The invention relates to mixtures of alkyl sulfosuccinate monoesters of general formulas (I) and/or (II), in which R represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having 6 to 22 C atoms, and X and Y independently represent a hydrogen atom or a cation that can form a water-soluble salt and is selected from among the group composed of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonia, and organic ammonia. The invention is characterized in that the mixture contains 30 to 70 percent by weight of C16 alkyl sulfosuccinate monoester and 30 to 70 percent by weight of C18 alkyl sulfosuccinate monoester, the percentages by weight being in relation to the total amount of alkyl sulfosuccinate monoesters of formulas (I) and (II). The invention also relates to the use of said mixtures in cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations.