PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cosmetic preparation and an external preparation for the skin which has no stickiness at the time of application to the skin, has a high efficacy of increasing moisture content of a horny cell layer, and has good moisture retention.SOLUTION: Used are a cosmetic preparation and an external preparations for the skin, which contains one or more of (A) glycerol and (B) polyglycerol having an average polymerization degree of 2-10, wherein the total content of (A) and (B) are 5-30 mass%, and the mass ratios ((A)/(B)) of (A) to (B) is 3-500, characterized by increasing a moisture content of a horny cell layer.
