The use of an emulsion polymer in aqueous cosmetic compositions, wherein the emulsion polymer is obtainable by emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture A comprising from 50 to 100% by weight, based on the monomer mixture, of C1-C18 alkyl (meth)acrylates, vinyl esters, vinylaromatic compounds or mixtures thereof in the presence of a polymer B which has been built up from b1) from 5 to 50% by weight of monomers having at least one ionic group or one group which can be converted into an ionic group, b2) from 0 to 95% by weight of C1-C18 alkyl (meth)acrylates, vinyl esters, vinylaromatic compounds or mixtures thereof, and b3) from 0 to 50% by weight of further monomers, the glass transition temperature of the polymer built up from monomer mixture A being less than or equal to that of the polymer B.