Washable mascara, easily removed with soap and water, has the advantage of enhancing the thickness of eyelashes. However, it is prone to running, and snudging when eyelashes are rubbed. Waterproof mascara has the advantage of being smudge-proof and water resistant, but it requires an organic solvent for removal such as a mineral oil. Prior art development in mascara consists of separately enhancing any given property of washable or waterproof mascara. A two-step mascara application aims to further improve both sorts of mascara, washable and waterproof, by combining their application.
Thus, the purpose of this invention is to offer a two-step system of mascara application, comprising a first application of washable mascara, followed by a second application of waterproof mascara. This two-step application of mascara is intended to enhance the thickness of real or false eyelashes, to promote greater water and smudge-resistance, and to facilitate the removal of mascara, compared to waterproof or washable mascara, used alone.
To enable the application of both sorts of mascara, the invention recites two sorts of application systems. The first system comprises a single container with two reservoirs, one reservoir for the washable mascara and another for the waterproof mascara, together with an applicator system comprising a first and second applicator for each of the different sorts of mascara. The second system comprises separate reservoirs for each of the two different sorts of mascara, together with a single applicator comprising two application members at each end, each intended for the application of one of the two different sorts of mascara.
This L’Oréal invention is recited in the US patent application US20050061348A1, titled Two-step mascara. The patent describes both of the application systems and examples of the mascara formulas for synergistic action of both waterproof and washable products. The patent also describes the performance data of the two mascaras, tested on a panel of 6 participants. The application variables evaluated included such attributes as “overall wear (judged in the number of hours, smudging/smearing, ease of application, speed of build-up, length of lashes, thickness of lashes, amount of curl, amount of spiking, amount of flaking, homogeneity of application (i.e; amount of globs or ball on lashes), softness, wetness (or lack of dryness) of appearance, time for drying, comfort, overall appearance, and ease of removal. Results reported in the patent indicate very favorable performance for all the attributes evaluated.
The abstract of this invention is included below, together with two patent drawings, Figures 3A & 3B, each illustrating one of the two embodiments of the application systems. In Figure 3A, the reservoirs 14 and 16 are part of a single container. In Figure 3B the reservoirs 14 and 16 are separate, each screwed to opposite ends of a single applicator 50, comprising a handle 18 with integrated, leak-proof screw caps. The single applicator 50 also comprises two stems 22, and 24 at opposite ends, each end fitted with applicators 26 and 28.
Disclosed are methods for applying mascara compositions to eyelashes, comprising applying washable mascara followed by applying waterproof mascara. Mascara products and systems, and packages containing the products are also disclosed. [Abstract US20050061348A1]
One of the two-step mascara invention application systems (corresponding to Fig 3B) is marketed by L’Oréal as the X-Fiber mascara with both enhanced volumizing and lengthening properties. An image of the two-step X-Fiber L’Oréal mascara application system, showing the single applicator together with its opposite stems fitted with application brushes, is also included above.
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