Abstract: A sunscreen composition suitable for topical application to human skin or hair, to provide protection from excessive exposure to ultra-violet rays, comprises:i) an effective amount of a substituted 1,3-diketone having an ultra-violet absorption band within the range of from 250 to 500 nm, and an extinction coefficient E of from 5,000 to 70,000; andii) a physiologically acceptable vehicle for the substituted 1,3-diketone.

Abstract: A soap-based detergent composition comprises water soluble salts of monocarboxylic acids having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably consisting of a major proportion of salts of monocarboxylic acids having 16 or more carbon atoms and optionally a minor proportion of salts of monocarboxylic acids having 14 or less carbon atoms, characterized in that the composition contains a water soluble organic salt of formulaR.sub.1 --O--(CR.sub.2 R.sub.3).sub.n --CO.sub.2 MwhereinR.sub.1 is alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl,R.sub.2 with respect to each occurrence are the same or different and are selected from H, alkyl and alkenyl groups,R.sub.3 with respect to each occurrence are the same or different and are selected from H, alkyl and alkenyl groups,n is 2,3 or 4, andM is a cation providing water soluble properties.Inclusion of such organic salts e.g. 3-alkoxy propionate can replace in whole or in part in a predominantly soap composition soaps derived from fatty acids having 14 or less carbon atoms.