The present invention addresses the problem of obtaining: a gel-like composition that provides an external-use agent for skin and a cosmetic material, which absorb quickly into the skin and exhibit a smooth feeling during use, and yet have excellent temporal stability； and an external-use agent for skin and a cosmetic material in which the gel-like composition is used. This gel-like composition includes a biosurfactant, polyhydric alcohol, oily ingredient, and ethanol, wherein the ethanol content is 0.01-10 wt%. It is preferable that the biosurfactant is one or more kinds selected from the group consisting of surfactin, arthrofactin, iturin, and salts of surfactin, arthrofactin, and iturin.
