Novel Spontaneous Cleansing Feature of Foam: Hybrid Bicontinuous-Microemulsion-Type Foamy Makeup Remover

It is known that the basic value of a makeup remover is its ability to remove makeup and deliver the resulting feeling of freshness. Additional consumer needs that are being addressed to supplement and heighten the product experience include putting no burden on the skin during removal, not dripping during use, being easy to wash off, and not needing to be followed up with face wash. It has been assumed that a foamy makeup remover would be a strong candidate to address all these issues. However, a foam-type remover has been impossible to create previously since makeup contains a considerable amount of hydrophobic solids, such as hydrophobized powders, waxes, and hydrophobic film formers. These ingredients, as well as the oily substances from makeup removers, which are necessary to sufficiently remove makeup, break up the foam by intruding into its membrane. We have succeeded in hybridizing an anion/amphoteric surfactant mixture into a bicontinuous microemulsion (BME) phase, which is known to have an excellent ability to remove makeup. The solution forms dense foam by dispensing it from a pump foamer, achieving a highly effective foam-state makeup remover for the first time. Furthermore, we found an interesting phenomenon whereby makeup is spontaneously dissolved upon contact with the foam-state remover. This phenomenon seems to be caused by moderate foam breaking upon contact with makeup, leading to a supply of surfactant molecules from the air/remover interface to the makeup/remover interface, followed by a flow of water, resulting in makeup removal. By this novel function of foam, achieved by the foam-state BME phase, a novel makeup remover that fulfills all the consumer needs listed above was successfully developed.