COSMETIC

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an economically advantageous cosmetic having an excellent UV light-protecting effect and an excellent bleaching effect for the skin and highly safe to the skin by adding specific L-ascorbic acid derivative and a UV light absorbent. SOLUTION: This cosmetic contains (A) 0.01-10.0 wt.% of a L-ascorbic acid derivative of the formula (R is a 1-22C alkyl) (for example, L-3-O-ethylascorbic acid), (B) 0.1-20.0 wt.% of a UV light absorbent in a component A/component B weight ratio of 1:5 to 50:1, and, if necessary, (C) a moisturizing agent, an animal or plant extract, a polyhydric alcohol, a lower alcohol, a surfactant, an emulsifier, an emulsion stabilizer, a perfume, a thickening agent, an antioxidizing agent, a chelating agent, a pH-adjusting agent, etc. The component B is preferably octyl p-methoxysinnamate, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 4-methoxy-4'-tert-butyldibenzoylmethane, etc.