PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce irritation to skin and to improve antiseptic properties.SOLUTION: A skin external preparation includes: an extract of Phaeophyta, Laminaria digitata and the like phenoxyethanol and one or more water soluble ingredients selected from aspartic acid, glycylglycine, salts of them, acetyl hydroxyproline, succinic acid 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl guanidine and nicotinamide.