Provided is an oil-in-water-type external preparation for the skin, which contains a high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol, and has excellent rich texture, excellent long-term stability in a broad environmental temperature range from a lower temperature to a higher temperature and a good sensation upon application. The oil-in-water-type external preparation for the skin is characterized by comprising (a) a high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol, (b) a higher alcohol, (c) sodium N-stearoyl-N-methyltaurine in an amount of less than 2.0 mass%, and (d) a nonionic surfactant. The high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol is preferably polyethylene glycol 20000, and the nonionic surfactant (d) is preferably contained in an amount of 1.0 to 10.0 mass% relative to the total amount of the oil-in-water-type external preparation for the skin.本發明提供一種含有高分子量聚乙二醇、有優異之濃稠感、並且於自低溫至高溫之廣泛之環境溫度下經時穩定性優異、且使用感良好之水中油型皮膚外用劑。該水中油型皮膚外用劑之特徵在於含有(a)高分子量聚乙二醇、(b)高級醇、(c)未達2.0質量%之N-硬脂醯基-N-甲基牛磺酸鈉、及(d)非離子性界面活性劑。高分子量聚乙二醇較佳為聚乙二醇20000,(d)非離子性界面活性劑較佳為相對於水中油型皮膚外用劑之總量含有1.0~10.0質量%。
