Plastic additives which are useful as nucleating agents and which are especially useful for improving the optical properties of polymeric materials are provided. More particularly, this invention relates to certain asymmetric DBS compounds comprising monofluoro- or mono(trifluoroalkyl)-pendant groups on one ring of the aforementioned DBS and the other ring system cannot be monofluorinated. Such compounds may be added to or incorporated within polymer compositions which may then be utilized within, as merely examples, food or cosmetic containers and packaging. These inventive asymmetric benzylidene sorbitol acetals are also useful as gelling agents for water and organic solvents, particularly those used in the preparation of antiperspirant gel sticks.