How to Make Stable, High-Water Content Skin Creams
A recipe for creating stable skin lotions that are mostly water but feel like rich, oily creams by using specific silicone emulsifiers and carefully balanced oils.
Original patent title: “Preparations of the w/o emulsion type with an increased water content, comprising moderately polar lipids and silicone emulsifiers and, if desired, cationic polymers”
A recipe for creating stable skin lotions that are mostly water but feel like rich, oily creams by using specific silicone emulsifiers and carefully balanced oils. Granted to Beiersdorf AG in 2004 with 10 claims and 25 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to mix a large amount of water (at least 80% of the total weight) into an oil-based cream without the mixture separating. Usually, oil and water don't like to mix, but the inventors use specific 'interface-active' substances—specifically alkylmethicone or alkyldimethicone copolyols—to act as a bridge between the two. The oil phase is carefully chosen to have a specific 'polarity' (a measure of how the oil molecules interact with water) between 20 and 30 mN/m. This allows the product to remain a thin, spreadable liquid (with a viscosity under 5000 mPa·s) while still delivering the benefits of a moisturizing cream.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover emulsions where the water content is less than 80% by weight.
- Does not cover oil phases with a polarity outside the specific 20-30 mN/m range.
- Does not cover creams that are thick, paste-like, or have a viscosity higher than 5000 mPa·s.
- Does not cover emulsions that use standard emulsifiers not listed as alkylmethicone or alkyldimethicone copolyols.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The invention relies on the precise tuning of the oil phase's polarity to match the silicone emulsifiers, allowing for a stable, low-viscosity emulsion even when water makes up the vast majority of the product.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Lightweight facial lotions
Hydrating body mists
Oil-in-water style skin serums
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Consumers often want the light, cooling feel of water-based products but the long-lasting moisturizing effects of oil-based creams. This patent provided a technical framework for Beiersdorf to create high-water-content products that don't feel greasy or heavy, which is a staple in modern skincare formulations. It helps manufacturers balance the 'fresh' sensory experience of water with the performance of lipids.
Filed
May 23, 2000
Granted
September 21, 2004
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Beiersdorf AG, the owner of the Nivea and Eucerin brands, continues to utilize advanced emulsion technology for their skincare lines. The broader cosmetic chemistry industry frequently cites this work when developing 'water-light' moisturizing products.
Market impact
This patent helped standardize the formulation of high-water-content skincare products, enabling a shift toward lighter, more breathable lotions. It allowed companies to market products that feel like water but perform like heavy creams, a major selling point in the competitive global beauty market.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to mix a large amount of water (at least 80% of the total weight) into an oil-based cream without the mixture separating. Usually, oil and water don't like to mix, but the inventors use specific 'interface-active' substances—specifically alkylmethicone or alkyldimethicone copolyols—to act as a bridge between the two. The oil phase is carefully chosen to have a specific 'polarity' (a measure of how the oil molecules interact with water) between 20 and 30 mN/m. This allows the product to remain a thin, spreadable liquid (with a viscosity under 5000 mPa·s) while still delivering the benefits of a moisturizing cream.
The clever bit
The invention relies on the precise tuning of the oil phase's polarity to match the silicone emulsifiers, allowing for a stable, low-viscosity emulsion even when water makes up the vast majority of the product.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover emulsions where the water content is less than 80% by weight.
- Does not cover oil phases with a polarity outside the specific 20-30 mN/m range.
- Does not cover creams that are thick, paste-like, or have a viscosity higher than 5000 mPa·s.
- Does not cover emulsions that use standard emulsifiers not listed as alkylmethicone or alkyldimethicone copolyols.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
7/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$41K – $130K
Midpoint $81K · expired or expiring · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
10 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kropke, R., Nielsen, J., Schneider, G., Bleckmann, A., & Fecht, S. V. D. (2004). How to Make Stable, High-Water Content Skin Creams (U.S. Patent No. 6,793,929). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6793929/herceptin-chemotherapy-combination
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Make Stable, High-Water Content Skin Creams cover?
A recipe for creating stable skin lotions that are mostly water but feel like rich, oily creams by using specific silicone emulsifiers and carefully balanced oils.
Who owns patent US 6793929?
Beiersdorf AG owns this patent, granted in 2004.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 6793929 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 25 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Consumers often want the light, cooling feel of water-based products but the long-lasting moisturizing effects of oil-based creams. This patent provided a technical framework for Beiersdorf to create high-water-content products that don't feel greasy or heavy, which is a staple in modern skincare formulations. It helps manufacturers balance the 'fresh' sensory experience of water with the performance of lipids.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover emulsions where the water content is less than 80% by weight.
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