care compositions include leave-on skin lotions and creams, shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, toilet bars, antiperspirants, deodorants, dental products, shave creams, depilatories, lipsticks, foundations, mascara, sunless tanners and sunscreen lotions. "Skin" as used herein is meant to include skin on the face and body (e.g., neck, chest, back, arms, underarms, hands, legs, buttocks and scalp) and especially to the sun exposed parts thereof. The composition of the invention is also of relevance to applications on any other keratinous substrates of the human body other than skin e.g. hair where products may be formulated with specific aim of providing photoprotection.

The composition of the invention comprises a UV or visible light filter, the specific silicone compound of the invention in an oil-in-water base comprising fatty acid. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the silicone compound of the invention enhances the spreading behavior of the light filter in the fatty acid containing base thereby providing the enhanced photoprotection. The inventors have found that organic sunscreens that are more soluble in the silicone compounds are found to provide enhanced photoprotection. By being more soluble is meant that the solubility of the sunscreen active in the silicone compound is higher than 0.1 wt% at 25°C. By enhanced photoprotection is meant that the in-vitro sun protection factor (SPF as measured using the ISO/WD 24445 standard protocol) is higher than 12 and/ or the ultra-violet -A protection factor (UVAPF as measured using ISO/CD 24443 standard protocol) is higher than PA protection 3. The UV or visible light filter may be an organic UV or visible light sunscreen or an inorganic sunblock. It is preferably a UV organic sunscreen. The organic sunscreen may be one which provides sunprotection in the UVA, UVB or visible light region or a combination of such sunscreen may be used. Alternately a broad spectrum sunscreen that is capable of protection over more than one such region may be used. Most preferably a UVA- organic sunscreen and a UVB organic sunscreen are included in the composition of the invention.

The composition of the invention preferably comprises a UV-A sunscreen as the UV or visible light filter required in the present invention. A suitable UV-A sunscreen is a dibenzoylmethane or its derivative. Preferred dibenzoylmethane derivative is selected from 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane, 2-methyldibenzoylmethane, 4-methyl- dibenzoyl-methane, 4-isopropyldibenzoyl-methane, 4-tert-butyldibenzoylmethane, 2,4- dimethyldibenzoylmethane, 2,5-dimethyldibenzoylmethane, 4,4'-diisopropyl- dibenzoylmethane, 2-methyl-5-isopropyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane, 2-methyl-5-tert- butyl-4'-methoxy-dibenzoyl methane, 2,4-dimethyl-4'- methoxy dibenzoylmethane or 2,6- dimethyl-4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxy-dibenzoylmethane. The most preferred

dibenzoylmethane derivative is 4-tert.-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane.

Dibenzoylmethane or its derivative is preferably present in 0.1 to 7%, preferably 0.2 to 5%, more preferably 0.4 to 3%, by weight of the composition.

The composition of the invention preferably comprises 0.1 to 7%, preferably from 0.5 to 6%, more preferably 1 to 5%, a UV-B organic sunscreen by weight of the composition. The UV-B organic sunscreen, when present, is preferably oil-soluble. UV-B sunscreen is preferably selected from the class of cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, diphenyl acrylic acid or derivatives thereof. A few of the preferred oil soluble UV-B sunscreens which are commercially available and useful for inclusion in the composition of the invention are Octisalate™ (octyl salicylate), Homosalate™ (3,3,5-trimethyleyclohexyl 2- hydroxybenzoate), Neo Heliopan™(a range of organic UV filters including ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (Neo Heliopan AV) and ethylhexyl salicylate (Neo Heliopan OS)), Octocrylene™ (2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl-2-propenoate) or Parsol MCX™ (2- ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate). According to a particularly preferred aspect of the invention the UVB sunscreen is 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate. According to another particularly preferred aspect of the invention the oil soluble UVB sunscreen is 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl-2-propenoate.

An especially preferred oil soluble UVB sunscreen is 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl-2- propenoate which is commercially available as Octocrylene™. Octocrylene has the chemical formula

and R1 is a straight or branched chain C1 -C30 alkyl group.

The UV or visible light filter as per the invention may preferably be an inorganic sunblock. Suitable inorganic sunscreens which may be included are zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulphide, cadmium yellow or Bismuth vanadate. The preferred inorganic sunblocks are titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. The amount of inorganic sunscreen that may be incorporated in the composition is preferably 0.1 to 10%, more preferably 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition. The inorganic sunblocks preferably have an average particle size in the range of 5 to 100 nm. The inorganic sunscreen is preferably hydrophobically coated. Suitable hydrophobic coating materials are aluminium stearate, silicones or ferric stearate.

The composition of the invention comprises 0.1 to 5% by weight a silicone polymer having following structure

R2 is R1 or an organofunctional segment comprising a Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus or Sulphur atom or an organic moiety (or spacer) comprising a carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, oxygen or silicon atom capable of crosslinking to another or same polymer via spacer segments;

Units A and F are the terminal moieties;

Blocks B, C, D and E are non terminal moieties independently positioned between A and F in any order;

a, b & c are integers ranging from about 1 -10,000; and

d is an integer ranging from about 0-10,000. Of the various functional groups R1 is preferably selected from n-alkyl, branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, containing 1 to 30 carbon atom(s). The most preferred R1 group is a methyl group.

R2 is R1 or an organofunctional segment comprising a Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus or Sulphur atom or an organic moiety (or spacer) comprising a carbon, nitrogen,

phosphorous, sulphur, oxygen or silicon atom capable of linking to another or same polymer. Of these groups R2 is preferably R1 or phosphate, or the same polymer crosslinked via suitable spacer groups. An especially preferred R2 group is a phosphate group.

X is the functional group or segment that is the hydrophilic group having a surface energy at least 40 mJ/m². X is preferably selected from the following groups: polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or polyacrylic acid.

Y" is a hydrophobic polymer or segment thereof having a surface energy less than 40 mJ/m². Y is preferably a C6 to C30 hydrocarbon chain, more preferably a C10 to C22 hydrocarbon and most preferably a C16 to C20 hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbon chain is preferably selected from a stearyl, cetyl, dodecyl or lauryl group. a, b, and c are integers ranging from 1 to 10,000, more preferably 10 to 4000 and most preferably 30 to 300. d is an integer ranging from 0 to 10,000 more preferably 10 to 4000 and most preferably 30 to 300.

Surface energy quantifies the disruption of intermolecular bonds that occur when a surface is created. Surface energy is defined as the excess energy at the surface of a material compared to the bulk. The surface energy across an interface or the surface tension at the interface is a measure of the energy required to form a unit area of new surface at the interface. Surface energy is usually measured using a surface tensiometer.

The composition of the invention comprises 1 to 25%, preferably 3 to 20%, more preferably 6 to 20% fatty acid by weight of the compostion. In a preferred aspect the composition may include 0.1 to 10% soap. The cosmetically acceptable bases are preferably in a cream, lotion, or emulsion format. A more preferred format is a cream or lotion, further more preferred format is a vanishing cream. Vanishing cream base is one which may comprise 3 to 25%, more preferably 5 to 20% fatty acid. The fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated fatty acids. The base preferably comprises 0.1 to 10%, more preferably 0.1 to 3% soap. Ci₂ to C₂₀ fatty acids are especially preferred in vanishing cream bases, further more preferred being d₄ to Ci₈ fatty acids. In creams, the fatty acid is preferably substantially a mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid. Soaps in the vanishing cream base include alkali metal salt of fatty acids, like sodium or potassium salts The soap is preferably the potassium salt of the fatty acid mixture. The fatty acid in vanishing cream base is often prepared using hystric acid which is substantially

(generally about 90 to 95%) a mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid. Thus, inclusion of hystric acid and its soap to prepare the vanishing cream base is within the scope of the present invention. It is particularly preferred that the composition comprises at least 6%, preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 12% fatty acid. The cosmetically acceptable base is usually from 10 to 99.9%, preferably from 50 to 99% by weight of the composition. The cosmetically acceptable base preferably includes water. Water is preferably included in 35 to 90%, more preferably 50 to 85%, further more preferably 50 to 80% by weight of the composition. The sunscreen composition of the invention is for photo protecting the human epidermis or hair against the damaging effect of solar irradiation, as antisun/sunscreen composition or as makeup product. Such compositions can, in particular, be provided in the form of a lotion, a thickened lotion, a gel, a cream, cleansing milk, an ointment, a powder or a solid tube stick and may optionally be packaged as an aerosol and may be provided in the form of a mousse, foam or a spray.

The personal care compositions of the invention can also contain usual cosmetic adjuvants and skin care additives commonly employed in skin care products such as liquid or solid emollients, silicone oils, emulsifiers, solvents, humectants, polymeric or inorganic thickeners, powders, pigments (example clay mineral, barium sulfate, or pearl pigments, for example silver or gold, or any iris foil pearl pigment, having an interference color of red, orange, green, blue, or, purple (including any iris foil pearl pigments covered with inorganic pigments, organic pigments, laked pigments, etc.), bismuth oxychloride, bismuth oxychloride coated mica,) organic or inorganic sunscreens with and without photostabiliser, skin lightening agents, skin conditioners, optical brighteners, propellants, healing agents (example allantoin), cooling agents (example urea, menthol, menthyl lactate, frescolate), antiseptic agents and other specific skin-benefit actives, skin care actives such as skin lightening actives, antiaging, antiacne, antibacterials, antiperspirant agents etc,. The vehicle may also further include adjuncts such as antioxidants, perfumes, opacifiers, preservatives, colorants and buffers. The necessary amounts of the cosmetic and dermatological adjuvants and additives, based on the desired product, can be chosen by the skilled person.

Vitamins, which act as skin-lightening ingredients can be advantageously included in the composition to provide for additional skin lightening effects. These include vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin A or their precursors and cosmetically acceptable derivatives. Mixtures of the vitamins can also be employed in the composition of the invention. When present, these vitamins are used in the range of 0.01 to 10.0% by weight of said composition. Emollients, such as stearyl alcohol, glyceryl monoricinoleate, mink oil, cetyl alcohol, isopropyl isostearate, stearic acid, isobutyl palmitate, isocetyl stearate, oleyl alcohol, isopropyl laurate, hexyl laurate, decyl oleate, octadecan-2-ol, isocetyl alcohol, eicosanyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, cetyl palpitate, silicone oils such as dimethylpolysiloxane, organomodified silicones such as cetyl dimethicone, steryl dimethicones; cross-linked silicone elastomers/resins; organo-modified cross-linked silicone elastomers/resins di-n- butyl sebacate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate, butyl stearate, polyethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, lanolin, cocoa butter, corn oil, cotton seed oil, olive oil, palm kernel oil, rape seed oil, safflower seed oil, evening primrose oil, soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil, sesame seed oil, coconut oil, arachis oil, castor oil, acetylated lanolin alcohols, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, butyl myristate, isostearic acid, palmitic acid, isopropyl linoleate, lauryl lactate, myristyl lactate, decyl oleate, myristyl myristate; Propellants, such as propane, butane, isobutane, dimethyl ether, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide; Solvents, such as ethyl alcohol, isopropanol, acetone/ ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether; Powders, such as chalk, talc, fullers earth, kaolin, starch, gums, colloidal silica sodium polyacrylate, tetra alkyl and/or trialkyl aryl ammonium smectites, chemically modified magnesium aluminium silicate, organically modified montmorillonite clay, hydrated aluminium silicate, fumed silica, carboxyvinyl polymer, sodium

carboxymethyl cellulose, ethylene glycol monostearate; Plant extracts such as those from genus Rubia, Symplocus, Curcuma and various perfume/fragrance ingredients may also be included in the composition at ranges from 0.001 to 40.0% by weight of the composition. The emollient is preferably present in an amount from about 1 to about 20 wt.%, preferably from about 2 to about 15 wt.%, and most preferably from about 4 to about 10 wt.% of the total weight of the composition. The preservatives and antioxidants are preferably present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 10 % of the total weight of the composition. Preferably, the preservatives and/or antioxidants are present in an amount varying from about 0.1 to about 1 wt. %. Additional emulsifiers may be used to enhance the stability of the oil in water emulsion composition of the invention but these are not required as the silicone polymer has both the hydrophilic group and the hydrophobic group to not only provide the spreading desired but also the emulsifying property to enable forming stable oil in water emulsion. However small amount of additional emulsifiers may be present. When present, these are selected from the group of non-ionic surfactants e.g. fatty alcohol ethoxylates (e.g. Brij 35), alkyl phenol ethoxylates (Triton group) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters (e.g. Tween 20). They are preferably present in less than 5%, more preferably less than 3%, and most preferably less than 2% by weight of the composition. Optimally they are absent from the composition.

The oily phase of the compositions according to the present invention may also contain natural vegetable or animal waxes such as bee wax, china wax, bumblebee wax and other waxes of insects as well as shea butter. The aqueous phase of the formulations of the present invention may contain the usual cosmetic additives such as alcohols, especially lower alcohols, preferably ethanol and so or isopropanol, low alkyl diols or polyols and their ethers, preferably propyleneglycol, glycerine, ethyleneglycol, ethylene glycol monoethyl or monobutyl ether, electrolytes and especially, one or more thickeners. Thickeners that may be used in formulations of the present invention include the family of silicon dioxide, magnesium and/or aluminum silicates, polysaccharides and their derivatives such as hyaluronic acid, xanthan gum, hydroxypropyl cellulose, acrylate copolymers, preferably a polyacrylate of the family of carbopols, such as carbopols of type 980, 981 , 1382, 2984, 59S4. Moisturizing agents, such as humectants, may be incorporated into the compositions according to the present invention to reduce the trans- epidermal water loss (TEWL) of the horny layer of the skin. Suitable humectants include glycerin, lactic acid, pyrrolidone carbonic acid, urea, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, sorbitol, PEG- 400, and mixtures thereof. Additional suitable moisturizers are polymeric moisturizers of the familiy of water soluble and/or with water gelating polysaccarides such as hyaluronic acid, chitosan and/or fucose rich polysaccharides available, e.g., as FucogeH OOO (CAS-Nr. is 178463-23-5) from SOLABIA S. The moisturizing agent is optionally present in an amount varying from about 0.5 to about 8 wt. %, preferably from about 1 to about 5 wt. % of the total weight of the composition. Suitable neutralizing agents which may be included in the composition of the present invention to neutralize components such as e.g. an emulsifier or a foam builder/stabilizer include but are not limited to alkali hydroxides such as a sodium and potassium hydroxide) organic bases such as diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), aminomethyl propanol, trisodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and mixtures thereof; basic amino acids such as arginine and lysine and any combination of any of the foregoing. The neutralizing agent may be present in an amount of about 0.01 to about 8 wt.% in the compositions of the present invention, preferably 1 to about 5 wt.%. The addition of electrolytes into the composition of the present invention may be necessary to change the behavior of a hydrophobic emulsifier. Thus the emulsions may preferably contain electrolytes of one or several salts including anions such as a chloride, a sulfate, a carbonate, a borate or an aluminate, without being limited thereto. Other suitable electrolytes may be on the bases of organic anions such as, but not limited to, lactate, acetate, benzoate, propionate, tartrate and citrate. As cations preferred are ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkaline or alkaline earth metals such as Sodium or Magnesium.

Especially preferred salts are potassium and sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, zinc sulfate and mixtures thereof. Electrolytes are preferably present in an amount of about 0.01 to about 0.5 wt.% in the compositions of the present inventions.

The use is preferably non-therapeutic. The invention will now be explained in detail with help of the following non-limiting examples, which form preferred embodiments of the various aspects of the invention. EXAMPLES

Examples 1 to 7 (as per the invention) and Example A to D (outside the invention)

Various compositions having a general formulation as shown in Table 1 below were prepared.

Table 1

Various compositions containing different types and amounts of the ingredients in Table 1 were prepared as shown in Table 2. The invitro SPF of the various compositions of Table 2 were measured using an Optometries 290S instrument model. The substrate used was a 8 cm Transport tape procured from 3M company. The samples were applied at about 2 mg/cm². The measured SPF values for the various compositions are summarised in Table 2. Table 2

The structures of the various silicone polymers used in Table 2 are given below.

Silsurf 212, 412, 612 and 812 (all sourced from Siltech) have the same chemical structure but differ in the percentage of EO groups and with alkyl groups; the percentages of these are given in the table below: %

EO Alkyl

Silsurf -212 48 6

Silsurf -412 39 13

Silsurf -612 28 22

Silsurf -812 16 32

The data in Table 2 indicates that compositions as per the invention (Examples 1 to 7) which comprise a silicone polymer as per the invention (comprising both a hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic group) along with a base comprising fatty acid are able to provide the desired high SPF. In contrast, compositions outside the invention viz. Examples A having no silicone polymer;

Example B having a silicone polymer having only a hydrophobic group and no hydrophilic group;

Example C having no silicone polymer and no fatty acid; and

Example D having a silicon polymer as per the invention but no fatty acid;

do not exhibit the desired high SPF values.

Claims

1 . A sunscreen composition comprising:

a) 0.1 % to 10 % by weight UV or visible light absorbing filter;

b) 0.1 to 5% by weight a silicone polymer having following structure

where R1 is a group selected from alkyl, branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, polycycloalkyi, heterocycloalkyi, alkaryl, alkoxy, aryl, aralkyi, alkenyl, alkynyl or fluorocarbon groups containing 1 to 50 carbon atom(s),

R2 is R1 or an organofunctional segment comprising a Nitrogen, Oxygen,

Phosphorus or Sulphur atom or an organic moiety (or spacer) comprising a carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, oxygen or silicon atom capable of crosslinking to another or same polymer via spacer elements;

"X" is a hydrophilic polymer or segment thereof having a surface energy of at least 40 mJ/m²,

Units A and F are the terminal moieties;

a, b & c are integers ranging from about 1 -10,000;

d is an integer ranging from about 0-10,000; and

c) 1 to 25% fatty acid.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said UV or visible light absorbing filter is selected from a UV-A organic sunscreen, a UV-B organic sunscreen or an inorganic sun block.

3. A composition a claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein R1 is a methyl group.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein X is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or polyacrylic acid.

5. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein Y is a C6 to C30 hydrocarbon chain.

6. A composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein said hydrocarbon chain is selected from a stearyl, cetyl, dodecyl or lauryl group.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said filter comprises 0.1 to 7% by weight an organic UV-A sunscreen.

8. A composition as claimed in claim 7 wherein said organic UV-A sunscreen is a dibenzoyi methane derivative, preferably 4-tert.-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane.

9. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said filter comprises 0.1 to 7% by weight an organic UV-B sunscreen.

10. A composition as claimed in claim 9 wherein said UV-B sunscreen is an octyl

methoxy cinnamate compound.

1 1 . A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said filter comprises an inorganic sunblock selected from titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

12. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising 0.1 to 10% soap.

13. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said R2

comprises a phosphate group.

14. A method of providing protection from UV-vis radiation comprising applying a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims to a desired external surface of the body.

15. Use of a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 13 for providing an SPF higher than 12.