Quaternized polymer for use as a cosmetic agent in cosmetic compositions for the hair and skin

A process for treating the skin comprising applying to the skin a cosmetic composition in an amount sufficient to impart a soft feeling to the skin and to assist in the hydration thereof, said cosmetic composition comprising in gel or emulsion form an aqueous phase and an emulsified oil phase, said aqueous phase containing in solution a quaternized polymer having recurring units of the formula ##STR74## wherein R is lower alkyl or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH;

• R' is alkyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl containing a maximum of 20 carbon atoms, or R and R' together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a heterocycle capable of containing a heteroatom other than nitrogen;
• A is a divalent group selected from ##STR75## wherein x, y and t are whole numbers ranging from 0 to 11 such that the sum (x+y+t) is greater than or equal to 0 and lower than 18, and E and K represent hydrogen or alkyl having less than 18 carbon atoms,
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --S--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --, (3)
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --, (4)
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --S--S--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --, (5)
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --SO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --, (6)
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --SO.sub.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- and (7) ##STR76## wherein n is equal to 2 or 3;
• B represents a divalent group selected from ##STR77## wherein D and G represent hydrogen or alkyl having less than 18 carbon atoms and v, z and u are whole numbers ranging from 0 to 11, with two of v, z and u simultaneously being capable of being 0, such that the sum (v+z+u) is greater than or equal to 1 and lower than 18 and such that the sum (v+z+u) is greater than 1 when the sum (x+y+t) is equal to 0, ##STR78## wherein n is 2 or 3;
• and X.sup..crclbar. is an anion derived from an organic or mineral acid, said polymer being present in an amount between 0.25 and 10 percent by weight of said composition.