The present invention relates to waxes useful for cosmetic applications having stable oil-in-water emulsion-forming properties and, in some embodiments, stable gel-in-water-forming properties. In some embodiments, the waxes exhibit self-emulsifying properties, and can be produced without the addition of any other substances to achieve the emulsion (e.g., co-emulsifiers, hydrophilic polymers, polar surfactants, rheological modifiers, gelling agents). The waxes generally comprise: (a) polyglyceryl fatty acid ester, (b) a glycerol fatty acid ester, and 9c) a fatty alcohol. In particular embodiments, the polyglyceryl fatty acid ester can be a polyglyceryl-2, -3, or -4 fatty acid ester, and the fatty chain lengths of (a)-(c) can range from C12 to C22. In more particular embodiments, the waxes can comprise polyglyceryl stearate, glyceryl stearate, and stearyl alcohol. Gels, oil-in-water emulsions, and other compositions produced from the waxes, as well as uses and methods relating thereto, are also disclosed.
