Hypotonic formulations of hydrogel forming polymers, preferably poloxamers, have been developed for enhanced delivery through mucosa of therapeutic, diagnostic, prophylactic or other agents, to epithelial tissues, especially those having a mucosal coating. The polymers are administered at a concentration above, at or less than their critical gelling concentration (CRC) under isotonic conditions. The hypo tonicity of the formulation is adjusted so that the polymer gels at the lower concentration. A Poloxamer gel administered into the vagina or colorectal at its CRC will form a “plug” of gel in the lumen.

The present invention provides an oil-based cosmetic that can easily be washed out with warm water and is excellent in water resistance. The oil-based cosmetic of the present invention is characterized by comprising (a) to (c): (a) 1 to 25 mass % of a block-type alkylene oxide derivative represented by the below-described formula (I) (b) 1 to 15 mass % of a siliconized pullulan and/or trimethylsiloxysilicic acid (c) 10 mass % or less of water

R.sup.1O—[(EO).sub.p(PO).sub.q(EO).sub.r]—R.sup.2  (I)

(In the above formula, EO is an oxyethylene group and PO is an oxypropylene group. The symbols p, q, and r are the average addition mole numbers, and they are p≧1, r≧1, 10≦p+r≦70, and 10≦q≦60. R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are either identical or different and they are either a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.)

The present invention provides an oil-based cosmetic that can easily be washed out with warm water and is excellent in water resistance. The oil-based cosmetic of the present invention is characterized by comprising (a) to (c): (a) 1 to 25 mass % of a block-type alkylene oxide derivative represented by the below-described formula (I) (b) 1 to 15 mass % of a siliconized pullulan and/or trimethylsiloxysilicic acid (c) 10 mass % or less of water

R.sup.1O—[(EO).sub.p(PO).sub.q(EO).sub.r]—R.sup.2  (I)

(In the above formula, EO is an oxyethylene group and PO is an oxypropylene group. The symbols p, q, and r are the average addition mole numbers, and they are p≧1, r≧1, 10≦p+r≦70, and 10≦q≦60. R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are either identical or different and they are either a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.)

Skin tightening compositions for application to the skin for providing an instantaneous and dramatic improvement to the appearance of skin. The skin tightening compositions typically include about 5 to about 45 wt. % or more of one or more hydrophobic film-forming polymers comprising acrylates/stearyl methacrylate copolymer; about 0.5 to about 20 wt. % of a mineral thickening agent; about 1 to about 15 wt. % of a silicone elastomer; and about 30 to about 85 wt. % of a volatile hydrocarbon oil, wherein all percentages by weight are based on the total weight of the skin tightening composition. Additionally, the skin tightening composition may have a weight ratio of the total amount of hydrophobic film-forming polymers to the total amount of mineral thickening agent is 1:1 to 10:1 and a weight ratio of the total amount of silicone elastomer to the total amount of mineral thickening agent is 1:2 to 8:1.

Certain aspects of the present invention relates to microcapsules comprising a core; and a hydrophobic, cross-linked polymeric shell, as well as method for making and using same. Some embodiments of the present invention relate to microcapsules comprising a core; and a hydrophobic, cross-linked polymeric shell. These microcapsules can be used in a variety of applications, including agriculture, encapsulation of food ingredients, health care, cosmetics (e.g., perfumes, detergents, and sunscreen), coatings (e.g., paints and pigments), additives, catalysis, and oil recovery.

The invention relates to a cosmetic composition for application in the eye area in the form of a gelatinous emulsion, and to the preparation and use thereof.

There is provided a core-shell particle comprising a polymer conjugate encapsulating an active agent, wherein the polymer conjugate comprises a biocompatible polymer and a polyacidic polymer. There is also provided a process for forming the core-shell particle, a delivery vehicle comprising the core-shell particle and a method for delivering an active agent to a desired site.

There is provided a core-shell particle comprising a polymer conjugate encapsulating an active agent, wherein the polymer conjugate comprises a biocompatible polymer and a polyacidic polymer. There is also provided a process for forming the core-shell particle, a delivery vehicle comprising the core-shell particle and a method for delivering an active agent to a desired site.

A hair cosmetic composition comprising the following components (A), (B) and water, having a pH of 6 or less, and the component (B) being dispersed in a water phase: (A) an oxyalkylene polymer represented by formula —(AO).sub.n— wherein A represents a C.sub.2-6 alkylene group and n represents a number of 50 to 30,000, provided that n pieces of AO comprise at least two alkyleneoxy groups, which are arranged through either random polymerization or block polymerization; and (B) a polymer comprising a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (b1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (b2), having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 1,000,000, and having an acid value of 5 to 400:
—(CH.sub.2CR.sup.1COOH)—  (b1)
—(CH.sub.2CR.sup.2COOR.sup.3)—  (b2)
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent H or CH.sub.3, and R.sup.3 represents a C.sub.1-30 hydrocarbon group.

A hair cosmetic composition comprising the following components (A), (B) and water, having a pH of 6 or less, and the component (B) being dispersed in a water phase: (A) an oxyalkylene polymer represented by formula —(AO).sub.n— wherein A represents a C.sub.2-6 alkylene group and n represents a number of 50 to 30,000, provided that n pieces of AO comprise at least two alkyleneoxy groups, which are arranged through either random polymerization or block polymerization; and (B) a polymer comprising a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (b1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (b2), having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 1,000,000, and having an acid value of 5 to 400:
—(CH.sub.2CR.sup.1COOH)—  (b1)
—(CH.sub.2CR.sup.2COOR.sup.3)—  (b2)
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent H or CH.sub.3, and R.sup.3 represents a C.sub.1-30 hydrocarbon group.