Low energy, cold process formulation aid

Provided are cold process formulation aids (CPFAs), methods for their manufacture, and personal care products made using them. CPFAs include (i) a polymer having an aliphatic backbone and a plurality of pendant groups thereon that are pendant ionic or ionizable groups, or pendant groups having at least one permanent dipole that includes an acid, alcohol, thiol, ester, amine, amide, imide, imine, or nitrile moiety, and (ii) a wax selected from natural waxes and synthetic waxes, wherein if the wax is not micronized and is not self-emulsifying, the ratio, by weight, of the non-micronized wax to the polymer having an aliphatic backbone is from about 60:40 to 80:20, and if the wax is a micronized wax or a self-emulsifying wax, the ratio, by weight, of wax to polymer backbone is 70:30 to 98:2.