A pearlizing agent for such products as shampoos and hand soaps contains a glycol distearate, an alkyl polyglycoside, a betaine of the formula II ##STR1## wherein R5 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 7 to 21 carbon atoms and R6 is alkylene group having from 2 or 3 carbon atoms; each of R3 and R4 is independently an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a glycol, and water.