The present invention relates to topical composition comprising a cetyl phosphate surfactant mixture consisting essentially of mono- and/or dicetyl esters of phosphoric acid or salts thereof and cetylalcohol and inorganic phosphate and heavy metals and water, characterized in that the surfactant mixture contains no organochlorine impurities and has an inorganic phosphate content of less than 0.7 wt.-% and a heavy metal content of less than 12 ppm.