Topical composition comprising a mixture of particular di-alkyl or alkenyl phosphate esters and mono-alkyl or alkenyl phosphate esters

An aqueous composition suitable for topical application to the skin or hair, which comprises:

• (a) from 1 to 99% by weight of a short chain dialkyl or dialkenyl phosphate salt (or mixtures thereof) having the structure (1):
• ##STR18## (b) from 1 to 99% by weight of a monoalkyl or monoalkenyl phosphate salt (or mixture thereof), having the structure (2):
• ##STR19## where R.sup.01 and R.sup.02 are each chosen from branched or unbranched alkyl or alkenyl groups having an average of from 7 to 9 carbon atoms;
• R.sup.03 is chosen from branched or unbranched alkyl or alkenyl groups having an average of from 12 to 18 carbon atoms;
• X, Y and Z are each chosen from H, alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium counterions;
• and a, b and c are each chosen from 0, or a value of from 1 to 4 and wherein the weight ratio of the monoalkyl or monoalkenyl phosphate salt to the short chain dialkyl or dialkenyl phosphate salt is from 9:1 to 1:2.3.