Disclosed are isosorbide derivatives according to the following general formulawherein R represent a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group with 6 to 22 C-atoms, or an acyl group, or a group X—SO3M, and M stands for a cation, a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom or an ammonium or an alkylammonium ion, and X represents an alkoxylated derivative (AO)n wherein AO represents a group C2H4O, or C3H6O, or any mixtures thereof, and the index n is zero or 1 to 20, and p represents a number between 1 and 10, preferably between 1 and 4, and the use thereof to prepare cleansers, detergents, personal care compositions, or cosmetic compositions.