Mixtures of alkylphosphoric esters and use thereof as cosmetic and pharmaceutical emulsifiers

This application claims the foreign priority of FED REP GERMANY application 197 07800-1, filed Feb. 27, 1997 This invention relates to monoalkyl phosphoric esters, dialkyl phosphoric esters, and, in small amounts, trialkyl phosphoric esters or salts thereof, which are preferably based on -branched fatty alcohols, particularly Guerbet alcohol, which are effective in lowering the surface tension of both polar and also nonpolar liquids, and which have high stability, even at elevated temperatures, and low sensitivity to electrolytes and acids. The invention further relates to the use of such mixtures as emulsifiers in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations, and to the resulting products.