A body surface protecting composition, comprising at least one type of multi-chain multiple hydrophilic group-type compound having two or more hydrophobic groups and two or more hydrophilic groups in the molecule, which has an excellent effect of accelerating the recovery of the barrier function of skin and hair and preventing degradation of that function.本發明係有關對皮膚與毛髮之屏障(barrier)機能之回復具有優越之促進效果,且防止機能降低之效果亦優越的保護身體表面用組成物,該組成物含有至少一種分子內具有各2個以上疏水基及親水基的多鏈多親水基型化合物。