A self-emulsifying and stabilizing gel is disclosed for stabilizing a water-in-oil emulsion or an anhydrous cosmetic to prevent decomposition of said cosmetic compositions, which consists essentially of a shear mixture of:(i) 2 to 30% by weight of a quaternized clay and a first non-polar organic solvent forming a shear mixture as a first phase and(ii) 2 to 50% by weight of a polymeric emulsifier having a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance under 12 in admixture with a second non-polar organic solvent which may be the same or different from the first non-polar organic solvent as a second phase, wherein said polymeric emulsifier serves as a polar activator of the quaternized clay. Preferred polymeric emulsifiers include a polyglyceryl ether or ester or a silicone emulsifier.
