PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external preparation for skin which has good skin compatibility, is excellent in persistence of a moisturizing effect, a wrinkle-improving effect, a skin texture-uniforming effect, and a stains-improving effect, as well as is excellent in a rash-improving effect.SOLUTION: The invention provides an external preparation for skin containing (a) 0.0001-5 mass% of 1-acyl-2,3-cyclic phosphatidic acid represented by the formula [I] or a salt thereof (b) 1-10 mass% of alkanediol of carbon numbers 5-8 (c) 0.001-5 mass% of &alpha-hydroxy acid or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R represents acyl group of carbon numbers 10-22.)
