The combination of polyols with certain active ingredients has been found to mitigate the potential irritating nature of some active ingredients (e.g., hydroxy acids, etc.). When applied to lips, this combination may provide for therapeutic and/or cosmetic benefits including smoother lips, increased moisturization, reduced water loss and combinations thereof. However, formulating stable emulsions with certain active ingredients has proved problematic. The present application also provides new stabilization mechanisms for the emulsions involving alteration of the extensional viscosity of the internal phase.
