PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external preparation for skin, which has excellent infrared ray protection effect and ultraviolet ray protection effect, is hard to be whitened when applied to the skin, has a natural appearance, has a good cosmetic paste after application, and is less sticky and has an excellent feeling of use. An infrared and ultraviolet protection method for skin is provided. [1] A plate-shaped metal oxide (A) having a thickness of 30 to 360 nm and an aspect ratio of 50 to 300, and an ultraviolet absorber (B) are contained, and a mass ratio [(A)/(B )] is 0.1 to 5； and [2] a method for protecting the infrared and ultraviolet rays of skin, which comprises applying the skin external preparation according to [1] to the skin. [Selection diagram] None【課題】赤外線防御効果及び紫外線防御効果に優れ、皮膚に塗布した際に白くなりにくく見た目が自然であり、塗布後の化粧のりが良好で、べたつきが少なく使用感にも優れる皮膚外用剤、並びに皮膚の赤外線及び紫外線防御方法を提供する。【解決手段】［１］厚さ３０～３６０ｎｍ、アスペクト比が５０～３００である板状金属酸化物（Ａ）、及び紫外線吸収剤（Ｂ）を含有し、質量比［（Ａ）／（Ｂ）］が０．１～５である皮膚外用剤、並びに［２］前記［１］に記載の皮膚外用剤を皮膚に塗布する皮膚の赤外線及び紫外線防御方法である。【選択図】なし
