| abstract |
A personal care composition in the form of an aqueous liquid comprises: i) a lipid composition comprising two components D and E, where D is a molecule having one long hydrocarbon chain and a hydrophillic head group and E is a material which comprises at least one of a compound selected from 3 beta -sterol; squalane; squalane; saponins or sapogenins of the plant steroid or triterpenoid type; di and tri terpenes such as phytol, retinol and amyrin; and mixtures thereof, wherein D and E are respectively present at levels within the range 0.1 to 10 wt % and 0.2 a to 12 wt % based on the total composition; ii) a surface active agent selected from anionic, nonionic, cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric surface active agents, soap and mixtures thereof; and iii) a deposition aid; and the composition is substantially free of a molecule having at least two hydrocarbon chains and a polar head group which satisfies the relationship <IMAGE> (I) where V is the volume of the hydrocarbon chains Ic is the critical length of the hydrocarbon chains and ao is the optimum area of the polar head group. The composition may in the form of for example a shower gel or facial cleanser which is temporarily applied to the skin before being removed such as wiping or rinsing it from the skin. |