A composition, process of preparation, and utility of salts of fatty acid esters of amino-alcohols such as dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) as emulsifiers useful for formulating with lipids and waxes is described. DMAE fatty acid esters were prepared enzymatically in the absence of added solvent, and then salified directly with carboxylic acids to form the salts. The compounds were used to make stable emulsions with a variety of cosmetically acceptable lipids.