A powder stick composition for topical application, and particularly a powder stick containing an anti-perspirant as an active ingredient. The stick is produced by incorporating an active ingredient, a finely divided inert filler, and a fatty alcohol with a siloxane at an elevated temperature to form a slurry. The slurry is then molded into stick form at atmospheric pressure, and the molded stick is dried to evaporate a major portion of the siloxane. The resulting stick is firm, has a uniform distribution of the active ingredient throughout the cross section and has excellent pay-off characteristics.

The invention makes available a cosmetic product in the form of a solid body, preferably a stick, which can be used as a cream by reason of its composition. The product is produced from a mixture of fatty substances, emulsifiers and water-soluble binders to which so much water is added that a mass of a mouldable consistency is obtained. By way of cold deformation, moulded pieces, preferably in stick form, are made therefrom and from these the water is subsequently extracted so that a solid structure is obtained.

Petrolatum containing up to 30 percent by weight of a combination dispersing agent comprising cetyl alcohol, lanolin alcohols and alkoxylated fatty acid esters of sorbitol can be dispersed in water without the use of additional soaps or detergents.

A cosmetic emulsion base for stable, appealing cosmetic creams and lotions having excellent skin moisturizing properties is provided in the form of a water in oil (W/O) emulsion wherein 60 to 80% by weight of water is dispersed and stabilized in an external oil phase comprising 15 to 25% straight chain hydrocarbons of desired oiliness and consistency and including branched chain hydrocarbon oil components to aid skin penetration, a mixture of emulsifier components comprising about 5 to 10% of the compositions and consisting essentially of 1 esters of fatty acids containing twelve to eighteen carbon atoms and polyhydric alcohols containing three to ten carbon atoms and lesser amounts of a di- or tri-valent metallic soap. As applied to the skin the W/O emulsions enhance moisture penetration of the skin while minimizing loss by evaporation, and may provide excellent carriers of cosmetic covering and coloring agents in amounts up to about 10% by weight of the composition.

Stable water-in-oil emulsions useful as vehicles for cosmetics or for therapeutic compositions to be topically applied are disclosed. The emulsions utilize a concentration of from 0.2 to 2% by weight of magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide as a stabilizing agent. The stabilizing agent may be admixed with either the oil or the aqueous phase, and use thereof will permit incorporating up to 70% water in the total composition without loss of stability during either prolonged storage, or exposure to freezing and thawing.