By improving the solubility in low-polarity solvents, it can be easily applied to various cosmetic preparations, and provides a skin external preparation excellent in whitening action, antibacterial action, acne prevention / amelioration action, and deodorization action. This is the issue. A skin external preparation characterized by containing a rhododendrol derivative represented by the following general formula (1). (In the formula, R 1 represents an acyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and R 2 represents a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms.)低極性溶媒への溶解性を向上することにより、種々の化粧料製剤への応用を容易なものとし、美白作用や抗菌作用、ニキビ予防・改善作用、防臭作用にも優れる皮膚外用剤を提供することを課題とする。下記一般式(1)で表されるロドデンドロール誘導体を含有することを特徴とする皮膚外用剤。(式中、R1は炭素数2~20のアシル基を示し、R2は水素原子又は炭素数2~20のアシル基を示す。)