What is provided herein are cosmetic compositions for the care of hair and skin containing about 0.2 to 10% by wt. of a strongly swellable, moderately crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers in the form of fine, white powders characterized by (a) an aqueous swelling parameter defined by its gel volume of about 15 to 150 ml/g, (b) a Brookfield viscosity in 5% aqueous solution of at least about 10,000 cps, and (c) being prepared directly by a precipitation polymerization process in an organic solvent, in the presence of about 0.2 to 1% by weight of vinylpyrrolidone of a multifunctional crosslinking agent, preferably about 0.25 to 0.6%, and optimally, about 0.35 to 0.6%.