There is described a topical composition for application of an NSAID comprising ibuprofen, the composition comprising a solution or suspension of the NSAID as active ingredient in a residual carrier system comprising a polyhydric alcohol, a glycol ether, an ester of a higher fatty acid and optionally water, the ingredients of the residual carrier system having the following concentrations in percentages by weight: polyhydric alcohol 50-90 glycol ether 7.5-40 ester 0.5-5 water optional in which either the composition or the residual phase is in a single phase under ambient conditions and the maximum water concentration is that above which the composition or the residual phase exhibits signs of inhomogeneity.