A method for improving foaming properties of cleansing and/or foaming formulations, compositions, methods for preparing them, and preparation of the topical formulations containing them are described. The method consists in including, in these formulations, an effective amount of a polyol glycoside or of a mixture of polyol glycosides of formula (I) R1&mdash；O-(G)x-H in which x is a decimal number ranging between 1 and 5, G is the residue of a reducing sugar and R1 is a radical of formula (A) &mdash；CH2&mdash；(CHOH)n&mdash；CH2&mdash；OH in which n is an integer equal to 2, 3 or 4, or else R1 is a radical of the formula (B) &mdash；(CH2&mdash；CHOH&mdash；CH2&mdash；O)m&mdash；H in which m is an integer equal to 1, 2 or 3. Compositions contain compounds of formula (I) or mixtures of compounds of formula (I), foaming and/or detergent surfactants and topically acceptable solvents. Can be used in the cosmetics, dermopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical field.
