A skin external preparation containing an ascorbic acid-2-phosphate derivative is characterized in that only a sodium ascorbic acid-2-phosphate-6-palmitate is formulated as the ascorbic acid-2-phosphate derivative, and the skin preparation further includes at least one betaine-type amphoteric surfactant selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following general formula (1) or (2) (wherein R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and R2 represents a linear or branched alkyl group of 8 to 30 carbon atoms).R1—N+(CH3)2—CH2COO− (1)R2—CONH—CH2—CH2—CH2—N+(CH3)2—CH2COO− (2)
