This invention relates to a composition that is mild to the skin containing a cosmetically acceptable oil water a cosmetically acceptable emulsifier having an HLB of from 1 to 25 and a preservative comprising an organic acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, p-anisic acid, sorbic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, salicylic acid and citric acid wherein said composition has a pH less than 5 and a buffer capacity of between 0.001 and 0.039.