A hydrophilic thickener comprising a polymer obtained by reversed-phase suspension polymerization of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene alkyl ether and a cosmetic composition containing said hydrophilic thickener. This hydrophilic thickener can be used in powder foundations, liquid foundations, emulsions, lotions, liquid cosmetics, moisturizing gels, all-in-one gels, facial cleansing foams, hair-setting agents, emollient creams, and other such cosmetics as well as in toiletries, general merchandise, and other such fields.
