The purpose of the present invention is to solve problems associated with the conventional techniques and to provide an external composition for the skin which can exhibit a stable viscosity behavior in a lower pH range and has a reduced odor, and to which an organic acid or the like can be added in a sufficient amount. The present invention is an external composition for the skin, which comprises (A) a carboxyvinyl polymer or an alkyl-modified carboxyvinyl polymer, (B) a non-plant polysaccharide thickening agent and (C) at least one component selected from the group consisting of a hydroxymonocarboxylic acid, a hydroxydicarboxylic acid and phytic acid (wherein when lactic acid is used, the amount of lactic acid is 0.1 to 20 wt%).本發明之目的為:提供一種皮膚外用組成物,此皮膚外用組成物能夠解決以往技術所帶來的問題點,並達成在低pH領域中具有安定黏度,且抑制臭味,並能夠充分地調配在有機酸等中。故本發明為一種皮膚外用組成物,其含有:(A)羧基乙烯聚合物或烷基改質羧基乙烯聚合物、與(B)非植物性多醣增黏劑、與(C)選自由羥單羧酸、羥二羧酸及植酸所構成之群中之至少1種(惟,乳酸時為0.1~20重量%)。
