Provided are cold process formulation aids, methods for their manufacture, and personal care products made using them. The cold processing aids include a wax and a polymer having a backbone and a plurality of pendant groups thereon that are pendant ionic or ionizable groups, or pendant groups having at least one permanent dipole that includes an alcohol, thiol, ester, amide, imide, imine, or nitrile moiety. The backbone can be an aliphatic backbone, a polysaccharide backbone, a siloxane backbone, or a polyamide backbone. Also provided is a method of making personal care products using the cold processing aid.