PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external preparation for skin which penetrates a heat shock protein production-promoting component into the skin sufficiently, improves a physical damage to the skin, and improves skin conditions.SOLUTION: The invention provides an external preparation for skin containing the following component A, B, and C: A) a heat shock protein production-promoting component B) oligomer ester with one or more kinds of divalent carboxylic acids and polyglycerin whose average polymerization degree calculated from the hydroxyl value is 2-15 and C) one or more kinds selected from the group consisting of glycerin, and polyglycerin with an average polymerization degrees of 2-4. The divalent carboxylic acid is a divalent carboxylic acid comprising a straight chain, branched chain, or ring structure of carbon number 6-22. Preferably the content of oligomer ester with one or more kinds of divalent carboxylic acids and polyglycerin whose average polymerization degree calculated from the hydroxyl value is 2-15 is 0.01-4.0 mass% to the total amount of the external preparation for skin. Further preferably it does not substantially contain an oil solution, and can be used as cosmetics.