SHAVING COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING HIGHLY LUBRICIOUS WATER SOLUBLE POLYMERS

The present invention is directed to shaving compositions which comprise one or more water soluble polymers to increase lubricity and enhance shaving performance. The polymers employed in the shaving compositions provide the compositions with a stress ratio (i.e., the ratio of normal stress to shear stress) in excess of 3.0 when measured at a shear rate of 800 sec-1. A preferred combination of polymers includes polyethylene oxide (mol. Wt.>= 1 million) and natural or synthetic polysaccharide gum. The present invention is also directed to an improved shaving method in which such compositions are applied to an area of skin, then said area is shaved. In another aspect, the present invention embraces shaving compositions comprising water, a cleansin g or conditioning agent for hair or skin, polyethylene oxide (mol. Wt.>=1 million) and natural or synthetic polysaccharide gum.