The stability and the rheological properties of emulsions prepared with saccharose esters were studied regarding the amounts of the two emulsifiers used and their HLB. The satisfactory stability of these systems has been ascribed to the presence of α-gel phases, evidenced by polarised light microscopy and studied by rheological and water evaporation measurements. The possibility of enclosing pigments such as TiO; and ZnO in these emulsions has also been verified.