An oil-in-water emulsifier composition including between about 10 percent and about 70 percent by weight of a blend of mono- and diester phosphates of alkoxylated fatty alcohols containing between about 12 and 22 carbon atoms and alkoxylated with between about 1 and about 50 moles of an alkylene oxide selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof, wherein the mono- and diester ratio is between about 10:90 and about 90:10; and between about 90 percent and about 30 percent by weight of a blend of mono- and di-ester phosphates of fatty alcohols containing between 12 and 22 carbon atoms, wherein the mono- and diester ratio is between about 10:90 and about 90:10. Emulsifying waxes, oil-in-water emulsions and microemulsions, and topical compositions formulated therefrom are also disclosed.