Cosmetic sponges

Flexible, impregnated support materials based on a polyurethane foam for the cosmetic or dermatological treatment of the skin, hair, mucosa and appendages of the skin, containing the in situ reaction product of

• (a) a urethane prepolymer with free isocyanate groups with
• (b) a liquid aqueous phase, which contains at least one surface-active substance and at least one dispersed fatty substance, characterized by the fact that the liquid phase additionally contains at least one cosmetic or dermatological active substance or care and maintenance substance, which is selected from among
• I. natural, if desired, chemically modified, polymers, selected from among the following:
• cellulose ethers, quaternized cellulose derivatives, polyquaternium 24, guar gum, cationic guar derivatives, alginates, xanthan gum, gum arabic, karaya gum, carob bean flour, linseed gums, dextrans, shellac, amylose, amylopectin, dextrins, chemically and/or thermally modified starches, and chitosan and its derivatives,
• II. synthetic polymers that do not act as superabsorbers but rather swell with water and are thereby converted to a gel-like true or colloidal solution,
• III. o-hydroxycarboxylic acids and their derivatives.
• IV. vitamins, provitamins, and vitamin intermediates of the groups B, C, and H and their derivatives,
• V. plant extracts, selected from among plant formative tissues that are capable of dividing (meristem), green tea (Camellia sinensis), hamamelis, chamomile, marigold, pansy, peony, horse chestnut, sage, willow bark, cinnamon tree, chrysanthemums, oak bark, nettle, hops, lappa, horsetail, hawthorn, linden flowers, almonds, spruce needles, sandalwood, juniper, coconut, kiwi, guava, lime, mango, apricot, wheat, melon, orange, grapefruit, avocado, rosemary, birch, beech sprouts, mallow, cuckoo flower, yarrow, wild thyme, thyme, balm mint, resthallow, marsh mallow (Althaea), common mallow (Malva sylvestris), violet, leaves of the black currant, coltsfoot, cinquefoil, ginseng, ginger root, sweet potato, olives (Olea europaea), and citrus fruit seeds,
• VI. extracts of algae and microorganisms,
• VII. active substances with antiperspirant activity, selected from among astringent water-soluble inorganic and organic aluminum, zinc, and zirconium salts and their mixtures,
• VIII. active substances with deodorant activity,
• IX. silicic acids, natural and synthetic silicates, aluminosilicates, kaolin, talc, and apatites, which may be modified with aqueous carboxylic acids with 2-3 C atoms.
• X. pigments selected from among the oxides of titanium, iron, zinc, zirconium, cerium, magnesium, and bismuth, which, if desired, may be surface-modified, boron nitride particles, water-insoluble nacreous pigments, and water-insoluble organic pigments,
• XI. water-soluble and oil-soluble organic sunscreening agents.
• XII. cosmetic abrasives selected from among polymer particles and vegetable abrasives, which, if desired, may be coated with fatty substances.
• XIII. dyes and oxidation dye (intermediates) for dyeing keratinous fibers,
• XIV. oxidizing and reducing agents, and
• XV. active substances with sebum-regulating, skin-soothing, anti-inflammatory, astringent, or perfusion-promoting activity.