Disclosed herein are compositions suitable for cleansing skin and/or hands, the compositions comprising a.) at least one alkyl ester and/or diester, b.) 0 to 40 % by wt. of at least one surfactant selected from the group of fatty alcohol ethoxylates, c.) at least one thixotropic agent and at least one hydrophilic, pyrogenic silicic acid, d.) 0 to 30 % by wt. of one or more abrasives, e.) 0 to 5 % by wt. of at least one physiologically compatible carbonic acid ester, f.) 0 to < 10 % by wt. water, g.) optionally one or more viscosity-forming agents, h.) optionally further cosmetic supplements, additives and/or active ingredients, and i.) 0.1 to 20 % by wt. of hydroxyethyl cellulose in which 1.0 to 2.9 3&rsquo-OH groups on average per d-glucopyranose unit present are replaced by ethoxy groups, wherein the sum of the components a.) to i.) total 100 % by wt. relative to the composition.
