Framed neutral pH cleansing bar

An neutral pH cleansing bar comprising:

• at least two phases and a sum total of from about 5% to about 50% of a mixture of free and neutralized monocarboxylic acid;
• from about 15% to about 65% of an anionic and/or nonionic bar firmness aid;
• and from about 15% to about 55% water by weight of said bar;
• wherein said bar firmness aid is selected from the group consisting of:
• I. from about 5% to about 50% by weight of a synthetic surfactant wherein said synthetic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of:
• alkyl sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, anionic acyl sarcosinates, methyl acyl taurates, linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, N-acyl glutamates, alkyl glucosides, alpha sulfo fatty acid esters, acyl isethionates, glucose amide, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkyl phosphate esters, ethoxylated alkyl phosphate esters, methyl glucose esters, protein condensates, the alkyl ether sulfates with 1 to 12 ethoxy groups, and mixtures thereof, wherein said surfactants contain C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 alkylene chains;
• and mixtures thereof;
• wherein said neutralized monocarboxylic acid and said synthetic surfactant sum is from about 10% to about 65% by weight of said bar;
• and
• II. from zero to about 40% by weight of a co-solvent wherein said co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) non-volatile, water-soluble nonionic organic solvents selected from the group consisting of:
• a polyol of the structure:
• ##STR5## where R.sub.3 =H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;
• R.sub.4 =H, CH.sub.3 ;
• and k=1-200;
• C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkane diols;
• sorbitol;
• glycerine;
• sugars;
• sugar derivatives;
• urea;
• and ethanol amines of the general structure (HOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.x NH.sub.y where x=1-3;
• y=0-2;
• and x+y=3;
• (b) alcohols of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms;
• and mixtures thereof;
• and
• III. mixtures of (a) and (b);
• wherein said free monocarboxylic acid is from about 35% to about 80% by weight of said mixture of free and neutralized monocarboxylic acid;
• and conversely, said neutralized carboxylic acid is from 20% to about 65% by weight of said mixture;
• wherein one of said phases comprises a rigid crystalline phase skeleton structure comprising an interlocking, open three-dimensional mesh of elongated crystals comprising:
• said mixture of said free and neutralized carboxylic acid;
• wherein said neutral pH is from about 6.3 to about 8.0;
• wherein another of said phases is an aqueous phase mix;
• said mix (when measured alone) having a penetration value of greater than 12 mm to complete penetration at 25.degree. C.;
• and
• wherein said cleansing bar has a penetration value of from zero up to 12 mm as measured at 25.degree. C. using a 247 gram Standard Weighted Penetrometer Probe having a conical needle attached to a 9 inch (22.9 cm) shaft, weighing 47 grams with 200 grams on top of said shaft for a total of said 247 grams, said conical needle having a 19/32 inch (1.51 cm) top and a 1/32 inch (0.08 cm) point.