| abstract |
A cosmetic cleansing agent comprising 1-50% of one or more biosurfactants, 0.5-30% of one or more C10-C20 acyl lactylates and less than 0.5% sulfate surfactant. The biosurfactant may comprise a glycolipid such as a rhamnolipid, a sophorolipid or a mannosylerythritol and/or a lipopeptide such as a surfactin, a fatty acyl glutamate or a fatty acyl glycinate. Sophorolipids may be present as a mixture of the acid and lactone forms. Rhamnolipids may be derived from 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid and/or 3-hydroxyundecanoic acid. The acyl lactylate may be stearoyl lactate, isostearoyl lactate, palmitoyl lactylate or lauroyl lactylate, particularly lauroyl-2-lactylate. The cleansing agent preferably comprises no sulfate surfactants and no surfactants other than the biosurfactant and the acyl lactylate. The composition may also comprise a thickener, preservative, aromatic substance, perfume or nourishing agent. The composition may be a shampoo or shower gel. |