A composition for retaining active ingredients in personal care compositions is described based on one or more polymers having a network structure in an oil phase in amounts from 0.01 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the composition in the oil phase, the polymers including at least one associative agent, the composition further including at least one active component. The oil phase viscosity of each composition is at least 10 poise under a shear stress up to 1000 dynes/cm.sup.2.