A low pH skin-treatment composition employs cationic surfactants generally known to be skin irritants and a fatty acid, together with a hydrocarbon component in an oil-in-water emulsion. The addition of fatty acid to the cationic surfactant appears to form a complex which prevents the cationic surfactant from irritating the skin and at the same time substantially reduces pH of the composition. The resulting composition is not skin irritating, and reflects a pH of about 2-4. The composition may be used to restore pH of skin after exposure to alkaline compositions, and as a vehicle for the administration of active agents having an acidic pH.

A water-in-oil emulsion hair conditioning composition containing no more than about one percent total solids, and at least one cationic hair conditioning agent, the hair conditioning composition preferably comprising from about five to about ten percent of a volatile oil, up to about three percent of a hydrophobic emulsifying agent, from about 0.01% to about 0.5% of the cationic hair conditioning agent, and water.

Metal salts of pyridinethione useful in shampoos, creme rinses and other hair care compositions to deliver antidandruff benefits while not detracting as much as previous pyridinethione salts from the compositions' aesthetics. Compositions containing such salts are also included.

An aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic composition useful for washing or rinsing hair which contains a water-soluble ionic polymer and from about 0.1 to 20% by weight of a water soluble salt of a di- or tri-carboxylic acid containing from 6 to 44 carbon atoms. The ionic polymers may be cationic, anionic, amphoteric or zwitter-ionic. Preferred di- or tri-carboxylic acids are those in which two of the carboxyl groups are separated from one another by at least 3 carbon atoms. The composition further includes a quaternary ammonium compound as a preferred component. Hair rinses preferably contain as an additional ingredient from about 0.1 to 10% by weight of a water-insoluble cosmetic oil or fat component, while shampoos additionally contain from about 1 to 25% by weight of anionic, ampholytic, zwitter-ionic or nonionic surfactant.

Alkyl or alkylamido dimethyl 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ammonium salts may be used in hair and skin conditioning compositions and methods to provide improved manageability, static control, and ease of wet and dry combing when applied to hair, particularly human scalp hair, and smooth and lubricated surfaces with pleasant after-feel when applied in topical conditioner compositions to the human skin. The hair conditioning formulations may include styling, cleaning and rinsing compositions such as gels, mousses, sprays, lotions, glazes and shampoos, while the skin conditioning compositions may include moisturizing creams and lotions, bath oils, liquid cleaners, body mousses or bath gels, as well as alcoholic or hydroalcoholic astringents, toners, pre-electric shave conditioners, after-bath splashes and fragrance products. A preferred quaternary according to the invention is oleamidoproyl dimethyl 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ammonium chloride, which forms exceptionally stable, clear, dilutable gels.