Provided is a cosmetic composition which has a structure-recovering property, is transparent, is satisfactory in smoothness when applied to the skin or hair, and has a good feeling in use. A cosmetic composition comprising the following components (A) to (D), wherein the component (A) is from 0.1 to 30% by mass, the component (B) is from 0.1 to 50% by mass, the component (C) is from 50 to 95% by mass, and the component (D) is from 0.01 to 10% by mass, and the mass ratio of the component (A) to the component (B), (A)/(B) is from 1/5 to 5/1: (A) a polyalkylene glycol derivative represented by Z-{O-(EO) a -(AO) k -H} m where Z is a residual group resulting from removal of hydroxyl groups from a polyhydric alcohol having 3 to 6 hydroxyl groups, EO is an oxyethylene group, AO is an oxyalkylene group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and EO and AO are bonded in a block form； (B) a nonionic surfactant having a polyoxyethylene group and a hydrocarbon group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms and exhibiting an HLB of 8 to 14； (C) one or two or more oily agents selected from ester oils and triglycerides which are liquid at 25°C； and (D) water.
