The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions containing polyglycerol partial esters of linear, unsubstituted carboxylic acids with the provisos that the polyglycerol obtained by hydrolysis or alcoholysis of the polyglycerol partial ester comprises an average degree of polymerization of from 2 to 8 and the polydispersity index of said polyglycerol is greater than 0.75. The present invention also relates to the use of aforementioned polyglycerol esters for the production of and use in cosmetic compositions.
