A mild cleansing composition is disclosed. The composition includes a from about 4 percent to about 8.5 percent of an anionic surfactant; from about 1 percent to about 30 percent of an amphoteric surfactant; and from about 0.1 percent to less than about 3 percent of a hydrophobically modified, crosslinked, anionic acrylic copolymer, wherein the weight ratio of anionic surfactant to hydrophobically modified, crosslinked, anionic acrylic copolymer is about 3:1 to about 40:1. The composition is useful as shampoos, washes, baths, gels, lotions, creams, and the like.