Disclosed are multi-staged acrylic based core-shell polymers comprising a linear core polymer and at least one subsequently polymerized shell polymer. At least one of the subsequently polymerized shell polymers is crosslinked. The core-shell polymers surprisingly provide desirable rheological, clarity, and aesthetic properties in aqueous surfactant containing compositions, particularly at low pH. The multi-staged acrylic base core-shell polymers can be included in at least one phase of a multi-phase personal care, home care, health care, and institutional and industrial care composition to impart phase stability thereto.