The present invention provides an water-in-oil sunscreen cosmetic in which an unpleasant odor specific to zinc oxide can be suppressed by using hydrophobized silica-coated microparticle of zinc oxide, coarseness due to the hydrophobized silica-coated microparticle of zinc oxide can be suppressed and smoothly and well spreadable excellent texture are brought in reality by formulating a combination of the hydrophobized silica-coated microparticle of zinc oxide and a predetermined amount of volatile hydrocarbon oil and volatile dimethicone. The water-in-oil emulsion sunscreen cosmetic of the present invention comprises (a) a hydrophobized silica-coated microparticle of zinc oxide, (b) a volatile hydrocarbon oil, and (c) a volatile dimethicone, wherein the total amount of (b) the volatile hydrocarbon oil and (c) the volatile dimethicone is in the range of 3 to 45% by mass on the basis of the total amount of the sunscreen cosmetic.
