Provided is a water-in-oil-type skin-whitening cosmetic which does not have a sticky sensation, has a moist sensation upon application, and can exhibit good emulsion stability over time even when placed in a glass container or a metallic container. The water-in-oil-type skin-whitening cosmetic is characterized by comprising an alkoxysalicylic acid or a salt thereof, a modified organic clay mineral and a liquid fatty acid. The liquid fatty acid is selected from higher fatty acids each having a linear or branched alkyl chain and also having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and is particularly preferably oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid or isostearic acid.本發明提供一種具有不黏膩且滋潤之使用觸感、且即便收容於玻璃製容器或金屬製容器中其經時之乳化穩定性亦良好的油中水型皮膚美白化妝料。該油中水型皮膚美白化妝料之特徵在於:含有烷氧基水楊酸或其鹽、有機改性黏土礦物、及液狀脂肪酸。液狀脂肪酸係選自具有直鏈或支鏈之烷基鏈之碳原子數12~22的高級脂肪酸,尤佳為油酸、亞麻油酸、次亞麻油酸、異硬脂酸。
