| abstract |
A depilatory composition in the form of an emulsion with reduced irritancy to the skin comprises one or more of a depilatory agent, an oil, a surfactant and a polar substance, preferably a polar oil. The polar substance as herein defined has polarity index of 2-15 mN/m and is typically polypropylene oxide-15 stearyl ether, olive oil, wheat germ oil or cyclomethicone. The surfactant, typically cetostearyl alcohol or ceteareth-20, and oils in the oil phase are chosen so as to have similar hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) values thus providing a multi-bilayer structure in water that allows a slow delivery of keratinising agent to the hair. |