PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external preparation for skin, which is excellent in infrared ray protection effect and ultraviolet ray protection effect, is hard to be whitened when applied to the skin, has a natural appearance, and has a good makeup paste after application, and a method for protecting the skin from infrared rays and ultraviolet rays. To do. [1] A plate-shaped metal oxide (A) having a thickness of 30 to 360 nm and an aspect ratio of 50 to 300, an ultraviolet light scattering agent (B), and a non-volatile oil (C) are contained, and a mass thereof is included. A skin external preparation having a ratio [(A)/(B)] of 0.1 to 18, and [2] a method for protecting the skin from infrared and ultraviolet rays by applying the skin external preparation described in [1] to the skin. .. [Selection diagram] None【課題】赤外線防御効果及び紫外線防御効果に優れ、皮膚に塗布した際に白くなりにくく見た目が自然であり、塗布後の化粧のりも良好な皮膚外用剤、並びに皮膚の赤外線及び紫外線防御方法を提供する。【解決手段】［１］厚さが３０～３６０ｎｍ、アスペクト比が５０～３００である板状金属酸化物（Ａ）、紫外線散乱剤（Ｂ）、及び不揮発性油（Ｃ）を含有し、質量比［（Ａ）／（Ｂ）］が０．１～１８である皮膚外用剤、並びに［２］前記［１］に記載の皮膚外用剤を皮膚に塗布する皮膚の赤外線及び紫外線防御方法である。【選択図】なし
