JP7673045B2 - Cleansing agent - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cleansing agent suitable for washing the face. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cleansing agent that can generate dense foam with excellent texture and exhibits excellent cleaning power.

Cleansers used for washing the face and the like generally contain higher fatty acid soaps in terms of their cleaning power and foaming properties. In particular, for cleansers for washing the face, the combination of surfactants, fragrances, viscosity modifiers, moisturizers and other additives has been considered in order to improve not only cleaning power but also the feel when used and moisturizing properties.

In a cleansing agent, the foaming property depends largely on the type and amount of higher fatty acid soap, but higher fatty acid soap alone may not provide sufficient characteristics in terms of foam texture, etc. In other words, when the cleansing agent is foamed, the bubbles do not become small, and they tend to easily flow off even when in contact with the skin. In order to improve this point, the combination of a viscosity modifier has been considered, and in Patent Document 1, a solid cleansing composition is proposed in which a polyacrylic acid thickener is combined and a specific polymer is further combined to solve the problems caused by the polyacrylic acid thickener. However, in particular for cleansing agents intended for face washing, importance is placed on the feeling of use when in contact with the skin, and further improvements are required for conventional cleansing compositions.

Patent application 2007-308579

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a cleanser capable of generating foam that provides an excellent feel when used.

According to the present invention, the following inventions are provided.
[1] (a) a higher fatty acid or a salt thereof,
(b) a polymer having a cationic group;
A cleansing agent comprising (c) a polyacrylic acid thickener and (d) water, wherein the mass blending ratio b/c of the polymer (b) to the polyacrylic acid thickener (c) is 1 to 200.
[2] The cleansing agent according to [1], wherein the polymer (b) having a cationic group is a copolymer containing a diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt in a polymerization unit.
[3] The cleansing agent according to [1] or [2], wherein the polymer (b) having a cationic group is a copolymer containing a diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt and an acrylamide as polymerization units.
[4] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the polymer (b) having a cationic group is a copolymer containing a diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt, and acrylamide and acrylic acid as polymerization units.
[5] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the polyacrylic acid thickener (c) is a polymer that does not contain a cationic group in its main chain.
[6] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the polyacrylic acid-based thickener (c) is sodium polyacrylate.
[7] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the weight-average molecular weight of the polyacrylic acid-based thickener (c) is 4,000,000 to 6,000,000.
[8] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the blending amount of the higher fatty acid or salt thereof (a) is 10 to 50 mass % based on the total mass of the cleansing agent.
[9] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the blending amount of the polymer (b) having a cationic group is 0.1 to 2.0% by mass, based on the total mass of the cleansing agent.
[10] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein the blending amount of the polyacrylic acid-based thickener (c) is 0.001 to 0.3 mass % based on the total mass of the cleansing agent.
[11] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [10], wherein a mass blending ratio b/c of the polymer (b) having a cationic group to the polyacrylic acid-based thickener (c) is 6 to 200.
[12] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [11], further comprising an alkylene oxide derivative.
[13] The cleansing agent according to [12], wherein the alkylene oxide derivative is a compound represented by the following formula (1):
R ¹ O-[(AO) _p (EO) _q ]-R ² (1)
(Wherein,
AO is an oxyalkylene group having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, EO is an oxyethylene group, p and q are the average numbers of moles of the oxyalkylene group having 3 to 4 carbon atoms and the oxyethylene group added, respectively, and 1≦p≦70 and 1≦q≦70, and the ratio of the oxyethylene groups to the total of the oxyalkylene groups and the oxyethylene groups is 20 to 80 mass %,
The oxyalkylene groups and oxyethylene groups may be added in a block or random manner.
R ¹ and R ² may be the same or different and are a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom, and the ratio of the number of hydrogen atoms to the number of hydrocarbon groups in R ¹ and R ² is 0.15 or less.
[14] The cleansing agent according to [13], wherein in formula (1), oxyalkylene groups AO and oxyethylene groups EO are added randomly.
[15] The cleansing agent according to any one of [12] to [14], wherein the blending amount of the alkylene oxide derivative is 0.001 to 5 mass % based on the total mass of the cleansing agent.
[16] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [15], further comprising a nonionic surfactant.
[17] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [16], wherein the blending amount of the nonionic surfactant is 0.1 to 15 mass % based on the total mass of the cleansing agent.
[18] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [17], which is a viscous liquid.
[19] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [18], which is a skin cleansing agent.
[20] The cleansing agent according to any one of [1] to [19], which is a skin moisturizing cleansing agent.

The cleansing agent of the present invention can generate foam that is excellent in density, durability, adhesion, elasticity, etc., and further provides a good feel and sensation on the skin during and after use.

Description of the Invention

The cleansing agent according to the present invention comprises:
(a) a higher fatty acid or a salt thereof,
(b) a polymer having a cationic group;
It contains (c) a polyacrylic acid-based thickener and (d) water as essential components.

[(a) Higher fatty acid or its salt]
The higher fatty acid or its salt that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a neutralized product of a higher fatty acid, or a saponified product of a higher fatty acid ester or oil that is generally used as a detergent material. What is generally called a higher fatty acid soap is a mixture of a higher fatty acid and its salt, and can be used as the higher fatty acid or its salt (a) in the present invention.

As the higher fatty acid, a fatty acid having 8 to 22 carbon atoms is preferred, and it may be either linear or branched, and may be either saturated or unsaturated. Specifically, a fatty acid selected from the group consisting of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, isomyristic acid, isopalmitic acid, isostearic acid, undecylenic acid, tallic acid, linoleic acid, linoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can be used. Here, it is preferable to use one or a combination of two or more fatty acids selected from the group consisting of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, isomyristic acid, isopalmitic acid, and isostearic acid.

Examples of alkalis that form salts of higher fatty acids include inorganic alkalis such as potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, organic alkalis such as triethanolamine, and basic amino acids such as lysine and arginine. Of these alkalis, potassium hydroxide is preferred.

As the salt of a higher fatty acid, it is preferable to use a higher fatty acid salt selected from the group consisting of potassium laurate, potassium myristate, potassium palmitate, and potassium stearate, and it is also preferable to contain all four of these higher fatty acid salts.

The salt of a higher fatty acid is produced, for example, by neutralizing a higher fatty acid with an alkali, but generally, it is not completely neutralized, and the product generally also contains unreacted higher fatty acid. The higher fatty acid soap that can be used in the present invention also preferably has a neutralization rate of 60 to 90 mol%. Therefore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the higher fatty acid or its salt (a) contains 60 to 90 mol% of a higher fatty acid alkali salt and 10 to 40 mol% of a higher fatty acid. In particular, it is more preferable that the higher fatty acid or its salt (a) contains about 80% of a higher fatty acid alkali salt. The higher fatty acid or its salt (a) does not need to be a neutralized product of a higher fatty acid, and may be a mixture of a salt of a higher fatty acid and a higher fatty acid in the above ratio.

[(b) Polymer having a cationic group]
The polymer having cationic groups that can be used in the cleaning agent according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably a hydrophilic polymer having amino groups or quaternary ammonium groups. Such polymers include hydrophilic polymers such as cellulose to which a substituent having amino groups or quaternary ammonium groups is added, and copolymers containing acrylamide or diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt having cationic groups in the side chain as polymerization units. Among these, copolymers containing diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt as polymerization units are preferred, copolymers containing diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt and acrylamide as polymerization units are more preferred, and copolymers containing diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt, acrylamide and acrylic acid as polymerization units are even more preferred.

Specific examples include cationic cellulose, cationic starch, diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt/acrylamide copolymer, diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt/acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer, etc., with diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt/acrylamide copolymer and diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt/acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer being preferred, and diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt/acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer being more preferred. In the present invention, the polymer having a cationic group needs to have a cationic group, but the polymer itself does not need to be a cationic polymer. Rather, in the present invention, the use of an amphoteric polymer such as diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt/acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer tends to provide better effects.

In addition, it is preferable that the polymer having a cationic group in the present invention has low spinnability. Such a polymer having a cationic group is considered to have the effect of improving the so-called water solubility, which makes it easier for the cleanser to diffuse into water when it comes into contact with water.

Commercially available cationic polymers which may be included in the cleaning agent of the present invention include, for example:
Marcoat 100 (product name: manufactured by Nalco, cosmetic label name: Polyquaternium-6),
Marcoat 550 (product name: manufactured by Nalco, cosmetic label name: Polyquaternium-7),
Marcoat 2200 (product name: manufactured by Nalco, cosmetic label name: Polyquaternium-7), and Marcoat 3330 (product name: manufactured by Nalco, cosmetic label name: Polyquaternium-39)
etc.

[(c) Polyacrylic acid-based thickener]
The polyacrylic acid thickener that can be used in the cleaning agent according to the present invention is a polymer that contains acrylic acid or an acrylic acid salt as the main polymerization unit. For this reason, the polyacrylic acid thickener used in the present invention is generally an anionic water-soluble polymer. Among such anionic water-soluble polymers, copolymers that contain polymerization units that contain cationic groups may not be able to obtain sufficient thickening effect, so it is preferable that they do not contain cationic groups. A typical example is sodium polyacrylate. By blending sodium polyacrylate in the cleaning agent, it is possible to impart a smooth feel.

Such polyacrylic acid-based thickeners are known with various molecular weights, but those with a weight-average molecular weight of, for example, 4,000,000 to 6,000,000 are preferred. In addition, since it is used as a thickener, it is preferable that the viscosity of the aqueous solution is high, and for example, the viscosity of a 0.2% by mass aqueous solution at 30°C is preferably 400 to 600 mPa·s.

Various polyacrylic acid thickeners are commercially available, and any can be selected as long as they do not impair the effects of the present invention. Specific examples include Aronvis SX (trade name, manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.), Akpec (trade name, manufactured by Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd.), and Viscomate (trade name, manufactured by Showa Denko K.K.).

(d) Water
The cleansing agent according to the present invention further contains water in addition to the above-mentioned components. As the water, water used in cosmetics, quasi-drugs, etc., such as purified water, ion-exchanged water, tap water, etc., can be used.

[Amount and ratio of each component]
The cleansing agent according to the present invention contains the above-mentioned components (a) to (d). The amount of each component is selected from the following ranges.
The blending amount of (a) the higher fatty acid or its salt is preferably 10 to 50 mass %, more preferably 20 to 40 mass %, based on the total mass of the cleanser. By blending the higher fatty acid or its salt within this range, the cleanser can be made into a viscous liquid with excellent handleability.
The blending amount of the (b) cationic group-containing polymer is 0.1 to 2.0 mass %, more preferably 0.15 to 1.5 mass %, based on the total mass of the cleanser. By setting the blending amount of the cationic group-containing polymer in this range, it is possible to obtain an excellent cleanser with reduced tightness.
The blending amount of the polyacrylic acid thickener (c) is preferably 0.001 to 0.3% by mass, more preferably 0.002 to 0.2% by mass, based on the total mass of the cleanser. By keeping the blending amount of the polyacrylic acid thickener within this range, a cleanser with an excellent balance of foaming and usability can be obtained.
(d) Water is blended in such a way that the total amount, together with additives which are added as necessary as described below, becomes 100% by mass.

The cleansing agent according to the present invention is obtained by blending the above-mentioned components, and at this time, the ratio of the blend amount of (b) the polymer having a cationic group to the blend amount of (c) the polyacrylic acid-based thickener is important. That is, the mass blending ratio b/c of the polymer having a cationic group (b) to the polyacrylic acid-based thickener (c) must be 1 to 200, preferably 6 to 200, and more preferably 10 to 180. By setting the ratio b/c within this range, the diffusibility into water when the cleansing agent is brought into contact with water (water solubility performance), the fineness, persistence, adhesion to the skin, and elasticity of the foam when the cleansing agent is brought into contact with water to form a foam, the tactile feel when the foam is used to clean the skin, and the feeling of tension on the skin after cleaning can all be satisfied at a sufficient level. In particular, it is known that a creamy foam can be generated by using a polyacrylic acid-based thickener in a cleaning composition. However, in the present invention, even if the amount of polyacrylic acid-based thickener is less than that conventionally known, by setting the ratio b/c within an appropriate range, it is possible to form a foam that is denser, shinier, and more spreadable than conventional foams. Such foam can provide the user with a smooth feel that was not possible with conventional cleansers.

[Other additives]
The cleansing agent according to the present invention may contain various additives, if necessary, in addition to the above-mentioned components (a) to (d).

One such additive is an alkylene oxide derivative. The alkylene oxide derivative can improve the moisturizing feeling of the skin when the cleanser according to the present invention is used, and can also improve the durability of the foam during use.

The alkylene oxide derivative used in the cleansing agent according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably a compound represented by the following formula (1).
R ¹ O-[(AO) _p (EO) _q ]-R ² (1)
(Wherein,
AO is an oxyalkylene group having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, EO is an oxyethylene group, p and q are the average added mole numbers of oxyalkylene groups and oxyethylene groups having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, respectively, and are 1≦p≦70 and 1≦q≦70, the ratio of oxyethylene groups to the total of oxyalkylene groups and oxyethylene groups is 20 to 80 mass%, the oxyalkylene groups and oxyethylene groups may be added in a block form or in a random form, R ¹ and R ² are the same or different hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydrogen atoms, and the ratio of the number of hydrogen atoms to the number of hydrocarbon groups of R ¹ and R ² is 0.15 or less.

In the compound represented by the above formula (1), AO is an oxyalkylene group having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, such as an oxypropylene group, an oxybutylene group, an oxyisobutylene group, a trimethylene group, or a tetramethylene group, and preferably an oxypropylene group or an oxybutylene group. p is the average number of moles of oxyalkylene groups having 3 to 4 carbon atoms added, and is 1≦p≦70, preferably 2≦p≦20. q is the average number of moles of oxyethylene groups added, and is 1≦q≦70, preferably 2≦q≦20. In addition, (p+q) is preferably 8 to 100.

In addition, in the compound represented by the above formula (1), the ratio of oxyethylene groups to the total of oxyalkylene groups having 3 to 4 carbon atoms and oxyethylene groups is preferably 20 to 80% by mass. The order in which ethylene oxide and alkylene oxide having 3 to 4 carbon atoms are added is not particularly limited. In addition, the oxyethylene groups and oxyalkylene groups having 3 to 4 carbon atoms may be added in a block form or a random form, but are preferably added in a random form. Here, the block form includes not only two-stage blocks but also three-stage blocks.

^R1 and ^R2 may be the same, may be a mixture of a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a hydrogen atom, or may be a mixture of different hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. However, the ratio of the hydrocarbon groups and hydrogen atoms present in the hydrocarbon groups of ^R1 and ^R2 , that is, the ratio Y/X of the number of hydrogen atoms (Y) to the number of hydrocarbon groups (X), is 0.15 or less, and preferably 0.06 or less. That is, although ^R1 and ^R2 may be hydrogen, it is preferable that the ratio is small, and it is preferable that all of ^R1 and ^R2 are hydrocarbon groups.

Specific examples of the alkylene oxide derivative include:
Polyoxyethylene (10 mol) polyoxypropylene (10 mol) dimethyl ether, polyoxyethylene (9 mol) polyoxypropylene (2 mol) dimethyl ether,
Polyoxyethylene (14 moles) polyoxypropylene (7 moles) dimethyl ether,
Polyoxyethylene (6 moles) polyoxypropylene (14 moles) dimethyl ether,
Polyoxyethylene (15 mol) polyoxypropylene (5 mol) dimethyl ether,
Polyoxyethylene (25 mol) polyoxypropylene (25 mol) dimethyl ether,
Polyoxyethylene (9 moles) polyoxybutylene (2 moles) dimethyl ether,
Polyoxyethylene (14 moles) polyoxybutylene (7 moles) dimethyl ether,
Polyoxyethylene (10 mol) polyoxypropylene (10 mol) diethyl ether,
Polyoxyethylene (10 mol) polyoxypropylene (10 mol) dipropyl ether,
Examples of the polyoxyethylene ether include polyoxyethylene (10 mol) polyoxypropylene (10 mol) dibutyl ether and polyoxyethylene (36 mol) polyoxypropylene (41 mol) dimethyl ether. Among these, polyoxyethylene (9 mol) polyoxypropylene (2 mol) dimethyl ether, polyoxyethylene (14 mol) polyoxypropylene (7 mol) dimethyl ether, and polyoxyethylene (36 mol) polyoxypropylene (41 mol) dimethyl ether are preferred, with polyoxyethylene (14 mol) polyoxypropylene (7 mol) dimethyl ether being particularly preferred.

The alkylene oxide derivatives used in the cleaning agent of the present invention can be produced by known methods. For example, they can be obtained by addition polymerization of ethylene oxide and an alkylene oxide having 3 to 4 carbon atoms to a compound having a hydroxyl group, followed by an ether reaction with an alkyl halide in the presence of an alkali catalyst.

The amount of alkylene oxide derivative that may be contained in the cleansing agent according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.001 to 5 mass %, more preferably 0.01 to 3 mass %, and even more preferably 0.1 to 1 mass %, based on the total mass of the cleansing agent. By setting the amount of alkylene oxide derivative in this range, the cleansing agent has gentle cleansing properties and also provides better makeup application and makeup retention after use.

The cleansing agent according to the present invention preferably contains a nonionic surfactant. Examples of nonionic surfactants that can be used include:
Fatty acid alkanolamides such as coconut oil fatty acid monoethanolamide, coconut oil fatty acid diethanolamide, lauric acid isopropanolamide, and oleic acid diethanolamide;
Sorbitan fatty acid esters such as sorbitan monostearate and sorbitan sesquioleate;
Alkylene glycol fatty acid esters such as diethylene glycol laurate, propylene glycol laurate, ethylene glycol monooleate, and ethylene glycol distearate;
POE sorbitan fatty acid esters such as hydrogenated castor oil derivatives, glycerin alkyl ethers, POE sorbitan monooleate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate;
POE sorbitol fatty acid esters such as POE-sorbitol monolaurate;
POE glycerin fatty acid esters such as POE glycerin monoisostearate;
POE glycerin fatty acid esters such as polyethylene glycol monooleate and POE distearate;
POE alkyl ethers such as POE-octyldodecyl ether;
POE alkyl phenyl ethers such as POE nonyl phenyl ether;
POE/POP alkyl ethers;
Pluronic types;
POE castor oil;
POE hydrogenated castor oil derivatives;
Sugars such as sugar esters, sugar ethers, and sugar amides;
Among these, one or more types may be blended in combination. In particular, alkylene glycol fatty acid esters are preferred, and diethylene glycol laurate is more preferred.

When the cleansing agent according to the present invention contains a nonionic surfactant, the amount of the nonionic surfactant present is preferably 0.1 to 15 mass %, more preferably 0.3 to 10 mass %, based on the total mass of the cleansing agent.

The cleansing agent according to the present invention may also contain surfactants other than nonionic surfactants, such as anionic surfactants or amphoteric surfactants.

The anionic surfactants that can be used in the cleansing agent according to the present invention are
Polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate surfactants and alkyl glycol acetates;
Higher alkyl sulfates (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate, and the like);
N-acyl sarcosinic acid (e.g., sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, etc.);
Higher fatty acid amidosulfonates (e.g., sodium N-myristoyl-N-methyl taurate, sodium coconut oil fatty acid methyl taurate (sodium cocoyl methyl taurate), sodium lauryl methyl taurate, and the like);
Phosphate ester salts (such as sodium POE-oleyl ether phosphate, and POE-stearyl ether phosphate);
Sulfosuccinates (such as sodium di-2-ethylhexyl sulfosuccinate, sodium monolauroyl monoethanolamide polyoxyethylene sulfosuccinate, and sodium lauryl polypropylene glycol sulfosuccinate);
Alkylbenzene sulfonates (e.g., linear sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, linear triethanolamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate, and linear dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, etc.);
Higher fatty acid ester sulfates (e.g., sodium hydrogenated coconut oil fatty acid glycerin sulfate, etc.);
N-acyl glutamates (such as monosodium N-lauroyl glutamate, disodium N-stearoyl glutamate, and monosodium N-myristoyl-L-glutamate);
Sulfated oils (e.g., turmeric oil, etc.);
POE-alkyl ether carboxylic acids;
POE-alkyl allyl ether carboxylates;
α-olefin sulfonate;
Higher fatty acid ester sulfonate;
Secondary alcohol sulfate salts;
Higher fatty acid alkylolamide sulfate ester salts;
Examples include sodium lauroyl monoethanolamide succinate; and N-palmitoyl aspartic acid ditriethanolamine; sodium caseinate, and the like.

When the cleanser according to the present invention contains an anionic surfactant, the amount of the surfactant is preferably 30% by mass or less, more preferably 10 to 20% by mass, based on the total mass of the cleanser.

The amphoteric surfactant that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include:
Imidazoline-based amphoteric surfactants (e.g., 2-undecyl-N,N,N-(hydroxyethylcarboxymethyl)-2-imidazoline sodium, and 2-cocoyl-2-imidazolinium hydroxide-1-carboxyethyloxy disodium salt, etc.); and betaine-based surfactants (e.g., 2-heptadecyl-N-carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyethylimidazolinium betaine, lauryl dimethylaminoacetic acid betaine, alkyl betaine, amido betaine, sulfo betaine, and cocamidopropyl betaine, etc.).
and the like, preferably, a betaine-based surfactant is used, and more preferably, cocamidopropyl betaine is used.

When the cleansing agent according to the present invention contains an amphoteric surfactant, the amount of the amphoteric surfactant is particularly preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 3 to 18% by mass, and even more preferably 5 to 12% by mass, based on the total mass of the cleansing agent.

The cleansing agent according to the present invention can contain, in addition to the above-mentioned ingredients, ingredients normally used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical cleansing agents, and is manufactured according to conventional methods. Such ingredients include those listed below, and the cleansing agent can be manufactured by further blending one or more of the following ingredients as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved.

Examples of moisturizing agents include polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, 1,3-butylene glycol, xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, mucoitin sulfate, caronic acid, atelocollagen, cholesteryl-12-hydroxystearate, sodium lactate, bile salts, dl-pyrrolidone carboxylate, short-chain soluble collagen, diglycerol (EO) PO adduct, Rosa rugosa extract, Achillea millefolium extract, and Melilot extract.

Examples of powder components include:
Inorganic powders (e.g., talc, kaolin, mica, sericite, muscovite, phlogopite, synthetic mica, red mica, biotite, vermiculite, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, aluminum silicate, barium silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, strontium silicate, metal tungstate, magnesium, silica, zeolite, barium sulfate, calcined calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, fluorapatite, hydroxyapatite, ceramic powders, metal soaps (e.g., zinc myristate, calcium palmitate, and aluminum stearate), and boron nitride, etc.);
Organic powders (e.g., polyamide resin powder (nylon powder), polyethylene powder, polymethyl methacrylate powder, polystyrene powder, styrene-acrylic acid copolymer resin powder, benzoguanamine resin powder, polytetrafluoroethylene powder, cellulose powder, etc.);
Inorganic white pigments (such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide);
Inorganic red pigments (e.g., iron oxide (red iron oxide), iron titanate, and the like);
Inorganic brown pigments (e.g., γ-iron oxide, etc.);
Inorganic yellow pigments (e.g., yellow iron oxide, yellow ocher, etc.);
Inorganic black pigments (e.g., black iron oxide, low-order titanium oxide, etc.);
Inorganic violet pigments (e.g., mango violet, cobalt violet, etc.);
Inorganic green pigments (such as chromium oxide, chromium hydroxide, and cobalt titanate);
Inorganic blue pigments (e.g., ultramarine, Prussian blue, etc.);
Pearl pigments (e.g., titanium dioxide coated mica, titanium dioxide coated bismuth oxychloride, titanium dioxide coated talc, colored titanium dioxide coated mica, bismuth oxychloride, and fish scale foil);
Metal powder pigments (e.g., aluminum powder, copper powder, etc.);
organic pigments such as zirconium, barium or aluminum lakes (e.g., organic pigments such as Red 201, Red 202, Red 204, Red 205, Red 220, Red 226, Red 228, Red 405, Orange 203, Orange 204, Yellow 205, Yellow 401, and Blue 404, Red 3, Red 104, Red 106, Red 227, Red 230, Red 401, Red 505, Orange 205, Yellow 4, Yellow 5, Yellow 202, Yellow 203, Green 3, and Blue 1, etc.);
Natural pigments (e.g., chlorophyll, β-carotene, etc.)
etc.

Examples of liquid oils include avocado oil, camellia oil, turtle oil, macadamia nut oil, corn oil, mink oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil, egg yolk oil, sesame oil, persic oil, wheat germ oil, sasanqua oil, castor oil, linseed oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, perilla oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, tea seed oil, kaya oil, rice bran oil, Chinese tung oil, Japanese tung oil, jojoba oil, germ oil, and triglycerin.

Examples of solid fats and oils include cocoa butter, coconut oil, horse tallow, hardened coconut oil, palm oil, beef tallow, mutton tallow, hardened beef tallow, palm kernel oil, lard, beef bone fat, Japan wax kernel oil, hardened oil, beef foot fat, Japan wax, and hardened castor oil.

Examples of waxes include beeswax, candelilla wax, cotton wax, carnauba wax, bayberry wax, ivory wax, whale wax, montan wax, bran wax, lanolin, kapok wax, lanolin acetate, liquid lanolin, sugarcane wax, isopropyl lanolin fatty acid, hexyl laurate, reduced lanolin, jojoba wax, hard lanolin, shellac wax, POE lanolin alcohol ether, POE lanolin alcohol acetate, POE cholesterol ether, lanolin fatty acid polyethylene glycol, and POE hydrogenated lanolin alcohol ether.

Examples of hydrocarbon oils include liquid paraffin, ozokerite, squalane, pristane, paraffin, ceresin, squalene, petrolatum, and microcrystalline wax.

Examples of higher alcohols include:
Straight-chain alcohols, such as lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, and cetostearyl alcohol; and branched-chain alcohols, such as monostearyl glycerin ether (batyl alcohol), 2-decyltetradecyl alcohol, lanolin alcohol, cholesterol, phytosterols, hexyldodecanol, isostearyl alcohol, and octyldodecanol.
etc.

Synthetic ester oils include isopropyl myristate, cetyl octanoate, octyldodecyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, butyl stearate, hexyl laurate, myristyl myristate, decyl oleate, hexyldecyl dimethyloctanoate, cetyl lactate, myristyl lactate, lanolin acetate, isocetyl stearate, isocetyl isostearate, cholesteryl 12-hydroxystearate, ethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexanoate, dipentaerythritol fatty acid ester, N-alkyl glycol monoisostearate, neopentyl glycol dicaprate, diisostearyl malate, glycerin di-2-heptylundecanoate, trimethylolpropane tri-2-ethylhexanoate, trimethylolpropane triisostearate, pentaerythritol tetra-2-ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl tri-2-ethylhexanoate, glyceryl trioctanoate, glyceryl triisopalmitate, trimethylolpropane triisostearate, cetyl 2-ethylhexanoate, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, glyceryl trimyristate, tri-2-heptylundecanoate glyceride, castor oil fatty acid methyl ester, oleyl oleate, acetoglyceride, 2-heptylun palmitate decyl, diisobutyl adipate, N-lauroyl-L-glutamic acid 2-octyldodecyl ester, di-2-heptylundecyl adipate, ethyl laurate, di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate, 2-hexyldecyl myristate, 2-hexyldecyl palmitate, 2-hexyldecyl adipate, diisopropyl sebacate, 2-ethylhexyl succinate, and triethyl citrate.

Examples of silicone oils include:
Chain polysiloxanes (e.g., dimethylpolysiloxane, methylphenylpolysiloxane, diphenylpolysiloxane, etc.);
Cyclic polysiloxanes (e.g., octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, etc.);
A silicone resin forming a three-dimensional network structure;
Silicone rubber: and various modified polysiloxanes (amino-modified polysiloxanes, polyether-modified polysiloxanes, alkyl-modified polysiloxanes, fluorine-modified polysiloxanes, etc.)
etc.

Examples of natural water-soluble polymers include:
Plant-based polymers (e.g., gum arabic, tragacanth gum, galactan, guar gum, carob gum, karaya gum, carrageenan, pectin, agar, quince seed, algae colloids (cassow extract), starches (rice, corn, potato, wheat), and glycyrrhizic acid);
Microbial polymers (e.g., xanthan gum, dextran, succinoglucan, pullulan, etc.);
Animal-based polymers (e.g., collagen, casein, albumin, and gelatin)
etc.

Examples of semi-synthetic water-soluble polymers include:
Starch-based polymers (e.g., carboxymethyl starch, and methylhydroxypropyl starch);
Examples of such polymers include cellulose-based polymers (methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, sodium cellulose sulfate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, crystalline cellulose, and cellulose powder); and alginic acid-based polymers (e.g., sodium alginate and propylene glycol alginate).

Examples of synthetic water-soluble polymers include:
Vinyl polymers (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carboxyvinyl polymers, etc.);
Polyoxyethylene polymers (e.g., polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene copolymers of polyethylene glycol 20,000, 40,000, and 60,000, etc.);
Acrylic polymers (e.g., sodium polyacrylate, polyethyl acrylate, and polyacrylamide, etc.);
polyethyleneimine; and cationic polymers.

Examples of thickeners other than component (c) include gum arabic, carrageenan, karaya gum, tragacanth gum, carob gum, quince seed, casein, dextrin, gelatin, sodium pectinate, sodium alginate, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, CMC, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, PVA, PVM, PVP, carboxyvinyl polymer, locust bean gum, guar gum, tamarind gum, dialkyldimethylammonium cellulose sulfate, xanthan gum, magnesium aluminum silicate, bentonite, hectorite, aluminum silicate magnesium (beegum), laponite, and anhydrous silicic acid.

Examples of ultraviolet absorbents include:
Benzoic acid-based ultraviolet absorbers (e.g., para-aminobenzoic acid (hereinafter, abbreviated as PABA), PABA monoglycerin ester, N,N-dipropoxy PABA ethyl ester, N,N-diethoxy PABA ethyl ester, N,N-dimethyl PABA ethyl ester, N,N-dimethyl PABA butyl ester, and N,N-dimethyl PABA ethyl ester);
Anthranilic acid-based ultraviolet absorbers (for example, homomenthyl-N-acetylanthranilate, etc.);
Salicylic acid-based ultraviolet absorbers (e.g., amyl salicylate, menthyl salicylate, homomenthyl salicylate, octyl salicylate, phenyl salicylate, benzyl salicylate, and p-isopropanol phenyl salicylate);
cinnamic acid-based ultraviolet absorbers (e.g., octyl cinnamate, ethyl 4-isopropyl cinnamate, methyl 2,5-diisopropyl cinnamate, ethyl 2,4-diisopropyl cinnamate, methyl 2,4-diisopropyl cinnamate, propyl p-methoxy cinnamate, isopropyl p-methoxy cinnamate, isoamyl p-methoxy cinnamate, octyl p-methoxy cinnamate (2-ethylhexyl p-methoxy cinnamate), 2-ethoxyethyl p-methoxy cinnamate, cyclohexyl p-methoxy cinnamate, ethyl α-cyano β-phenyl cinnamate, 2-ethylhexyl α-cyano β-phenyl cinnamate, and glyceryl mono-2-ethylhexanoyl di-para-methoxy cinnamate, etc.);
Benzophenone-based ultraviolet absorbers (e.g., 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone, 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-methylbenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonate, 4-phenylbenzophenone, 2-ethylhexyl-4'-phenyl-benzophenone-2-carboxylate, 2-hydroxy-4-n-octoxybenzophenone, and 4-hydroxy-3-carboxybenzophenone, etc.);
3-(4'-methylbenzylidene)-d,l-camphor, 3-benzylidene-d,l-camphor;
2-phenyl-5-methylbenzoxazole;
2,2'-hydroxy-5-methylphenylbenzotriazole;
2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-t-octylphenyl)benzotriazole;
2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenylbenzotriazole;
dibenzalazine; dianisoylmethane; and 4-methoxy-4'-t-butyldibenzoylmethane; 5-(3,3-dimethyl-2-norbornylidene)-3-pentan-2-one, and the like.

Examples of sequestering agents include 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid tetrasodium salt, disodium edetate, trisodium edetate, tetrasodium edetate, sodium citrate, sodium polyphosphate, sodium metaphosphate, gluconic acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, succinic acid, edetic acid, trisodium ethylenediaminehydroxyethyltriacetate, and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate.

Examples of lower alcohols include ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, isobutyl alcohol, and t-butyl alcohol.

Examples of polyhydric alcohols include
dihydric alcohols (e.g., ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, 1,2-butylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, 2-butene-1,4-diol, hexylene glycol, and octylene glycol);
Trihydric alcohols (e.g., glycerin, trimethylolpropane, and the like);
Tetrahydric alcohols (e.g., pentaerythritol, such as 1,2,6-hexanetriol, etc.);
Pentahydric alcohols (e.g., xylitol, etc.);
Hexahydric alcohols (such as sorbitol, mannitol, and the like);
Polyhydric alcohol polymers (e.g., diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, diglycerin, polyethylene glycol, triglycerin, tetraglycerin, polyglycerin, and the like);
dihydric alcohol alkyl ethers (e.g., ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-2-methylhexyl ether, ethylene glycol isoamyl ether, ethylene glycol benzyl ether, ethylene glycol isopropyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dibutyl ether, and the like);
dihydric alcohol alkyl ethers (e.g., diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ethyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol isopropyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, and dipropylene glycol butyl ether);
dihydric alcohol ether esters (e.g., ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether acetate, ethylene glycol diadipate, ethylene glycol disuccinate, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monopropyl ether acetate, and propylene glycol monophenyl ether acetate);
Glycerol monoalkyl ethers (such as xyl alcohol, selachyl alcohol, and batyl alcohol);
Sugar alcohols (e.g., sorbitol, maltitol, maltotriose, mannitol, sucrose, erythritol, glucose, fructose, starch hydrolyzed sugars, maltose, xylitose, and starch hydrolyzed sugar reducing alcohols, etc.);
Glysolid; Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol;
POE-tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol;
POP-butyl ether; POP.POE-butyl ether;
Tripolyoxypropylene glycerin ether;
POP-glycerin ether; POP-glycerin ether phosphate;
Examples include POP/POE-pentane erythritol ether, and polyglycerin.

Examples of monosaccharides include:
Tricarbon sugars (e.g., D-glyceryl aldehyde, and dihydroxyacetone);
Four-carbon sugars (such as D-erythrose, D-erythrulose, D-threose, and erythritol);
pentoses (e.g., L-arabinose, D-xylose, L-lyxose, D-arabinose, D-ribose, D-ribulose, D-xylulose, and L-xylulose);
Hexose sugars (e.g., D-glucose, D-talose, D-busicose, D-galactose, D-fructose, L-galactose, L-mannose, and D-tagatose);
Seven-carbon sugars (e.g., aldoheptose, heptose, etc.);
Octose sugars (e.g., octulose, etc.); deoxy sugars (e.g., 2-deoxy-D-ribose, 6-deoxy-L-galactose, and 6-deoxy-L-mannose, etc.);
Amino sugars (e.g., D-glucosamine, D-galactosamine, sialic acid, aminouronic acid, and muramic acid); and uronic acids (e.g., D-glucuronic acid, D-mannuronic acid, L-guluronic acid, D-galacturonic acid, and L-iduronic acid).
etc.

Examples of oligosaccharides include sucrose, gunthianose, umbelliferose, lactose, planteose, isolichinoses, α,α-trehalose, raffinose, lychinoses, umbilicin, and stachyose verbascoses.

Examples of polysaccharides include cellulose, quince seed, chondroitin sulfate, starch, galactan, dermatan sulfate, glycogen, gum arabic, heparan sulfate, hyaluronic acid, tragacanth gum, keratan sulfate, chondroitin, xanthan gum, mucoitin sulfate, guar gum, dextran, keratosulfate, locust bean gum, succinoglucan, and caronic acid.

Examples of amino acids include:
Examples of the amino acid include neutral amino acids (e.g., threonine, cysteine, etc.), basic amino acids (e.g., hydroxylysine, etc.), etc. Examples of the amino acid derivatives include sodium acyl sarcosine (sodium lauroyl sarcosine), acyl glutamate, sodium acyl β-alanine, glutathione, and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.

Examples of organic amines include monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, morpholine, triisopropanolamine, 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol.

Examples of polymer emulsions include acrylic resin emulsion, polyethyl acrylate emulsion, acrylic resin liquid, polyacrylic alkyl ester emulsion, polyvinyl acetate resin emulsion, and natural rubber latex.

Examples of pH adjusters include buffers such as lactic acid-sodium lactate, citric acid-sodium citrate, and succinic acid-sodium succinate. Examples of vitamins include vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, E and their derivatives, pantothenic acid and its derivatives, and biotin.

Examples of antioxidants include tocopherols, dibutylhydroxytoluene, butylhydroxyanisole, gallic acid esters, sulfites, and hydrogen sulfites. Examples of antioxidant assistants include phosphoric acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, cephalin, hexametaphosphate, phytic acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

Other possible ingredients include:
Preservatives (such as ethylparaben and butylparaben);
Anti-inflammatory agents (e.g., glycyrrhizinic acid derivatives, glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives, salicylic acid derivatives, hinokitiol, zinc oxide, allantoin, and the like);
Skin lightening agents (such as placenta extract, saxifrage extract, and arbutin);
various extracts (e.g., Phellodendron bark, Coptis japonica, Lithospermum root, Peony root, Swertia japonica, Birch, Sage, Loquat, Carrot, Aloe, Mallow, Iris, Grape, Coix seed, Loofah, Lily, Saffron, Cnidium rhizome, Angelica acutiloba, Hypericum perforatum, Ononis, Garlic, Capsicum annuum, Citrus chinensis, Angelica acutiloba, Seaweed, etc.);
Enhancers (e.g., royal jelly, photosensitizers, cholesterol derivatives, etc.);
blood circulation enhancers (e.g., nonylic acid valenylamide, nicotinic acid benzyl ester, nicotinic acid β-butoxyethyl ester, capsaicin, zingerone, cantharides tincture, ichthammol, tannic acid, α-borneol, tocopherol nicotinate, inositol hexanicotinate, cyclandelate, cinnarizine, tolazoline, acetylcholine, verapamil, cepharanthine, and γ-oryzanol);
Antiseborrheic agents (such as sulfur, and thianthol); and anti-inflammatory agents (such as tranexamic acid, thiotaurine, and hypotaurine).

In a preferred embodiment of the cleansing agent according to the present invention, the cleansing agent is a viscous liquid. A viscous liquid means a liquid to semi-solid cleansing agent having fluidity, and the viscosity (B-type viscometer, 30°C) is preferably 1,000 mPa·s or more.

The cleansing agent according to the present invention is preferably a skin cleansing agent, and is particularly suitable for use in cleaning the skin after going out and applying makeup. It is preferable that the formulation be in the form of a lotion, gel, or cream, and more preferably in the form of a cream.

In a preferred embodiment of the cleansing agent according to the present invention, the cleansing agent is a makeup remover. Makeup includes lipstick, foundation, and sunscreen and other sunscreens.

A preferred embodiment of the cleansing agent according to the present invention is a sebum cleansing agent. Sebum is derived from sebaceous glands or stratum corneum cells and protects the skin, but if sebum is left on the skin for a long period of time, it can oxidize due to ultraviolet rays and other factors, which can have a detrimental effect on the skin. Therefore, it is preferable to remove such sebum stains with the cleansing agent according to the present invention.

A preferred embodiment of the cleansing agent according to the present invention is a skin moisturizing cleansing agent. The cleansing agent according to the present invention can remove and cleanse sebum and other contaminants while preventing evaporation of moisture from the stratum corneum of the skin.

The formulation of the cleansing agent according to the present invention may be any formulation, including a solution system, a solubilized system, an emulsion system, a powder dispersion system, a two-layer water-oil two-layer system, or a three-layer water-oil-powder system.

The present invention will be specifically described based on the following examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. The blend amounts are shown in mass % unless otherwise specified.

[Examples 1 to 7 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3]
The cleansing agents of Examples 1 to 7 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 were prepared according to the formulations shown in Table 1.

Furthermore, the performance of these cleansing agents was evaluated according to the following criteria.
[Feeling of tension]
Ten expert panelists washed their faces with each sample and evaluated the feel after washing.
A: No tightness at all after washing the face B: Almost no tightness after washing the face C: There is a tightness after washing the face

[Fineness of bubbles]
After mixing the sample with water and foaming, the average size of the bubbles was evaluated by observation under a microscope. S: Very small bubble diameter A: Small bubble diameter B: Slightly large bubble diameter C: Large bubble diameter

[Foam durability]
The samples were mixed with water and foamed, and then observed under a microscope immediately and 5 minutes later to evaluate the change in average bubble size.
A: Almost no change in bubble diameter is observed. B: The change in bubble diameter becomes slightly larger. C: The bubble diameter becomes larger due to the coalescence of the bubbles.

[Foam adhesion]
Ten expert panelists mixed each sample with water to create a lather, brought the lather into contact with the skin, and then held the skin surface vertically to evaluate the adhesion.
A: The foam adheres firmly to the skin and barely slides across the skin surface. B: The foam adheres firmly to the skin, but slowly slides down the skin surface in a vertical direction. C: The foam slides down the skin surface in a vertical direction due to gravity.

[Foam elasticity]
A panel of 10 experts mixed each sample with water, created lather, and evaluated the elasticity of the resulting lather when pressed with a finger.
A: The foam is elastic. B: The foam is slightly elastic. C: The foam has almost no elasticity.

＊１：アロンビスＳＸ（東亞合成株式会社製）

*1: Aronvis SX (manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.)

The results show that the cleansing agent containing each of the essential components of the present invention exhibits excellent properties. On the other hand, it can be seen that sufficient performance cannot be obtained if either the polymer having a cationic group or the polyacrylic acid-based thickener is missing (Comparative Examples 1 and 2). In particular, when the ratio b/c of the polymer having a cationic group to the polyacrylic acid-based thickener is 6 or more, there is a tendency for the fineness of the foam to be further improved. On the other hand, it can also be seen that even if the ratio of the polymer having a cationic group to the thickener is within the range of 1 to 200, sufficient performance cannot be obtained if the thickener is not a polyacrylic acid-based thickener (Comparative Example 3).

Claims (19)

(a) a higher fatty acid or a salt thereof,
(b) a polymer having a cationic group;
A cleansing agent comprising (c) a polyacrylic acid thickener and (d) water, wherein the mass blending ratio b/c of the polymer (b) to the polyacrylic acid thickener (c) is 6 to 200. The cleansing agent according to claim 1, wherein the polymer (b) having a cationic group is a copolymer containing a diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt in its polymerization units. The cleansing agent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the polymer (b) having a cationic group is a copolymer containing a diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt and an acrylamide in the polymerization unit. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the polymer (b) having a cationic group is a copolymer containing a diallyldialkyl quaternary ammonium salt, and acrylamide and acrylic acid as polymerized units. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the polyacrylic acid thickener (c) is a polymer that does not contain a cationic group in the main chain. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the polyacrylic acid-based thickener (c) is sodium polyacrylate. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the weight average molecular weight of the polyacrylic acid-based thickener (c) is 4,000,000 to 6,000,000. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the blended amount of the higher fatty acid or its salt (a) is 10 to 50 mass % based on the total mass of the cleansing agent. The cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the amount of the polymer (b) having a cationic group is 0.1 to 2.0% by mass based on the total mass of the cleaning agent. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the amount of the polyacrylic acid-based thickener (c) is 0.001 to 0.3% by mass based on the total mass of the cleansing agent. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , further comprising an alkylene oxide derivative. The cleansing agent according to claim 11 , wherein the alkylene oxide derivative is a compound represented by the following formula (1):
R ¹ O-[(AO) _p (EO) _q ]-R ² (1)
(Wherein,
AO is an oxyalkylene group having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, EO is an oxyethylene group, p and q are the average numbers of moles of the oxyalkylene group having 3 to 4 carbon atoms and the oxyethylene group added, respectively, and 1≦p≦70 and 1≦q≦70, and the ratio of the oxyethylene groups to the total of the oxyalkylene groups and the oxyethylene groups is 20 to 80 mass %,
The oxyalkylene groups and oxyethylene groups may be added in a block or random manner.
R ¹ and R ² may be the same or different and are a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom, and the ratio of the number of hydrogen atoms to the number of hydrocarbon groups in R ¹ and R ² is 0.15 or less. 13. The cleansing agent according to claim 12 , wherein in formula (1), the oxyalkylene groups AO and the oxyethylene groups EO are added randomly. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 11 to 13 , wherein the blending amount of the alkylene oxide derivative is 0.001 to 5 mass % based on the total mass of the cleansing agent. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 14 , further comprising a nonionic surfactant. 16. The cleansing agent according to claim 1, wherein the blending amount of the nonionic surfactant is 0.1 to 15% by mass, based on the total mass of the cleansing agent. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 16 , which is a viscous liquid. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 17 , which is a skin cleansing agent. The cleansing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 18 , which is a skin moisturizing cleansing agent.