CURRENT TRENDS IN COSMETIC PRESSURE PACKS 407 perfume and spray cologne packs which are sold in the U.S.A. and in France. As the metallic outers almost invariably utilize aluminium it is possible to achieve a variation in appearance, and judicious resort to embossing, and similar processes, inevitably enhances an already excellent presentation ever further. Moulded plastic outers have also been utilized to great effect. The increase of glass packs has already been referred to above, but it is gratifying to note that even in the U.S.A., unprotected glass dispensers are being treated with greater seriousness and one of the C.S.M.A. com- mittees is conducting a survey in order to ascertain whether internal pressures in excess of 15 p.s.i.g. are being employed, the aim being to ensure that such a pressure be considered a maximum. The majority of U.S. companies engaged in marketing refills for packs having metallic outers, utilize plastic coated glass containers for this purpose. SUNTAN PREPARATIONS With suntan, i.e. sunscreen preparations, there is a definite tendency towards the foam pack, which is certainly more pleasant to use than the spray. Some products also incorporate insect repellants, but it is doubtful whether there is much advantage in such a combination, as mosquitoes, and the like, are generally not in evidence in bright sunshine. PERSONAL DEODORANTS Personal deodorants are just making their debut on the British market", though some have been available abroad, both in the U.S.A. and in various European countries. This type of product, if properly formulated, does present corrosion problems to metallic containers and there is a tendency of valve blockage, particularly when using aluminium salts. This may well explain why such a useful product has not been previously marketed to the extent that one might have hoped. There are indications, however, that many of these difficulties are gradually being overcome. NITROGEN PACKS The fact that nitrogen-propelled toothpaste is a failure does not mean that nitrogen as a propellant must be thought of in the same way. It is, however, necessary to ensure that definite advantages accrue to the user before embarking on the packing of a nitrogen-propelled product, be it in the conventional manner or through use of the piston-type dispenser. Nitrogen-propelled handcream •8'•ø, hair cream •a, and hand lotion have been marketed, and this is indicative of the direction in which future develop- ments will be found.

408 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS CONTAINERS AND V•nVES With cosmetic products, appearance of the finished pack is probably .as important as the successful function of the pack itself. With tinplate •:ontainers, presentation will depend very largely on the external decoration or on the label, and on the style and type of protective cover employed. Aluminium containers offer the possibility of fluting, bulging and other fancy shapes, which coupled with better external finishes, such as anodising and flock coating, stimulate the interest of marketers for whom individuality is more important than costs. The Delrin acetal container, already utilized in the U.S.A. for a hair spray 2ø, may soon give rise to the first British pack in a plastic dispenser. It, too, offers individuality. The valve varieties now or soon available in this country will be almost equal to those obtainable in the U.S.A. Metering valves, for liquefied gases and compressed gases, will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the pocket size dispenser not only for hair lacquers, perfumes and colognes, but also for personal deodorants, insect repellants and breath deodorants. TECHNIC^L DEVELOPMENTS Reference to Geary's •5 work has already been made. It is important to appreciate that future research is necessary before many of Geary's suggestions become of practical significance. On the other hand, once the problems outstanding have been solved, it should be possible to produce low cost cosmetic pressure packs. For those unfamiliar with Geary's work, it should be explained that Geary. has carried out extensive solubility studies of the ternary systems of water, fluorocarbon propellants and co- ,solvents, as a result of which basic, low cost, water based, cosmetic formula- tions have been developed. These are all two-phase systems, i.e. the water, the solvent, the liquid propellant and the active ingredients form a homo- geneous liquid phase. A number of inhibitors have also been evaluated. West • has been engaged in research on powder packs, and has suggested a method whereby the amount of powder in a pressurized pack might be increased to as much as 25 per cent compared with the present maxi- mum of approximately 8 per cent. This is achieved by the addition of .a small amount of bulking powder. CONCLUSION It will thus be apparent that cosmetic pressure packs will be able to -benefit not only from an expansion in general sales, but also as a result •)f the various development projects now in progress be they purely scientific •)r otherwise. (Received.' 7th June 1961)