CLEAR COSMETIC STICK COMPOSITION WITH ALKALI CHELATE

Soap-based clear cosmetic sticks are disclosed which include an alkali metal salt of a chelating agent into the stick composition to increase the set temperature and the stick hardness and to prevent the formation of precipitates in the composition during aging. A typical composition of the present invention comprises about 40 to 90%, preferably about 50 to 80%, of a polyhydric alcohol, about 5 to 35%, preferably 15 to 30%, water, about 3 to 12%, preferably 4 to 8%, of an alkali metal salt of a C12-22, preferably C14-18, fatty acid, and about 0.3 to 1.6%, preferably about 0.5 to 1.3% of an alkali metal salt of a chelating agent, preferably a sodium or potassium salt of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The composition will also typically contain a cosmetic active ingredient such as a deodorant active. Preferably the composition will contain less than 0.3%, most preferably less than 0.2%, of C20-22 soap in order to achieve maximum clarity.