Provided is an oil-in-water emulsion cosmetic composition which contains a rhododendrol or a derivative thereof and has good stability at low temperatures, excellent skin whitening effect and excellent feeling of use, while being highly safe to the skin. The oil-in-water emulsion cosmetic composition is characterized by containing the following components (A)-(C). (A) a rhododendrol represented by general formula (1) or a derivative thereof (In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an acyl group having 2-20 carbon atoms, or a sugar residue of a monosaccharide or disaccharide.) (B) a propylene glycol mono C10-C26 fatty acid ester (C) lecithin or a hydrogenated product thereof
