Inverse emulsions, useful in applications such as cosmetics, are those wherein the weight ratio between the aqueous phase and the organic phase is from 4:1 to 2:1 and containing from 20 to 70% by weight of an acrylic polymer comprising monomeric units deriving from: i) 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid; ii) at least one cationic acrylic monomer of formula I: wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl; R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 are, one independently of the others, hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl; Y is NH or O; A is a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkylene; X is an anion; iii) acrylic or methacrylic acid; iv) at least one polyfunctional monomer, the inverse emulsion being characterized by the fact that in the polymer the monomeric units deriving from 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid represent from 1% to 29% molar of the total monomers i), ii) and iii). It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.