Low pH compositions for topical administration to skin are provided. Theycomprise abuffering agent having a pKa of about 2.8 to about 4.2 and a cosmeticallyacceptableactive ingredient having a pKa within about 1 unit of the pKa of the bufferingagent.The composition has a pH of about 3.3 to 4 and a buffer capacity of at leastabout0.15. A method of increasing the topical delivery of a cosmetically acceptableactiveingredient having a pKa of about 2.8 to about 4 is also provided.