Abstract: Structured surfactant systems with solid suspending properties comprise a substantially non-aqueous liquid continuous phase and a structuring surfactant capable of forming an L&agr; phase in said continuous liquid phase at a concentration between 10 and 20% by weight solid surfactant preferably comprising at least two hydrophobic C7-30 aliphatic groups per molecule, said groups preferably comprising bent chain groups such as cis monounsaturated alkenyl e.g. erucyl or singly branched alkyl e.g. isopalmityl.