The invention provides personal care products that do not contain D4 and/or D5 cyclomethicones but which do have the skin feel, spreadability, and other physical and chemical characteristics of personal care products that do contain these cyclomethicones. The products of the invention include a neopentyl polyol polyester(s) derived from neopentyl glycol, an isoparaffin(s), and a personal care formulation. Also included are replacement compositions for use in personal care products (so that D4 and D5 cyclomethicones can be excluded from the formulation) and methods of preparing personal care products and replacement compositions.