Described herein is a class of non-homopolymers polymerized from at least: (A) 10-22 mole percent of at least one N-vinyl lactam, (B) 30-35 mole percent of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and combinations thereof, (C) 40-52 mole percent of at least one (meth)acrylate of a straight- or branched-chain alkyl alcohol, and (D) 5-20 mole percent of at least one (meth)acrylate of a saturated or unsaturated cyclic alcohol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, the non-homopolymers exhibit solubility in the lower molecular weight alcohols. The non-homopolymers may be used in personal care or performance chemicals compositions. In one embodiment, the polymers are used in various personal care formulations, such as used for skin, sun, hair, and preservatives.
