Topical composition comprising mono and dialkyl phosphates with a cosurfactant

A composition suitable for topical application to the skin or hair comprising an admixture of

• a. phosphate surfactant mixture of the structure ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 is normal alkyl having an average of from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms;
• R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are the same or different and are normal alkyl having an average of about 10 to 18 carbon atoms;
• X, Y and Z are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium cations;
• d and e are the same or different and are selected from 0 or an integer from 1 to 10 ;
• and
• c is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4;
• wherein with respect to a (1) and a (2) taken together the wt % of a (1) is from about 55 to 75 wt % and a (2)is from about 25 to 45 wt %, and
• b. a cosurfactant of the formula ##STR4## wherein R.sup.4 is normal alkyl having an average of from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms;
• f and g are the same or different and are 1 or 2;
• Q and Q.sup.1 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted ammonium cation with the proviso that Q and Q.sup.1 are not hydrogen at the same time;
• wherein with respect to a and b taken together, a is from about 33 to 95 wt % and b is from about 5 to 67 wt %.