Shiseido files a patent for heat-enabled formula which can enhance effects of make-up

According to its international patent, which was published on September 9, Shiseido has developed a formula and a device which would allow the application of make-up at a temperature of 30°C. to 70°C.

The maker of SHISIEDO, Anessa and Clé de Peau Beauté claimed that warming up colour cosmetic formulas would ensure augmented effects.

“It has been clarified that a higher effect can be obtained by using warmed make-up than by using cosmetics at room temperature, and it has become clear that cosmetics used by warming – hereinafter, make-up for warming use – are beginning to be developed,”​ said Shiseido in its patent filing.

However, conventional coloured cosmetic formulas cannot simply be heated because the viscosity would decrease and there would be stability problems such as dripping or separation.

Creating a stable formula for heating

To solve these issues, Shiseido said it was necessary to develop a formulation with certain thickeners that would be able to withstand heating.

The company elaborated that its heat-stable cosmetic formulation contained temperature-responsive and high-temperature stability polymers.

The firm specified in its patent that it developed the formulation with hydrophobic-modified polyether urethane, cellulose nanofibers and water.

The hydrophobic-modified polyether urethane is a temperature-responsive copolymer that acts as a thickener while the cellulose nanofibers act as a high-temperature stable polymer that does not undergo structural change and maintains stability without separating after heating.